A tradition was born in 1969, when Ray and Bea Gagner opened a simple seafood take-out stand in Kittery, Maine.

Their vision was for a rustic summer place where folks would travel for fresh lobster, tasty chowders and other yummy treats from their old family recipes — a place where Bea Gagner would greet everyone with a cheerful hello and a smile.

Nearly five decades and several million pounds of lobster later, the tradition continues at Weathervane Seafood Restaurants.

Jeremy Gagner, grandson of the founders, started working in the family business during college. Now chief operating officer, he is extremely proud of the company’s long history of serving up fresh seafood — and fond memories — to generations of hungry families.

The Weathervane also serves the community through its many charitable activities (the annual Weathervane Seafoods Charity Golf Tournament has raised over $120,000 for Make-A-Wish). Additional community involvement includes the company’s Chowdah for Charity program, its Claws for a Cause initiative and local scholarships.

Buoyed by strong relationships with fishermen up and down the coast, the company never wavers from its original promise to serve only the freshest, locally sourced seafood to its guests.

Today, the Gagner family invites you to visit any of the Weathervane Seafood Restaurants in New Hampshire and southern Maine. Come on in, sit back and relax, enjoy the seafaring family atmosphere and, most of all, enjoy the food.