Northshore Magazine

July 2012

Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.

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Riding the Wave surfboards to New Hampshire's Isles of Shoals, along with Meehan's willingness to take on such a daunting task, that sealed their link as business partners in the Flat- bread Company restaurants. "Jay could not find anyone to paddle with him or to take on this big venture," says Meehan, laughing at the memory. The two have common traits, like having energy to spare, an abiding commitment to community, a fascination with business, and a belief in clean, good food. They also possess the unique, laid-back intensity of long-time surfers that creates an affable mellowness in their restaurants and in their corporate attitude. The inspiration for Flatbread Company came years ago when Gould, who worked in his family's Amesbury insurance com- pany, visited a Vermont restaurant called American Flatbread during frequent ski trips. The weekend-only restaurant, which produced frozen flatbreads during the week, intrigued Gould. The Amesbury restaurant originally began in partnership with American Flatbread owner George Schenk; Gould was a licensee. Eventually, diverging business views led them into separate ventures, but Gould says he and Schenk remain friendly. A photographs by matt kalinowski July 2012 nshoremag.com 73 Two business-savvy friends turn a restaurant with local roots into a unique eatery with national appeal. By Julia Quinn-Szcesuil s john meehan re- calls, it was Jay Gould's challenge to see who would join him in paddling

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