In two public meetings held this spring, dozens of townspeople came armed with questions and skepticism. Heres why. We, as with all of our local businesses, need your support, too. According to his profile on the . Login. That was the whole company.. As he describes it, they would rather have risked seeing it collapse then have Coulombe help. In cocktails; Thats democracy at its best.. Other ingredients are sourced locally, such as cream from Portlands Oakhurst Dairy, an ingredient in White Rocks Aunt Beas Butterscotch Cream. Hes put people to work and a lot of this wouldnt happen without him, Gamage said. If Mr. Lorraine knew Mr. Coulombes reason for selling White Rock Distilleries, would he be more concerned about the hidden identities of the funders of the architectural design for the school, or would he continue to brush it aside? Join our email list to stay updated on all things Maine; food & drink, events & festivals, home & garden and much more! It would also benefit Coulombes interest in properties he owns and at least two of his former properties of interest. Louise worked from the time she graduated and was married to Alpha J. Coulombe on February 22, 1941. Already have a commenting profile? He said the first time he and his wife visited the property, there wasnt a single blade of green grass. These reports are not identified as paid advertising but it smells like it and function as such for a future ballot initiative. Even if the roundabout goes through, it probably wont always be smooth sailing for Coulombe. The Boothbay Harbor Country Club celebrated the completion of its new clubhouse with a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 11, a week prior to the clubs opening May 18. White Rock employs some 230 staff, including 200 at the Lewiston plant and a five-person marketing team in Portland. That's my motivation.. Courtesy photo, A rendition of one of the corridors at the Center of Excellence in Autism and Developmental Disorders. This Justice.Gov link mentions only company names. And a tough decision: Coulombes unofficial business partner, a man hed brainstormed and strategized with for 37 years, unexpectedly told Coulombe he wanted to retire. He has used his wealth both to strategically buy property and to secure goodwill through donations to well-loved local institutions like the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and the Boothbay Opera House. Coulombe said he doesnt worry about convincing everyone. Coulombedescribed White Rock as losing money and bleeding badly. He had to make that up, fast. Already have a commenting profile? And were right at our excuse the pun pinnacle. You will receive an email to complete the registration. She survived breast cancer in 2012, ovarian cancer in 2016 and a bacterial infection that required hospitalization in 2017. From the far reaches of Maine, more lives can now be saved, said Linda Bean, owner of Linda Beans Perfect Maine, a group of shops, restaurants and rentals in midcoast Maine. He was offended, Kaplan said. Since 2010, hes given nearly $300,000 to the state party. View Paul Coulombe results including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. The heavy trucks needed for construction also damaged the bridge onto Pratts Island, but when it came time to replace it, Coulombe footed the bill. . By the end of the evening more than $585,000 was raised toward the innovative project. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. After his father retired, Coulombe became White Rocks CEO in 1995. Like other landmarks in the area, it had been neglected, so Coulombe stepped in to save it. They already had 36 flavors. Then there are Derek and Rebecca Abbott, who own a horse stable that borders the back edge of the golf course. For decades it was owned and operated by Earl Gus Pratt and his wife, Emolyn. And why not get out while the gettings good? I thought about it for a few months and I thought, Yeah, Im tired of it, too.'. Some of those efforts came through Boothbay Region Ambulance Service, youth membership to Boothbay Region YMCA, and the Coulombe Center for Health Improvement. Log in to join the discussion. I thought, Wow, that just seems like such a mistake to me, and I was new; I had just moved into town, so I didnt have any kind of standing and I was from away, I was from Lewiston, he said. . The liquor is pumped into the bustling plant, where it is diluted with water to roughly 80 proof, then flavored and filtered. 