Decades-Old Maine Truck Stop Restaurant Set to Permanently Close

Whenever people travel along the I-95 and get past the Augusta/Waterville corridor, a lot of them are shocked to find just how rural Maine can be.

Traffic can be sparse and so can exits off the highway that include food, fuel or other amenities.

It gets even more rural following a pass through Bangor. That's when many travelers and residents rely on truck stops as one of their key sources for restaurant dining.

One of the oldest truck stop restaurants along Route 1 in rural Maine is about to close and people are wondering if there's anything coming next.

Big Stop Restaurant in Baileyville, Maine, Closing Permanently

For the last several months, it's been the worst kept secret in rural Maine that the Big Stop restaurant in Baileyville would be permanently closing.

The Big Stop restaurant has been around since the mid 1980's, serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner, much of it classic Maine diner fare which included delicious desserts.

The restaurant is located right near the border for the United States and Canada and has been a fixture for those traveling to and from Calais.

Big Stop restaurant plans to close permanently on December 24.

The Big Stop Restaurant Needs Significant Repairs and Upgrades

As with most restaurants that operate in the same space for years, the Big Stop restaurant needs some upgrades and repairs.

Initially, it was believed that a new IHOP location would be taking over the Big Stop restaurant space. As of this writing, no agreement is in place and it appears IHOP will not be joining the convenience store and fueling station.