Category: Karkos

Wed 9/16/2020 1:14 PM

John,

I talked with Pam, and she hasn’t shown the picture to her father yet. He’s homebound because of his recent surgery. She told me to call him between 5&7 p.m., which I’ll try to do today.

I also was very good friends with Pat Karkos in high school, and our son Derek was good friends with her son Tony. Pat passed away many years ago, but she has a sister Terry who’s still living. I’m friends with Tony’s wife on FB and will reach out to her to get Terry’s phone #, etc. Pat’s father’s name was Joe Karkos, and I have a feeling there’s a connection. I hadn’t thought about any of this before now.

Another little tidbit you will LOVE!! My friend Pat Karkos married a man from Durham, Peter Austin. Their son Tony Austin which I mentioned above, and his wife, Tracy Austin, own a restaurant on Maine St. in Lisbon Falls called Frank’s. Back in the day, the original building/business was called Kennebec’s Fruit Company. Their claim to fame was selling Moxie. Frank Annicetti Sr owned it. After he passed, his son Frank Annicetti Jr. ran the business and eventually sold the business to Tony & his wife, Tracy. Jack and many local kids would buy penny candy and then go to the Met Theater across the street to watch movies. I, being from Durham, never had the opportunity to do that because I lived too far away.

The building was getting very run down, and when Tony and Tracy bought it, they renovated it. They kept as much of the original building, inside and out, including the wood floors, metal ceiling (which is beautiful). They also kept the counter where he sold his famous Moxie, root beer floats, penny candy, etc. They painted the outside of the building and kept all the original colors. Frank’s (Tony & Tracy named the restaurant after Frank Annicett) has become the “go-to place” to go for dinner from people all over the surrounding area. Because of COVID, they were closed for a few months. The town of Lisbon agreed to “block off” a section of Maine St. for the summer and now have ten sizeable wooden picnic tables with large tents over them. People have filled the tables every day they’re open for outside dining. We’ve been there several times, and it’s wonderful.

You may remember Kennebec’s when you came to Lisbon Falls with your parents. Lisbon has a Moxie Festival every summer during a weekend in July and has done so for many years. People come from all over the country to attend. It was canceled this year because of COVID. You can Google Moxie Festival, Frank’s restaurant, and Frank Annicetti and find out more information.

I also went to Durham Elementary School with Stephen King. That’s another story for another day, and I’ll start a new email for that one if you’re interested.

My point to this whole story is: There’s a Karkos family who may now be famous living in Lisbon, except the last name is Austin.

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it,

Beth