The Blackwater Junction Restaurant, at 730 Main Street in Andover, recently reopened after a three-month closure due to the COVID-19 virus. Following the Governor’s Stay at Home orders, the restaurant temporarily closed on March 17. Exactly three months, later on June 17, the Blackwater Junction Restaurant once again opened its doors to serve breakfast and lunch to familiar faces and new patrons, as well.

All safety protocols are being followed, including server face coverings, sanitization of laminated menus, frequent disinfection of commonly-touched surfaces, provision of free face coverings to all patrons, and social distancing of seated customers. Given the current State of New Hampshire directives, the restaurant is open to 50% seating capacity and 100% take out capacity.

Visits to Blackwater Junction Restaurant can be made Wednesday to Sunday, 6 AM to 3 PM. Mondays and Tuesdays are their days for restocking, more cleaning, and rest. Customers who are not yet comfortable eating in the restaurant’s open and airy dining room are invited to call in orders that can be delivered to vehicles in the parking lot or picked up at the counter.

This family-owned and operated restaurant has been in the Hamel family for over two decades. After a devastating fire in 2017, the restaurant closed for a year and a half. Since the building is leased, after the fire the landlords repaired the building and later sold to a new owner. 

Then, after the death in November of 2018 of Ken Hamel, father of Greg Hamel and Elyse (Hamel) Downey, talks began of carrying on their father’s restaurant tradition. Since signing the lease agreement with the new building owners, the restaurant continues to experience improvements to the building and grounds. Most recently, the bittersweet vine was removed from their sign, making it much more visible to Main Street passersby.

To view their extensive lunch and dinner menus, visit Facebook.com/BlackwaterJunctionRestaurant. To place an order for a pickup, call 735-5099. Or, stop in and see their friendly staff at 730 Main Street in Andover. Looking for the perfect gift? Blackwater Junction Restaurant gift certificates are available in any denomination.

As a small business, they rely on the support of residents, local business’ employees, and passersby. Stop in and give their delicious food a try!  You will be glad you did.