“Rivalries was established in 2002 after identifying a need for a sports themed restaurant in the Portland area. My husband and I both grew up working in restaurants, and he comes from a family of sports fans, so this just seemed like a natural fit. We both have an entrepreneurial spirit, and with our combined educational knowledge, I trusted that this was the right move for us.
When regulations amid the pandemic were first put in place early last year, it was all just shocking to us. Add in the extra layer of being responsible not only for your livelihood, but that of your employees, and that was just so much stress. We were honestly a bit overwhelmed.
As a business owner, you feel a sense of responsibility to your employees and customers. There were just so many uncertainties in the beginning and all the unknowns made operating the business a challenging task. But we tackled it fast. We got together with core management and put our heads together to come up with some solutions.
We temporarily shut down our business in Portland and began offering curbside pick-up out of our Falmouth location until we were able to reopen. There were a lot of regulations to follow, but we got into the groove of things pretty easily.
We’ve been lucky to have such a supportive community and following, and we do what we can to support them as well. During those tough times, it felt like people coming in weren’t only appreciative to have food for their bodies, but they were grateful to be given some food for their soul.
Being open for take-out during the shutdown gave people a good reason to get out of their homes and socialize with others, even if it was behind a mask. We hope that, if only for the duration of their curbside pick-up, we brought some sense of normalcy back to their lives during those times.
Community is all about supporting each other, and we give back to others because it’s the right thing to do, personally and professionally. I think small businesses are really the framework of the community in which they reside. In a way, they become a necessity, because they provide more than just services or products. They become part of the essence of the area, and people rely upon these businesses to create a sense of connection and bring people together.” - Amy Meader, Co-Owner of Rivalries
Congratulations to Rivalries on being selected as one of the winners of the Heartbeat of Our Community award!
