Last spring Maine Behavioral Healthcare broke ground on a 28,000 square foot treatment, training and research facility located on the grounds of Spring Harbor Hospital. The spirits are blended and bottled at White Rocks Lewiston plant. That changes the community.. Two families donate $10.5 million to Maine Med in midst of hospitals expansion, the $534 million expansion and renovation project, Portland Planning Board clears way for Maine Meds big expansion, Lobster industry faces another deep cut in bait fish, Maine House narrowly approves local option sales tax, Storm could drop 18 inches of snow on Portland by Saturday night, Saturday storm will cause major travel problems in southern Maine, A year after record-breaking catch, value of Maine lobster landings are lowest in a decade, Nor'easter starting Friday set to end messy, stormy week, Over a century since launching its famed boots, L.L. He said the first time he and his wife visited the property, there wasnt a single blade of green grass. Explore historical records and family tree profiles about Paul Coulombe on MyHeritage, the world's family history network. Coulombe owns one-third of White Rock; he gifted the rest to his daughter, who lives in Boca Raton, Fla. Please wait for the page to reload. Now, shes willing to give him a chance. Its had a big transformation, better than I could possibly imagine, Coulombe said. All we have to do now is build a huge hotel so we can get people to come and stay here and play.. But he has been spending significantly more time there since he retired in 2012 with his wife, Giselaine. I've been doing that for over 10 years. Today, Coulombe spends half the year in Florida. Fred Kaplan, a local author, has become Coulombes most vocal critic at town meetings and in letters to the editor in the weekly newspaper. I could see it, and they didnt agree. The company sells liquor under roughly 100 brands, including Barbarossa and Calico Jack rums, Jenkins Gin, Antigua Cruz tequila and Grand Macnish blended Scotch whisky. The construction of the clubhouse took roughly 18 months and employed more than 60 subcontractors, with up to 100 workers on site during the busiest days, Amero said. After graduating from the University of Maine, Coulombe went to work for his parents in sales, traveling all over the country to peddle White Rocks brands. Who benefits? Kaplan asked. Or a combination of all those things that entertain our youth. Login. The same week, he fired the entire management team and named his loyal assistant president because, he said, there was no one else left to name. Coulombe told Wine & Spirits Daily that Pinnacle was the number one brand at White Rock Distilleries. The guy who created Grey Goose and I were best friends and I saw what he was doing. Coulombe said his only child daughter Michelle, who worked in sales at White Rock had already let him know years before that she didnt have any interest in taking over the company. White Rock is not a liquor distiller. 1 selling vodka in Ohio, according to Coulombe. Use the form below to reset your password. Mr. Coulombe volunteered to come up with donors to fund the architectural design and that is as much as the public knows about the identity of the funders. White Rock executives attribute their success to word-of-mouth marketing and the popularity of Pinnacles new whipped cream-flavored vodka. White Rock employs some 230 staff, including 200 at the Lewiston plant and a five-person marketing team in Portland. Enter your email and password to access comments. I actually never made money on Cabana Boy; I actually lost my shirt, if the truth be known, Coulombe said. No ones told that story before. The Magazine. In 2005, Coulombe bought out his three siblings for full control of the company. After that, who knows, although he hinted at a new marina in the harbor as well as more waterfront hotels. But I guess you are what you are. Paul LePage holds the ribbon as Boothbay Harbor Country Club owner Paul Coulombe and his wife Giselaine cut the ribbon to the clubhouse May 11. He was in. His mom, though, a Lewiston native, was done with the adventure. To remake the golf course, Coulombe hired Bruce Hepner, a longtime associate of Tom Doak, one of the premier golf course architects in the world. Michelle Amero photo, A rendition of the Center of Excellence in Autism and Developmental Disorders. Coulombe even offered to pay for one-third of the $3.5 million cost through a public-private partnership between himself, the state and the town. Storm could drop 18 inches of snow on Portland by Saturday night, Saturday storm will cause major travel problems in southern Maine, A year after record-breaking catch, value of Maine lobster landings are lowest in a decade, Nor'easter starting Friday set to end messy, stormy week, Over a century since launching its famed boots, L.L. Coulombe's business grew from three employees to over 200 employees and became one of the 25 largest businesses in Maine in 2012 with revenues that exceeded 200 million dollars per year. But Bryer said he also understands that the communitys history is important to people and that change is hard. Among them are Jim and Ginny Farrin, who own the Howard House, a bed-and-breakfast just south of the proposed roundabout, and another 6 acres behind it that abut the golf course parcel. