Flo Stacy

Florence “Flo” Stacy was born in Mercer, Maine, in 1907 and had been a schoolteacher before becoming one of the Seacoast’s most memorable proprietors. In September 1959, she purchased a small hot-dog stand on Route 1 in Cape Neddick, originally opened as Bob’s in 1947, and made it her own.

For fourteen years, Flo operated the stand, serving steamed hot dogs with her closely guarded relish and secret sauce. She was as famous for her forceful personality and sharp wit as she was for the food. Customers came from throughout Maine, New England, and far beyond, and Flo’s reputation grew into something larger than the little roadside restaurant itself. As one contemporary account observed, “Flo herself is the legend.”

In 1973, Flo sold the business to her son, John, and daughter-in-law, Gail Stacy. Flo’s Hot Dogs remains family-owned and continues to operate in Cape Neddick, preserving the small stand, the simple menu, and the distinctive relish that made it an institution. Many returning visitors to Ogunquit agree that no visit is truly complete without at least one stop at Flo’s.

Although Flo’s was—and remains—in Cape Neddick rather than Ogunquit, Flo Stacy belongs in the broader memory of Ogunquit and its neighboring communities. Her restaurant was a familiar destination for residents and visitors, and her character became part of the local folklore: independent, outspoken, funny, demanding, and unforgettable.