CAMDEN — Tuesday, Dec. 31, will be the final day for service at Graffam Brother's Harborside Restaurant at Bay View Landing on Camden Harbor. Kim Graffam and Leni Gronros, owners of Harborside, said they have enjoyed the time spent in business on the harbor, and will greatly miss both guests and their crew.

The time has come to close that portion of the business, they said in a press release.

In addition to the difficult financial climate which is affecting much of downtown Camden, Kim Graffam added: "With three of our children still in elementary school, the demands of operating a restaurant in addition to our other businesses was taking us away from our kids far too often. The decision was an agonizing one knowing both that the employees of Harborside would be without work and that Harborside's popular Community Connections evenings had already been scheduled for this winter."

David Robichaud, owner of Cappy's Chowder House, has graciously agreed to host all the scheduled Community Connections events for 11 consecutive Wednesday evenings starting Jan. 8.

Leni Gronos said: "Kim and I plan to be at Cappy's on Jan. 8 to support them as they take over this project for us and we are confident the community will continue to support the 11 local nonprofits that will have events there this winter."

The Graffam family intends to focus their efforts on their other business holdings, including Pen BayOil/Coastal Fuel, Graffam Brother's Seafood Market, the seasonal Graffam Brother's Seafood Shack and Tolman Pond Market.

"We would like to thank the many, wonderful people who worked as part of our team at Harborside, as well as the local and visiting guests that supported us along the way," said Kim Graffam.

Also on Bay Vew Landing, Fresh Bakery announced that it would be closing Dec. 30. The sign on its door stated it would reopen in May.

Stephanie Lee, an employee of Fresh Bakery, said employees were told the closing was only for the season.

"We were told we might reopen at a later date, maybe when the restaurant reopens," said Stephanie. "It might be under different management, it might not look like the bakery, but that any changes would affect only the bakery and not the restaurant."

Lee said the bakery has been a great place to work.

"The people here have been amazing," said Lee. "The people as well who have been coming in. The community around us are all really sweet people. We've had really good feedback, we have really great products and great customer service. It's just that the business wasn't there."