10/02/2026
Last weekend For SMUSH Cookie Creamery!
50% off your entire order on sunday. Last day
We will become a quick-service restaurant Somerville Road Co. Serving panini sandwiches on house baked focaccia bread , soups , loaded baked potatoes, red hotdogs , crazy desserts and more. Check out the menu and story.
The Story Behind Somerville Road Co.
There’s a lot of meaning behind the name Somerville Road Co. When I started thinking about this new restaurant concept, I knew I wanted it to be about more than just food. I wanted it to be about family, memories, where we come from, and what we leave behind for the next generation.
My grandparents, Merle and Mary French, lived on Somerville Road in Somerville, Maine, for nearly 60 years. It was my grandmother and grandfather’s home, my mother’s childhood home, and eventually a place where I spent countless nights, weekends, holidays, and family gatherings. Growing up, they were Meme and Papa to me.
Somerville Road always felt like home. It was a place where I knew I was loved, accepted, and welcomed. There was always a seat at the table, something cooking in the kitchen, and usually a dessert not too far away.
My grandmother, Mary, is a big part of why I fell in love with cooking. She was always baking and making things from scratch—homemade bread, yeast rolls, meals that filled the house with incredible smells, and desserts that brought everyone back to the kitchen. She taught me something that has stayed with me my entire life: food made with love has a way of bringing people together.
My grandfather, Merle, loved food too. He had his favorites—hot dogs, steak, hamburgers, and, of course, desserts. But more than anything, Papa was one of my biggest supporters in life. He believed in me, encouraged me, and always made me feel like I could accomplish whatever I decided to take on.
I lost both of my grandparents in 2025. Losing them made me realize just how much of who I am today was shaped by the time I spent with them and the home they created on Somerville Road.
Before settling on the name Somerville Road Co., there were two names I really wanted to call the new restaurant: Meme & Papa’s or Meme’s House. Those names felt personal because they captured the warmth, comfort, and love I always felt in my grandparents’ home. In many ways, this restaurant is still an extension of that feeling. While I ultimately chose Somerville Road Co. to honor the place where so many of our family memories were made, Meme and Papa’s presence is at the heart of everything we hope to create here.
I also explored using those names, but they had already been claimed through trademarks and LLCs that had already been formed. Although I could not use them for the restaurant, their meaning remains deeply connected to this story and to the heart of what we hope to create.
But this story doesn't stop with my grandparents. I also wanted to create something that my daughters could look back on someday and feel connected to.
My 4-year-old daughter, Vada, and my 10-month-old daughter, Hadley, are the next generation of our family. I hope that someday they understand that this place was built with them in mind too. I want them to grow up knowing where they came from, to have a place that carries their family's story forward, and to look around Somerville Road Co. years from now and see a little bit of Meme and Papa in everything we do.
Because that's what this is really about: family.
It's about creating a place where people can gather around a table, share a meal, laugh with each other, make memories, and feel at home. I want Somerville Road Co. to feel warm and familiar. I want the food to be comforting, the desserts to make people smile, and everyone who walks through our doors to feel welcome.
That vision is also at the heart of our new menu. We are excited to serve paninis made on homemade Parmesan herb focaccia, loaded baked potatoes, homemade broccoli cheddar soup, and homemade chili. The Parmesan herb focaccia is especially meaningful because it brings the sandwiches together and gives them a flavor that is truly our own.
During a recent meeting about ideas and products for the new restaurant, one of my food representatives told me, “You really need a sandwich that sets you apart—something people will talk about and tell their friends they have to try.” That really resonated with me.
Our first trial sandwich was delicious: thinly shaved turkey, bacon, cheddar cheese, chipotle mayo, fresh tomato, and grilled seasoned onions served on house-made Parmesan herb focaccia. We had many people try it this week, and the reviews were incredibly positive.
My second cousin, Keanen, has worked for me for about three years and has tried most of the food I have created and cooked at Two Maine Guys. After trying the sandwich yesterday, he told me, “ Dev I think this is the best sandwich you have created by far in the three years I have been trying your food.”
That was really good to hear. It made me feel like we are going in the right direction and creating something special for Somerville Road Co.
We will still be serving Gifford’s hard-serve ice cream. We are also simplifying our cookie selection to warm chocolate chip sea salt cookies and sugar cookies. In addition, we will offer a few loaded milkshakes, a few sundaes, and our warm cookie ice cream sandwiches.
My grandparents came from humble beginnings. They worked hard, loved their family, cared about their community, and believed in helping others. Those are the values I hope to carry into this restaurant.
Somerville Road was their home for nearly 60 years. Now, Somerville Road Co. is our way of carrying a little piece of that home forward.
Welcome to Somerville Road Co.
Comfort food. Family memories. A place to feel at home.
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