Over the Table, Under the Radar: What It Really Takes to Build in Maine, with Andrew Bonarrigo, Founder and Owner of ABI Masonry INC

Andrew Bonarrigo isn’t a venture-backed CEO. He didn’t get a grant. He didn’t inherit a business. He started out cleaning antique bricks from the Rockland Jail, selling them for 35 cents apiece—and used the proceeds to build his own masonry company from scratch.

Today, he runs one of the most respected construction crews on the coast of Maine. Year-round work. Eight full-time employees. On time. On budget. Every time.

In this episode, we go deep on what it really takes to run a small business in Maine:

⛏️ How he bootstrapped from a salvage yard to a 401K-equipped team

📈 Why going legit almost bankrupted him

💸 His take on Maine’s new paid family leave policy

🏡 The hidden pitfalls of “affordable” housing initiatives

🏗️ And why closing Dragon Cement might be the most backwards policy decision in decades

This isn’t just a story about bricks and mortar. It’s a story about grit, pride, and what it means to bet on yourself—especially in a state that makes it harder than it should be.

Timestamps:

0:00 – From bootlegging bricks to building a business

5:00 – Going legit: The moment he formed a corporation

11:00 – The impact of Maine’s paid family leave law

19:00 – Building his own home after work, in the dark

23:00 – North Haven housing and the fairness dilemma

25:00 – The Dragon Cement shutdown

27:30 – What needs to change for Maine builders

Subscribe for more conversations with the real Mainers building the future of this state.

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