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. (Maia Zewert photo). The heliport will be named the Linda and Diana Bean Heliport. Although some residents have objected to Coulombes plans for various reasons its too much, its too fast, its too luxurious he has mostly been able to do what he wants because everything has been on private property. Youre not just a number.. Learn more. Marie Anne Lvesque. Login. Another back room houses three 6,000-gallon tanks of liquid sucrose and corn syrup, which sweeten some White Rock liquors. Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. Name Paul /Lvesque/ Given names . So whichever way you want to do it, Im OK with.'. George Whitten was one of them. DOT officials, though, said private-public partnerships for road improvements are becoming more and more common and they welcome investors like Coulombe. In the center of the plant is a monitoring room and testing lab, where technicians measure alcohol content, and at the back at the plant is the flavor house, full of enough concentrate to flavor 25,000 cases of liquor. But one flavor, Pinnacle Whipped, trumps all the rest, said Coulombe. Everyone who tasted it would tell 100 of their (Facebook) friends, Coulombe said. The Park presents facts and records but the Code Enforcement Officer rests on his authority, alone. Elisabeth Coulombe View this family. Many of the flavors are from companies such as Swiss flavor and fragrance manufacturer Givaudan. The Coulombes understand what bringing a center like this will mean to the people of Maine, including those in the Midcoast region, for families desperate for help. I worked 80 or 100 hours a week; I wasnt home for 20 years, Coulombe said. That would have been success. There was an old snack shack overlooking the boats moored in Cozy Harbor. He basically told my clients, as a way of trying to get them to give up, Ive got a lot more money than you. Hes a bully. After Cleveland bartenders began experimenting with it in funky cherry and grape bombs (shots of the grape or cherry vodka with Red Bull) in 2004, it became the No. Gamage did, but it didnt go well. That means young people are not being attracted or retained. Just five years ago, Coulombe bought all shares of the company from 24 of his relatives, a move he called well-timed. The plan will go to a townwide vote later this year. At the grand opening of the clubhouse in May, members marveled at the new facility and said they couldnt wait to play. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. MaineHealth, Maine Behavioral Healthcares parent organization, is providing half of the funds to the project, and a capital campaign has raised over $5.4 million prior to the event from the community toward the other half, leaving just under $2 million to be raised over the coming year. Sign up and we'll help you stay connected to Vacationland by sending our twice-a-month newsletter to your inbox. Already registered? Even if the roundabout goes through, it probably wont always be smooth sailing for Coulombe. I think it can be that, but if you don't reinvest, if you don't rebuild your infrastructure hotels, motels, restaurants, streets, schools you start to decline.. It just went berserk, he said. If you click on the link, you might find that it does not stay visible for long, so be prepared to save as a webpage quickly. Coulombe purchased the country club in 2013 for $1.4 million. The clubhouse also features two restaurants, Grille 19 and Pauls Steakhouse. In two public meetings held this spring, dozens of townspeople came armed with questions and skepticism. 1 rum market in the United States. Still is today, said former White Rock owner Paul Coulombe. Please wait for the page to reload. Sign up and we'll deliver the top stories to begin the day to your inbox at 6 a.m. Paul LePage while his daughter, Amy Whitten, looks on at the Boothbay Harbor Country Club on May 11. There are 30+ professionals named "Paul Coulombe", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. Other options are not part of the conversation- except for the fact that Mr. Lorraine responded to my suggestion of the option of building such a school in a more regionally-centric location so that costs and benefits could be shared by a larger community. He flavored and bottled it in Lewiston, in bottles hand-painted in France. Mr. Coulombe, a 65-year-old liquor magnate, has spent the last 10 years pouring his fortune into upgrading the Boothbay region long known as a summer vacation spot where tourists wander. He was the son of Jacques Coulombe and Boemi (Rolline) Drieu. Since then, Coulombe has seen few impediments stand in his way as he seeks to remake the town of Boothbay into a tourist destination to rival other coastal Maine communities. Paul LePage joined Boothbay Harbor Country Club owner Paul Coulombe and his wife Giselaine for the ceremony, which celebrated the completion of a $50 million project three years in the making. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. Manage your Advertiser Democrat Subscription, Manage your Livermore Falls Advertiser Subscription, Manage your Franklin Journal Subscription, Manage your Rumford Falls Times Subscription, Manage Your Rangeley Highlander Subscription, Sun Media Groups Western Maine Weekly Subscriptions, Sen. Collins was lone Republican to oppose confirmation of Texas judge wholl rule on abortion pill, Resinosa Ensemble performance set for Nordica Auditorium, Antonio Rocha plans New Gloucester performance, Man accused of stealing pot, starting fight at Auburn cannabis store, Auburn plans to cut two dozen positions from proposed school budget. Courtesy photo, A rendition of one of the corridors at the Center of Excellence in Autism and Developmental Disorders. White Rock now bottles and ships some 16,000 cases weekly of four Pinnacle Whipped varieties original, chocolate, orange and cherry. When he first offered to save Southports ramshackle 1777 Town Hall and wharf, townspeople turned him down. Learn more. Coulombe had just taken out an $85 million loan to buy the rest of his family out of the company. Acknowledging the core of his establishments' employees are mostly seasonal, Coulombe also said he can already see the effects of fall and winter festivities lengthening the shoulder season. Weve never been treated so well, said Paul Coulombe, a developer. The next morning, Whitten called and agreed to sell. (after a few seconds code is mysteriously inserted into link address) In all of the stories written about the Pay-to-Play case, this is the only one, I found that names names beyond the Company names, identifying Paul Coulombe. Hes clearly still a fan of the bold move and in many ways, hes now asking the people here to trust him. They didnt marry, but Coulombe has kept in touch. The optics do not look good for Code Enforcement Officer Geoff Smith. He wanted to buy a business so he bought White Rock. You will receive an email to complete the registration. Louis left France in 1665. Kaplan wanted to know if Coulombe was prepared to put in writing a guarantee that the town wouldnt be on the hook if something were to happen to Coulombe. Its the rich worried that somebody else might be richer. Courtesy photo, A rendition of the main entrance to the Center of Excellence in Autism and Developmental Disorders. Other ingredients are sourced locally, such as cream from Portlands Oakhurst Dairy, an ingredient in White Rocks Aunt Beas Butterscotch Cream. Don't have a commenting profile? I couldnt believe it. Other than Bigelow Labs in East Boothbay, the job market is thin. He says he has been and will continue to be mindful of development that matches the areas New England charm. Louis left France in 1665. HEALTH: Paul and Giselaine Coulombe and their daughter, Michelle Coulombe-Hagerty recently made a $7.5 million pledge to Maine Medical Center (MMC), home to the Coulombe Family Tower. Despite all that variety, the unflavored bottling is still the brand's best-selling expression. LePage praised Coulombe for adding to the economic development in the area, something LePage said the state is in need of. Success. However, the article shown above names Paul Coulombe. Those workers whod all stayed for the ride took home a bonus worth one to two years salary. Coulombe, Donald A. age 80, of Lindstrom, passed away May 28, 2007 after a short battle with lung cancer. LEWISTON A few years ago, youd be hard pressed to find Pinnacle Vodka at your local bar. He said, I think we can sell the business for a substantial amount. George Whitten, a World War II veteran, raised the flag during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Gamage has had several dealings with Coulombe since and has mixed feelings about what hes done for the region. I had no idea of that.. It didnt happen overnight, but Coulombe got what he wanted. Courtesy photo After $100 million invested in about 20 properties, Paul Coulombe is still driven by the desire to see. Coulombe thinks people will come around once they see hes serious, that hes not just trying to take over the town. Learn more. Paul LePage joined Boothbay Harbor Country Club owner Paul Coulombe and his wife Giselaine for the ceremony, which celebrated the completion of a $50 million project three years in the making. Because he payed to play! If youre not from Southport, youre from away. I was in a lot of debt buying out the family, he said. yes . It was hard work, but we were aggressive, Coulombe said. Trusted by millions of genealogists since 2003 Trusted information source for millions of people worldwide Learn more. He hit the road.