GREENE — Auburn native Ali Desjardin never expected her mother’s birthday celebration in early March would lead to an opportunity of a lifetime — owning a historic community staple, The Sedgley Place restaurant. 

While the owners were preparing to close on a deal that would put the restaurant at 54 Sedgley Road into new hands in early March, Ali Desjardin and family were celebrating her mother’s birthday.

The change in ownership was a surprise and a bit of a disappointment for Desjardin since her family has been patrons there for over three decades.

“One of the servers told us they were under contract and hoped that people would continue with the events,” Desjardin said. “I was excited for the new owner, but kind of sad.”

With mixed emotions of happiness for the new owner and disappointment that she missed her chance, Desjardin returned to her busy life in the Casco Bay area where she held down seven jobs at once — lobster tour guide, oyster shucking, catering company employee and a handful of other jobs in the hospitality industry.

Desjardin was born and raised in Auburn, attended St. Dominic Academy and Bates College before moving to New York for a few years to work in software and insurance. She returned home just before the pandemic when she realized insurance wasn’t her calling.

“I dove back into hospitality learning to lobster, giving lobster tours in Casco Bay, shucking oysters, working as a deckhand and in property management — really anything but sitting at a desk talking about insurance.”

Weeks after her mother’s birthday celebration and true to their loyalty to The Sedgley Place, Desjardin and her family visited the restaurant on Easter Sunday. “The deal had fallen through.”

Before the meal was over, Desjardin and her parents were already drafting a plan for Desjardin to become the next owner. They would continue going through the financial and legal hoops for the next five months before closing a deal Aug. 28 and claiming the restaurant’s keys. Desjardin said her mother served as her real estate agent and her father as her landlord.

“There were high expectations, but buying a place that was built in 1786 also came with a lot of surprises,” Desjardin said. From discovering aging infrastructure to upgrading systems, the fast-paced past few weeks were intense.

Ray Shepard stands Wednesday in the kitchen of The Sedgley Place in Greene. He is head chef at the fine dining restaurant and has worked there for seven years. He stayed on when the restaurant changed owners recently. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

The important thing for the community to know is that not much will be changing in the way The Sedgley Place serves its patrons — it’s all about bringing fresh energy to a historic and meaningful place for the town, Desjardin said. The restaurant will keep the same menu, the same five-course meals patrons expect and private events.

Ali Desjardin stands Wednesday in front of The Sedgley Place in Greene, a fine dining establishment she purchased in August. Her family has been patrons of the restaurant for over 30 years, she said. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

“We were so fortunate that both the chef and manager stayed in their full-time roles. Everyone who wasn’t going off to college or the Marines stayed with us over the last three weeks. It’s been great to have locals come in, recognize the staff, and trust the consistency. We couldn’t have done it without them.”

New features include a fresh webpage and Sunday brunches, though mobile catering is not on the table for now. Desjardin said she is focused on the restaurant and keeping what it’s always done best in her sights. If a patron comes in for prime rib, it’s going to be the best prime rib with a great experience, from the waitstaff to the home and its beautiful garden.

For Desjardin, taking ownership means more than just preserving tradition — it’s about continuing an experience worth returning to time and again.

“It’s all about making the experience worth coming to,” Desjardin said. “I’ve been saying we’re maintaining the Sedgley standard while enhancing and bringing new energy to something we’ve always known and loved. My family has been going there for over 30 years, so I know what to expect from myself.”