5 at 2:00 pm, POSTPONED: Benefit Screening of PASANG: In the Shadow of Everest at The Waldo Theatreon Sat, March 18th at 7pmin celebration of International Womens Day, Meet the SponsorsTwo Salty Dogs Pet Outfitters, Sam Grinnell Joins Allen Insurance and Financial, Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, Town of Boothbay Harbor - Public Notice Liquor Licenses, Town of Boothbay Harbor Building Permits 03-02-23, Coastal Car Wash Automotive Detail Specialist, Zander Lee - Manager, Executive Assistant, Crooker Construction March 7th Alna Planning Board, Author talk at Southport Memorial Library, Langhorne Slim with John Craigie live at The Waldo, Tada to play the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor. Those workers whod all stayed for the ride took home a bonus worth one to two years salary. The more we grow and change outside of historic patterns, were less compatible with the lifestyle people appreciate.. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. More than 54 percent of Boothbay residents are over the age of 50, compared to 40.5 percent statewide. That is why Coulombe came back to the Boothbay region to spend money not to hold the region to the whims of his wallet, but to help philanthropically. He gave $1.1 million to the urgent care center in Boothbay after the hospital closed. Marriage. 1. I couldnt believe it. With Three Olives gone, Coulombe began growing Pinnacle, a relatively unnoticed brand the company launched in 2003. His current project: a roughly $74 million renovation and redevelopment of a local golf course that he reluctantly bought from bankruptcy for $1.4 million in 2012. (My father) was unemployed and looking for a job, Coulombe said. Around this time last year, a writer from Boston Magazine profiled Coulombe and his plans for the region. I think Mainers, and I'm one of those, are suspicious of people who give a lot. Greater Boston, New York and San Francisco Bay Areas. Im tired of traveling; Im tired of getting beat up,' Coulombe recalled. I was in a lot of debt buying out the family, he said. I've been hiring a minimum of 100 people every winter in construction whether they're painters or carpenters or plumbers, electricians, roofers, architects, designers. Paul LePage, who is friends with Coulombe and participated in the ribbon-cutting, called it a world-class facility that will spur economic development. Mr, Coulombes Philanthropists Profile in Maine Magazine dated 2015 merely states When he retired, he got involved in the Southport community.. She wanted to leave and raise kids. Mr. Lorrains retort is Yeah Right! White Rock generates $185 million in revenue and owns and distributes roughly 100 brands of liquor. That changes the community.. Marie Anne Lvesque. The seasonal versus year round argument does not weigh heavily on Coulombes mind, he said, due to the changes which have already come through shoulder season events and the expansion of business months into November and December. Coulombe, who grew up in Lewiston and lived for many years in Cape Elizabeth while heading White Rock Distilleries, visited the Boothbay peninsula with his family as a boy and fell in love with its beauty. People were still drinking, but they were drinking at home in 08 and 09, he said. LePage praised Coulombe for adding to the economic development in the area, something LePage said the state is in need of. We continue delivering the news our communities need during these ever-changing times. Mr. Coloumbe walked away with 600 million dollars while the public official who took the bribe lost his pension. It just went berserk, he said. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. For me it was perfect. Growing up, his father, Roland, worked as the head of the Bates Mills Hill Division until 1966 when he took a chance on a job in Venezuela. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"LWW7idsfHZszr1kUM9tyd5MlbfLa9zztJf0Ld5BLNFI-1800-0"}; I ended up selling to give me some relief. We were all nervous.. The optics do not look good for Code Enforcement Officer Geoff Smith. Ten years ago, in 2005, Paul Coulombe stood on the warehouse factory floor of White Rock Distilleries in Lewiston and asked his workers to trust him. He said to me, What have you done for this town? Of course, what he really meant was, How much money have you put into this town? But everyone gives in different ways.. Change is hard, she said. Louis Coulombe was born 1641 at Neufbourg, Eveche d'Evreux, Normandie, France. We have such a short season here in Maine, so it was important to get it done and open to enjoy the whole summer.. So he began to spend it. White Rock bottles and ships 16,000 cases of four varieties of Pinnacle Whipped vodka each week. Maine Medical Center received two large donations totaling $10.5 million from prominent Maine families on Tuesday. Coulombe took a straight-commission sales job with White Rock and headed out to Ohio to grow the brands in neighboring states. CRANSTON - Paul A. Coulombe, 68, of Cranston died Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at the Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center, Providence.Born in Pawtucket, a son of Armand