Rock City Coffee Workers to Become Business Owners

ROCKLAND — The pending sale of Rock City Coffee and Rock City Coffee Roasters to their workers will assure the continuation of the longtime downtown businesses.

Susanne Ward, who founded the companies 26 years ago with her late partner, Patrick Reilley, said she is thrilled that she can sell them to the dedicated employees who will see that the businesses remain an important part of the community.

The sale is scheduled to be finalized Friday, March 9.

Ward and Reilley opened Second Read Books & Coffee in 1992. The couple had come from northern California. She said they had really good friends who lived in the Midcoast and had visited the area before deciding to relocate.

The original store was at 369 Main St., where C’est La Vie is now. Ward said her and Reilley’s decision to open a coffee shop/book store matched their interests.

“I love reading, but I knew books were expensive and Rockland was not a wealthy community. So we thought used books would work,” she said.

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