Mainebiz

V O L . X X V N O. X X V I I N OV E M B E R 2 5 , 2 0 1 9 6 B U S I N E S S M A I N E Business news from around the state An innovative retail space serves as incubator B y M a u r e e n M i l l i k e n P o r t l a n d — The Cheese Shop, one of the original tenants in Portland's Black Box retail space, has gradu- ated to a larger shop down the street — an example of how the business incubator was intended to function. North Optical, another charter tenant, plans to stay and has no interest in going elsewhere — an example of what the 1,600-square-foot building at 93 Washington Ave. can also be. A year after it opened, the city's first retail property built from shipping containers is serving its purpose as a retail incubator, but also evolving into a hotspot for small businesses whose owners want small store- front space on Portland's peninsula. The property is owned by the Dayton Group, which handles its own leasing. The real estate development group, with offices at 75 Washington Ave., bought the property from Jed Harris, of Cotton Street Holdings, who first thought up the container-incubator, owners said when it opened. It was built by Brewer-based SnapSpace Solutions. Short-term leases, most of them for a month at a time, with a renewal option, allow businesses to test whether the space will work for them, without a long-term commitment, owners said when it opened in November 2018. One success story is the Cheese Shop, which has been in an end unit of the Black Box since it opened. Owners Will and Mary Sissle needed bigger space, but aren't going far. The business moved to 107 Washington Ave., opening Nov. 1. The shop is in 950 square feet of the single-story standalone brick building. Tripling its space, the shop now has more seating, more selection, evening classes and producer visits. 'A blank slate' Ishi Ishi Ramen, a nine-seat noodle shop owned by Matthew De Fio and Andrew Doolittle, is due to open in mid-December in the end unit the Cheese Shop vacated. The five-unit building has six tenants, including two that share space, Campfire Pottery and Mulxiply. The businesses are owned by ceramics artists Kristen and Joe Camp, and Tanja Cesh, who sells Maine-designed, Himalaya-inspired accessories and gifts made by fair- wage artists in Nepal. Strata, which sells Japanese cutlery, moved in last December. Lewiston shoemaker Rancourt & Co. opened a store here earlier this year. North Optical, along with Campfire Studios and Mulxiply, is an original tenant still in the space a year after the building opened. North Optical owner Chris Wheaton said the space is a great fit for his business, which sells curated handmade eyewear and celebrated its first anniversary Wednesday. "The space is great and basically a blank slate," Wheaton told Mainebiz. "It allows me to change and evolve even in just 300 square feet. Also glasses are small, so that helps." He said that the Black Box served its incubator purpose well. "I could not have asked for a better way to get North Optical off the ground," he said. C O U R T E S Y / DAY T O N G RO U P B R I E F The Black Box The Black Box, at 93 Washington , at 93 Washington Ave., is Portland's first retail property Ave., is Portland's first retail property built from shipping containers. built from shipping containers. get to know the At Norway Savings, our Asset Management Group believes in Family Asset Management. Simply put, it means we do right by you and your loved ones. More than an advisor, as a fiduciary we will help you manage your wealth by putting your interests first. Every family has a story. Let us help you write your next chapter. FAM 207. 482.7920 | NorwaySavings.bank FAMILY ASSET MANAGEMENT I N V E S T M E N T M A N AG E M E N T • T R U S T S E RV I C E S • FI N A N C I A L A DV I C E • E S TAT E P L A N N I N G Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value

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