For $150 and a 300-word essay, hopeful restaurant owners could land a successful restaurant and a place to live in one fell swoop by winning “Maine’s Dream Restaurant Contest.” Essays are now being accepted online at fuelcontest.com and by mail to Fuel Essay Contest, P.O. Box 591, Lewiston, ME, 04243, to win Fuel restaurant and a two-bedroom condo. Entries will be accepted online until October 17 at midnight and by mail until October 14.

Located at 49 Lisbon Street in the heart of downtown Lewiston, Fuel is a thriving modern French bistro with a lounge and event space called Sidecar. The restaurant, founded by owner and Auburn native Eric Agren, has been open for 10 years. Agren is also the developer of the eight new condominium units next door to Fuel.

“Whoever wins Fuel will immediately own a successful restaurant, a great place to live, an extensive wine cellar and everything in the restaurant – plus $20,000 in the bank,” said Agren. “I’m excited to hand over the keys to the restaurant to someone with energy and passion who has the drive to write the next chapter of Fuel with its fantastic team.” The contest includes the custom-built, 7,000 square foot commercial space and the recently built 1,600 square-foot two bedroom and two bathroom condo at 43 Lisbon Street.

Agren decided to offer the restaurant through an essay contest so anyone with passion can achieve their dream. “I know how hard it is to launch and develop a healthy business, and I’m happy to offer an opportunity like this – to own a successful restaurant and condo and to be able to share your love for good food and hospitality in a great Maine city,” he said. A lifelong entrepreneur, Agren is frequently credited with assisting with the revitalization of downtown Lewiston. He is also the founder and former owner of Marche, a wine bar and restaurant also in Lewiston.

Selected by a panel of independent judges, excluding Agren, who will review the anonymously submitted essays, the winner will be notified after October 25. For more information or to enter Maine’s Dream Restaurant Contest, visit fuelcontest.com.