Coulombe of Pawtucket and the late Laur Please subscribe or login first for digital access. His vision for Boothbay includes a four-star resort and spa to pair with his high-end golf facility, a suite of condominiums with views of the course and a nearby town village of boutique shops. (He and three siblings made a $1.3 million donation there in 2008 the single largest in the hospitals history that named the new emergency room after their mom, Cecile.) The first major success on his own: the sweet taste of cherry and grape vodka. Coulombe said he was misquoted. That would have been success. Mr. Coulombe, a 65-year-old liquor magnate, has spent the last 10 years pouring his fortune into upgrading the Boothbay region long known as a summer vacation spot where tourists wander. There are 30+ professionals named "Paul Coulombe", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. Shortly after Coulombe bought White Rock, Three Olives sales skyrocketed with the introduction of grape and cherry vodka, said Coulombe. The best result we found for your search is Paul L Coulombe age 80+ in Brunswick, ME. Or become an online supporter for as little as $2.99 per month. No one has invested. The room is heated to between 105 degrees and 110 degree so that the sugary mixtures flow easily, said White Rock Director of Operations Joe Werda. Log in to join the discussion. Or a combination of all those things that entertain our youth. In the years that Mr. Coulombe has been on the Peninsuala with the intent to transform the Peninsuala in his own image, his image has been uniformly whitewashed by the press, making it appear as if Mr, Coulombe sold White Wash Distilleries simply because he wanted to retire and all the while the court case and non-prosecution agreement was still under development until it was concluded in 2017. Back then, White Rock owned Three Olives Vodka, a brand made from English vodka and marketed as a premium spirit. Other competitors include Bacardi, which sells Grey Goose vodka, Brown-Foreman, which owns Finlandia Vodka, and Beam Global Spirits & Wine. Don't have a commenting profile? He gathered the 250 employees one last time in April 2012. The new helipad will be able to accept two helicopters at the same time, and the helipad will have quick access to the emergency department from the tower. yes . Someone in 1958 or something put a closed sign out there. Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. He did build that dream house an 18,000-square-foot marble complex overlooking the mouth of the Sheepscot River that took four years to complete and includes an infinity pool on the granite ledge. Jim Beam bought the company for $605 million in a deal he personally negotiated with the board and CEO. I guess the toughest speech I ever had to make in my life was standing in front of everybody and telling them I had sold out, hesaid. You can share 5 more gift articles this month. Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. Try to find a bus driver! I suggested a limousine service instead but money could also be saved by paying a bus driver competitively well, which would not come close to seventy-seven million dollars in the cost of building such a school on this Penisula because we do not believe we can find a bus driver to transport the students to a more regionally centric location. Coulombe said he never said anything like that. He said he was trying to make a point about seasonal versus year-round employment and how unemployment can lead to problems like substance abuse and domestic violence. 5 at 2:00 pm, POSTPONED: Benefit Screening of PASANG: In the Shadow of Everest at The Waldo Theatreon Sat, March 18th at 7pmin celebration of International Womens Day, Meet the SponsorsTwo Salty Dogs Pet Outfitters, Sam Grinnell Joins Allen Insurance and Financial, Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, Town of Boothbay Harbor - Public Notice Liquor Licenses, Town of Boothbay Harbor Building Permits 03-02-23, Coastal Car Wash Automotive Detail Specialist, Zander Lee - Manager, Executive Assistant, Crooker Construction March 7th Alna Planning Board, Author talk at Southport Memorial Library, Langhorne Slim with John Craigie live at The Waldo, Tada to play the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor. There is no reason to be against it, he said. Michelle Amero photo Cathy Honeycomb, mother. Ironically enough, when his marketing team had initially pitched him on the whipped cream flavor, hed said forget it and shut his office door. And George Whitten, the now-93-year-old who reluctantly sold his house after Coulombe threatened to put a giant net around it, has become a fan, too. Hell create some jobs, and thats great, but people arent going to be able to afford the things hes building.. