Shannon Schmelzer of Boothbay Harbor has always wanted to be her own boss, running her own business. Now, at the age of 26, her dream is coming true.

Schmelzer is opening up Shannon's Unshelled, a lobster roll and hot dog stand that will be located close to the municipal parking lot by the footbridge, right behind the allen david Gallery on Granary Way.

The stand will be on a trailer, rather than a fixed permanent structure, for which Schmelzer has big design plans.

“I want it to be very attractive and appealing,” Schmelzer said. “Bright colors, a shiny red metal roof, cedar shakes on the sides. Something that will enhance the area.”

Schmelzer's father, Russ Schmelzer, is her financial backer and silent partner.

“We had the same idea at almost exactly the same time,” Shannon Schmelzer said. “Where can you go in-town Boothbay Harbor for a quick lobster roll to go? Nowhere.”

Schmelzer plans to create a roughly three-foot fence with benches on the inside for patrons to sit on. Currently, the plans call for the fence will be set back slightly from the edge of the road to allow pedestrians to walk past. A couple of trash cans, rather than a large dumpster, will be on the property as well.

The trailer will be hooked into electric, water and sewer already on the property. A grease trap will be the first thing installed.

“I want to make sure the property is preserved in every way,” Schmelzer said. “When the trailer is gone during the offseason, it should look no different than it does right now.”

At the March 12 planning board meeting, Schmelzer received approval for her plans after an hour and a half discussion with town residents and the board.

“Schmelzer is very passionate about this,” Planning Board Chairman Mike Tomko said. “She did a wonderful job of supplying (the planning board) with information and has a lot of ideas of how to utilize the relatively small space.”

“As long as she abides by all of the laws we have to, I have no problem with it,” said Craig Andrews, owner of the nearby Andrews’ Harborside restaurant.

Schmelzer's boyfriend, Jake Zwart, will be helping at the business. If business picks up, she plans to hire two or three more people so she won't have to work every day.

“I want to be open around 10:30 a.m. every day, and close around 8:30 or whenever it gets dark,” Schmelzer said. “And we want to promote other businesses as well.”

Lobster rolls and hot dogs will come with chips and a soda or water. Schmelzer is planning to only use lobsters brought in by Boothbay Harbor lobstermen, and hopes to be open by May 14, if not sooner.

“Most of all I want Shannon's Unshelled to add to the community,” she said. “I want to be a true participant in and member of the community, not just someone who happens to live here.”

Her biggest concern is that she may eat into her profits. “I love lobster,” Schmelzer said. “I could eat it every day.”