BAR HARBOR — Famous people visit Bar Harbor frequently. Sometimes they are seen and sometimes they aren’t. Sometimes they are everyone’s idol and sometimes they aren’t. No matter how you currently feel about Bill Belichick, if you are a New England Patriots fan, chances are that you loved him at one time or another.
Apparently, between coaching jobs, Belichick was visiting Bar Harbor. Saturday, Sept. 21, Belichick went to lunch and indulged in some chicken wings at the West Street Cafe. While co-owner Kevin DesVeaux was attending a memorial service for Kendall “Duffy” Akerley, Kevin’s wife, co-owner Jessica DesVeaux, was filling the role of host because they were short staffed for a cruise ship day.
“He walks in and I am looking at him, and he is looking at me, and I am trying to process and I am like, ‘Is that who I think it is?’” DesVeaux said.
Belichick is the former head coach of the New England Patriots and a past defensive coordinator of the New York Giants. With eight Super Bowl victories as both a coach and coordinator (six and two), he’s considered by many to be one of the greatest football coaches of all time.
“I am a big Patriots fan. I always have been,” DesVeaux said, “I sat him next to the bar thinking that he would be near the football.”
It was an extra treat for some of the cafe’s patrons.
“A friend highly recommended the West Street Cafe for our annual fall trip to Bar Harbor. We were really enjoying the staff and atmosphere when we were surprised with a visit from Bill Belichick. He and his party also seemed pleased with the service and that no one approached him while he was there,” said Lisa Riley.
DesVeaux said, “Nobody said anything and we were all just very quiet about it. He was very polite and very nice, very Bill. There was no smile involved,” just Coach Belichick.
Jordon Hudson, a former Miss Maine USA contestant representing Hancock, and competitive cheerleader and entrepreneur was there as well.
This story was originally published by The Bar Harbor Story. To receive regular coverage from the Bar Harbor Story, sign up for a free subscription here.