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. The Coulombes said their gift was spurred in part by the care Giselaine Coulombe received during three recent trips to Maine Med for various health problems. I think they were trying to cause trouble for Paul, and I dont know why, from Boston, she said. I said, We can do two things: I can offer you enough money to pay whatever youve got in it or I can put the range in and put a big black net around your house. Asked why hes doing it, Coulombe said he wants Boothbay to surpass Kennebunkport or Camden or even Bar Harbor in drawing tourists with money to spend. Multimillionaire Paul Coulombe has been remaking this coastal town into an upscale tourist destination of epic proportions but not without making some waves. He had grand plans and needed the geographic . So Gamage did, and Coulombe did. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. Paul Coulombe, who was born in Maine, joined the company in 1975 as a salesman based in Columbus, Ohio. Coulombe said he doesnt understand the controversy. By comparison, Diageo, a White Rock competitor, sold 24.3 million cases of the Smirnoff brand in 2010, according to Diageos annual report. Coulombe has gotten most of what he wants, but he has lost, too. Don't have a commenting profile? It was not a flattering piece and some of the more inflammatory things in it came directly from Coulombes mouth. Weve never been treated so well, said Paul Coulombe, a developer. Coulombe said he thought White Rock might sell for $50 million or $100 million. //]]> Thats just the way it is.. Kaplan says Coulombe resurrected the idea for a roundabout an idea that voters rejected only two years ago and bankrolled a study that supported changing the traffic pattern. The women walked back in and insisted theyd leave as soon as he took a sip. Name Paul Lvesque. That turned out, for White Rock, to be a very good thing. Her 23-year-old fish and chips stand is feet from his golf course; more tourists mean more business. But even his donations, while always welcome, have been criticized by some who say hes buying the town so theyll support him. View the profiles of professionals named "Paul Coulombe" on LinkedIn. Login. Other options are not part of the conversation- except for the fact that Mr. Lorraine responded to my suggestion of the option of building such a school in a more regionally-centric location so that costs and benefits could be shared by a larger community. He said he always wanted to plan and create a small town., Perhaps the most damaging line in that magazine story, though, was when Coulombe described the inertia of the community and said this about the locals: Theyre all unemployed in the winter and drinking at McSeagulls. . Hes turning the town into a rich-person destination and the people left are going to be the servants.. That might have been helpful in at least opening my eyes to something else.. To remake the golf course, Coulombe hired Bruce Hepner, a longtime associate of Tom Doak, one of the premier golf course architects in the world. Paul LePage while his daughter, Amy Whitten, looks on at the Boothbay Harbor Country Club on May 11. Boothbays juggernaut: If he builds it, will they come? The clubhouse also features two restaurants, Grille 19 and Pauls Steakhouse. Seven years after he took control of White Rock, Coulombe sold the Lewiston company his father had bought for $100,000 in 1970. Conveyor belts carry bottles from labeling machines to filling machines, past the watchful eyes of human inspectors and up, along the ceiling, into the warehouse, where they are boxed and loaded onto pallets for shipping. I saw an extremely vibrant community and that really stuck in my mind. It didnt happen sitting behind a desk in Lewiston, Maine. Anything that would help us with that, whatever the in-thing-to-do is, would be extremely helpful., At the end of the interview, Coulombe walked back his statement about not having any personal interest in development because he said it simply is not true: There is something in it for me: to see joy on every person's face whether they come off the golf course or have a nice dinner at the hotel or come off the boat or just love being in town and are happy to be there. He laughs now, he said, when people congratulate him on his overnight success. The Coulombes understand what bringing a center like this will mean to the people of Maine, including those in the Midcoast region, for families desperate for help. Cynthia Fisher checks labels and the fill levels of bottles of Pinnacle Vodka at White Rock Distilleries in Lewiston. According to Impact Newsletter, a New York City-based publication covering the beer, wine and spirits industries, Pinnacle vodka was the fastest-growing premium spirit in the world in 2010, with annual growth of 38 percent based on cases shipped. Boothbays history is steeped