News Feature
Originally published in
Castine Patriot, November 9, 2023
Pentagöet Inn receives national recognition
The corner of the Pentagöet Inn where a staircase will be built with funds from National Trust for Historic Preservation.
by Michael Dickerson
In only their second year operating the Pentagöet Inn and with no prior innkeeping experience, proprietors George Trinovitch and Matt Powell have received a number of accolades and awards in 2023.
Trinovitch and Powell gained recognition from publications including Forbes, Bloomberg, and Mainebiz. They were also awarded a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and named Maine Innkeepers of the Year by industry advocacy group MaineHospitality.
In May, the Pentagöet Inn was one of 25 restaurants in the United States to be awarded a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation Backing Historic Small Restaurants program after being nominated by Castine resident, Lela Agnew.
Trinovitch and Powell intend to use most of the $40,000 in funding to reconstruct a prominent wooden staircase leading up to the building at the corner of Perkins and Main streets, pending final approval from the Castine Planning Board. Trinovitch and Powell prioritize further restoring the inn’s original, historic character and maintaining its role as a “community hub.” The staircase, which will function to make the space more inviting, aligns with both goals.
The newel posts for the staircase will be fabricated in cedar by Castine master woodturner Temple Blackwood in the profile of the original posts. Blackwood said he is “honored to be a part of [the] project” and admires what Powell and Trinovitch are doing to restore the prominence of the building with historical accuracy. Blackwood hopes that, eventually, Powell and Trinovitch will be able to renovate the entire porch, including custom full-length posts.
A February 12 article in Forbes named the Pentagöet Inn among three of the top inns in coastal Maine. The Pentagöet was also mentioned in a May 4 Bloomberg article, which identified the recent trend of chefs and hoteliers moving to coastal Maine, also noting a “boom” in tourism. In October, HospitalityMaine named Powell and Trinovitch Maine Innkeepers of the Year, who will officially receive the award on November 13 at the Hospitality Maine Summit. At the event, Powell will give a talk on cultivating culture and community within a company in an effort to build a brand and business.
The inn is closed for the season, but will host community events throughout the holiday season, including a Toys-for-Tots drive and Christmas party on December 1, movie showings and trivia nights. There will also be a baking class on December 9 and a sparkling wine tasting on December 17. The inn will reopen for the 2024 season on May 1.
Trinovitch noted that while they are “honored” by the recognition they have received, the true inspiration for their work is their dog, Mister.
