Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 17 J U N E 1 3 , 2 0 2 2 F O C U S L E W I S T O N / A U B U R N / W E S T E R N M A I N E relocating to Auburn," Stebbins says. He also sees Lewiston as a market on the rise with several commercial and residential projects underway, adding that "I'm excited for what the next year will bring." In Auburn, Aroma Joe's new loca- tion comes on top of two current coffee shops in Lewiston and another in development, in the former Little Caesar's pizza place in the Marden's Plaza shopping mall. e new Auburn Aroma Joe's, opened by Windham-based franchisees Kristal Duffy and Joel Woodward, brings the chain's total to 85 locations across seven states, including 34 in Maine. Asked what makes Lewiston-Auburn attractive, David Tucci, chief operating officer of Aroma Joe's, says, "You really need to have that perfect alignment between a franchisee operator in place looking to grow and expand or open in a particular community. Line that up with the availability of real estate, and that's really the driving factor." As with any new location, the Auburn site was suggested by franchisees and then put to Aroma Joe's real state committee. Pluses for the new Auburn location include accessibility, visibility and "pure demographics" in terms of being situated in a densely populated area, Tucci says: "You don't have a town center … but you're fishing where the fish are." While each Aroma Joe's location is independently owned and operated, Tucci says each tends to employ around 15 people once a site is up and running. Elsewhere in Auburn, other new kids on the block include: Olive Garden restaurant com- ing to 649 Turner St., site of the former Ruby Tuesday restaurant, in a plan approved by city officials last October; OTTO Pizza opening in July at 730 Center St.; Maine Dentistry, which recently opened its third location in the state at 34 Center St. following a $250,000 renovation; Cheesy Skillet, a new locally owned eatery at the Auburn-Lewiston Airport in Auburn; and Nutty Netties Café at the Auburn Mall. VIP Tires on a roll Elsewhere on the retail front, VIP Tires & Service is expanding its regional foot- print. Headquartered in Auburn, at 24 Harriman Dr., the chain of service cen- ters has a retail store at 138 Center St., in a space formerly occupied by Legends Sports Bar. e company has nine bays at the new service center, up from four at its previous Auburn location. e chain of 65 car-servicing centers, owned by Executive Chairman John Quirk, employs close to 600 people in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts. In Lewiston, it has retail locations at 485 Sabattus St., which opened in 1957 as VIP Auto Discount Center, and at 520 Lisbon St. "We've always felt like the L-A region was like a hidden gem, and we've done very well in this market with our three retail stores," says Tim Winkeler, the company's president and CEO. "All three stores are having record years, and it's been a phenom- enal market for us the last few years." Calling the Auburn expansion a "big win," he says the company has already doubled its business at the larger loca- tion, which also houses offices for corporate staff, while its former ware- house at 12 Lexington St. in Lewiston is now an L.L.Bean manufacturing site. VIP Tires employs a total of 32 people at its three locations in the twin cities. Winkeler says that while recruiting new employees is challenging for every- one, VIP Tires never laid any employ- ees off during the pandemic and sees L-A's lower cost of living compared to greater Portland as a big plus for attracting employees. "at's where L-A really has a sweet spot," says Winkeler, who lives in Falmouth. "Even though real estate prices and values are escalating there as well, on a relative basis it's still much more affordable than some of your southern Maine areas." Of Auburn in particular, he says the city's outreach and marketing "has made it easier for us, because more people know about the city and maybe have it within their consideration set." Growing factory footprints Despite the flurry of new businesses com- ing to Auburn, Economic Development Director Jay Brenchik says they're not the city's main focus. "Our existing businesses are the backbone of our local economy and have committed themselves to our commu- nity, so we have put a higher priority on supporting them," he says. Large business expansions include Futureguard's $17 million buildout as it gets ready to roll out its new SummerSpace brand of pool, patio and spa products this July; a $15 mil- lion expansion by Tambrands Inc., an Auburn-based subsidiary of Procter & Gamble Co., to add 116,000 square feet of factory and warehouse space at its Hotel Road facility, which currently makes about 9.5 million tampons a day; and Packgen, an Auburn-based spe- cialty packaging manufacturer which according to city officials is looking to build a new facility at Cascade Drive to accommodate recent and expected substantial growth. "Auburn is in the midst of a renais- sance," says Futureguard's Morin, a lifelong resident of the city who is also a city councilor. "We will only be limited by our imagination and our willingness to embrace the change that is long overdue for our city." Local entrepreneur Misty Edgecomb, owner of ME Massage erapy in Auburn currently working on a gift- registry app called oughtful Giving she aims to launch this summer, is equally heartened by all the new busi- nesses coming to the area. "I am truly excited about seeing our cities expand and grow," she says. R e n e e C o r d e s , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r w r i t e r, c a n b e r e a c h e d a t r c o r d e s @ m a i n e b i z . b i z a n d @ r s c o r d e s P H O T O S / C O U R T E S Y O F V I P T I R E S & S E R V I C E P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F V I P T I R E S & S E R V I C E We've always felt like the L-A region was like a hidden gem, and we've done very well in this market with our three retail stores. — Tim Winkeler VIP Tires & Service Tim Winkeler, president and CEO of VIP Tires & Service. VIP Tires & Service has a retail store at 138 Center St. in Auburn, shown here, as well as two stores in Lewiston.

• Cover