in fishing and there are still vestiges of that in the picturesque harbor, where lobster boats with chipped paint occupy the same space as luxury yachts, including some that belong to Coulombe. And some arent sure he has enough support. Login. Because of a reporters error, the original published version was incorrect about the background of one of his critics. He didnt know them; they didnt know him. He was an indentured servant for three years, until he bought or was given a farm on Ile d'Orleans. We blew by them. Please help sustain local journalism. The donations from the Coulombes and Beans support Maine Medical Center's ongoing $534 million project. Sign in or Subscribe He was the son of Jacques Coulombe and Boemi (Rolline) Drieu. There are things like winter carnivals and many other ideas discussed and thrown at me all the time and I think all are possibilities. I was like, Oh my god, thats like the best thing Ive ever tasted in my life. Editors note: Last week, three years after he sold White Rock Distilleries, Lewiston native Paul Coulombe agreed to an interview that offered us unexpected access to his Boothbay-area home, properties, history and plans. I have zero net worth, so Im taking all the risk here, but I believe in it. It went better than hoped, the blow softened by those bonuses. Everyone has seen the article; bad news travels quickly, apparently, Coulombe said. The bully of Boothbay.. Paul Coulombe, founder of Pinnacle Vodka, took out an $85 million loan to buy White Rock Distilleries and move his entire family out of the company. Hes vindictive, Lipman said. George Whitten, a World War II veteran, raised the flag during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The company sells liquor under roughly 100 brands, including Barbarossa and Calico Jack rums, Jenkins Gin, Antigua Cruz tequila and Grand Macnish blended Scotch whisky. We continue delivering the news our communities need during these ever-changing times. Hes actually been nice to me, said Stover, who sits on the board of the Opera House, which received a recent donation from Coulombe. At the grand opening of the clubhouse in May, members marveled at the new facility and said they couldnt wait to play. He. After $100 million invested in about 20 properties, Paul Coulombe is still driven by the desire to see the harbor and its peninsula neighbors succeed as a premier economic driver on the Midcoast. To make room for the roundabout, Coulombe purchased the property that houses the towns ambulance service. Workers buckled up. I didnt realize I wasnt just content to read a book.. While it was being built, some locals lamented the constant rock blasting that was needed to accommodate some features. Marc Tetreau . His talk was, Paul, we got lucky. Coulombe has also given from his Florida address $5,200 to Congressional candidate Bruce Poliquin, a Republican, and $5,000 to the Lincoln County GOP committee. In the second half of last year the brand exploded, White Rock Chief Executive Officer Paul Coulombe said. I knew those people. Southport residents Paul and Giselaine Coulombe host local leaders to learn about the Center of Excellence in Autism and Developmental Disorders to open in Maine next summer, Michelle Amero, Boothbay Harbor Country Club, Paul Coulombe speaks at the fundraiser he hosted for the Center of Excellence in Autism and Developmental Disorders at Boothbay Harbor Country Club. Survived by wife, Bernetta; son, Mark Coulombe; daughter, Margaret (Bill) Connelly; 2 grandchi People like to say 'Well, that's temporary, it's construction,' but 10 years times 100 That's a big, big impact. Furthermore, the legal proceedings regarding the play-to-pay agreement have been in the works without any media coverage since Mr. Coulombe bought the Boothbay Country Club. After a few years, he pulled the plug. In addition to the new clubhouse, the $50 million project also included improvements to the golf course and the construction of a new entrance to the property, Boothbay Harbor Country Club spokesperson Michelle Amero said. Im trying to put the peninsula on the map, he said. Three Olives made up half of the companys sales. Bean sued over a waterproof claim. We, as with all of our local businesses, need your support, too. My brother was really good at what he did, being an inside guy running the operations, building new buildings, growing the business, Coulombe said. It is undoubtedly media coverage due to an anonymously funded architectural design for a single option choice for the future of education on the Boothbay Peninsula. