Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 11 S E P T E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 2 0 Tradewinds Markets sells C stores to focus on supermarkets B y M a i n e b i z S t a f f T radewinds Markets, which operates a chain of over a dozen convenience stores, supermarkets and car washes across Downeast and northern Maine, has sold eight convenience stores to a Massachusetts company. Energy North Group, based in Lawrence, Mass., acquired the Tradewinds variety stores in Bangor, Brewer, Eddington, Ellsworth, Hampden, Old Town, Orland and Veazie, according to the Ellsworth American. Energy North intends to continue operating the stores under the Tradewinds name, the newspaper reported. Terms were not disclosed. In Calais, Tradewinds operates a Shop 'n Save super mar ket supplied by Scarborough-based Hannaford Bros. The Tradewinds Market Place super- market in Blue Hill anchors a growing retail district, the only one of its kind on the Blue Hill Peninsula. There are also Tradewinds stores in Clinton and Milo, according to the company's website. It also lists a variety store in Norridgewock. Tradewinds owners Chuck and Belinda Lawrence, who live in Holden, said with the sale of the convenience stores, they'll refocus on the supermarket businesses. "Two of my sons didn't want to be in the business and I really built the convenience stores for them," Chuck Lawrence told the American. "My roots are in a supermarket, and that's what I want to get back to." "Convenience stores are challenging," he added. "You need to have a lot of them [to compete]. I either needed to increase my stores tremendously or sell. I made the decision to sell the stores." In 2016, Chuck Lawrence opened a franchise of the Fuddruckers cheeseburger restaurant chain in the same Ellsworth building as his Tradewinds store. But the restaurants closed three years later. Energy North operates 65 gas stations, conve- nience stores and car washes in New England and upstate New York. The family-owned company was founded in 1981. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y T R A D E W I N D S M A R K E T S B I Z M O N E Y My roots are in a supermarket, and that's what I want to get back to. — Chuck Lawrence Tradewinds Markets, which operates a dozen convenience stores, supermarkets and car washes across Downeast and northern Maine, sold eight convenience stores to Energy North Group of Lawrence, Mass.

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