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. Paul Coulombe, who was born in Maine, joined the company in 1975 as a salesman based in Columbus, Ohio. Pinnacle is distilled five times and has more than 40 flavor variations. The bottling process happens on six production lines that stretch the length the plant. Im trying to attract other money, too, he said. He believes it means including a variety of options like attached houses, condos, apartment buildings, single family homes and detached villas. Considering himself fortunate to have found success and wealth, Coulombe said it is wrong not to give back in some way to the places which helped shape him as a person and provided some of his fondest memories as a child and young adult. Those are not good reasons.. Its had a big transformation, better than I could possibly imagine, Coulombe said. Hes spending his money in our town and they dont have the money to spend in our town, so theyre going after him. Or willing to take that risk, he said. Coulombe, 63, grew up in a working-class French-Canadian family in the heavily French-Canadian city of Lewiston. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. It had always been Whittens dream to live on a golf course, even if, at age 91, he couldnt play anymore. Louise also worked for the Welfare Department and co-owned a knitting store with her sister Natalie. I said, Hey George, I really need your house. However, change and the communities relationship with it is only a small part of the problem; like many in the region, Coulombe said he believes affordable housing and education are the two biggest issues facing the communities. 'What's he doing that for? When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. If you click on the link, you might find that it does not stay visible for long, so be prepared to save as a webpage quickly. Sign up and get the top stories to begin the day delivered to your inbox at 5 a.m. I was kind of afraid of the reaction. Mackenzie . He doesnt give away anything unless there is something in it for him.. Hi, to comment on stories you must create a commenting profile. His home the other half of the year is an hour away from Lewiston in Southport, in a $30 million seaside mansion he built on Pratts Island, near Boothbay. After that, who knows, although he hinted at a new marina in the harbor as well as more waterfront hotels. DOT officials, though, said private-public partnerships for road improvements are becoming more and more common and they welcome investors like Coulombe. The Bottom Line: White Rock reaches a pinnacle, CEO can run White Rock from anywhere in the world, Storm could drop 18 inches of snow on Portland by Saturday night, Saturday storm will cause major travel problems in southern Maine, A year after record-breaking catch, value of Maine lobster landings are lowest in a decade, Nor'easter starting Friday set to end messy, stormy week, Over a century since launching its famed boots, L.L. Enter your email and password to access comments. Heres why. Giving the Park the benefit of the doubt, the question is why is Mr. Smith playing the role he has chosen? Construction workers at the country club who come down now each day for lunch have told her how Coulombe replaced the outhouses that once dotted the course with air conditioned, granite- and marble-lined flushing bungalows. Then, in two sales, he sold the company for more than $1 billion. 202 - . They dont come to you; you have to go get them.. Hi, to comment on stories you must create a commenting profile. Venezuela might have been Mars because that was how remote it was, he said. My distributors that I had (buy) truckloads were ordering backup truckloads within two weeks.. The community has a choice, he said. Two families donate $10.5 million to Maine Med in midst of hospitals expansion, the $534 million expansion and renovation project, Portland Planning Board clears way for Maine Meds big expansion, Lobster industry faces another deep cut in bait fish, Maine House narrowly approves local option sales tax, Storm could drop 18 inches of snow on Portland by Saturday night, Saturday storm will cause major travel problems in southern Maine, A year after record-breaking catch, value of Maine lobster landings are lowest in a decade, Nor'easter starting Friday set to end messy, stormy week, Over a century since launching its famed boots, L.L. Event speakers included Paul Coulombe, MaineHealth President Rich Petersen and Cathy Honeycomb, mother of young adult twins with autism. Louis left France in 1665. At that rate, White Rock will sell roughly 1.8 million Pinnacle cases by the end of 2011. Sales picked up. He insists the story is rife with errors and that his relationship with the towns isnt so contentious. Storm could drop 18 inches of snow on Portland by Saturday night, Saturday storm will cause major travel problems in southern Maine, A year after record-breaking catch, value of Maine lobster landings are lowest in a decade, Nor'easter starting Friday set to end messy, stormy week, Over a century since launching its famed boots, L.L.