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V O L . X X I X N O. X X V I I N OV E M B E R 2 7 , 2 0 2 3 6 FocusMaine has new president Nearly a decade after Andrea Cianchette Maker joined forces with Michael Dubyak to launch FocusMaine, Maker will lead the organization as its next president. Maker succeeds Dana O'Brien, who served as president for about a year before leaving to estab- lish a boutique consulting firm. Kimberly Hamilton, FocusMaine's inaugural president who served in that role for five years, stepped down in 2022 and now leads the Island Institute, a Rockland-based nonprofit. FoucsMaine is a private sector-led initiative to create Maine jobs in agriculture, aquaculture and biopharmaceuticals. e group employs a staff of five and has an annual operating budget of more than $5 million. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E The Maine Department of Health and Human Services received $8 million through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Early Childhood Development's Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five program to expand access to high- quality preschool for children from low- income families throughout the state. Parcel of industrial properties sells for $14M A package of five industrial build- ings in Maine's three largest market areas — Portland, Auburn and Bangor — sold quickly in an off-market transaction for $14.55 million. Capital Properties LLC bought the portfolio from K&R Realty LLC. e listing price was $14.8 million. TC Haffenreffer and Sylas Hatch from the Dunham Group represented the seller and Brandon Mitchell from Malone Commercial Brokers repre- sented the buyer. e sale closed Nov. 11. e locations are at 392 Warren Ave., 400 Warren Ave. B U S I N E S S M A I N E Business news from around the state S T A T E W I D E S O U T H E R N B R I E F In 'boatbuilding capital of the world,' new crew at longtime general store B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r T he buyers of the Brooklin General Store, at 4 Reach Road in Brooklin, said they've dreamed of running a family- owned business since they relocated from New York City. "As I've owned and operated both a restaurant and market previously, we saw the Brooklin General Store as the perfect opportunity," said Alissa Wagner, who bought the store with Graham Macbeth from Brooklin General Real Estate LLC and BGS LLC for an undisclosed amount. The listing price was $950,000. Wagner is a New Jersey native and Macbeth was born in Blue Hill and raised in Ellsworth. Both lived in New York City for 20 years before relocating to Sedgwick. Dana Moos of Swan Agency Real Estate represented the sellers and Debra Porter of Better Homes & Gardens/ Masiello Group represented the buyers in the transaction. The deal was financed by a silent partner who provided working capital, which the buyers used to secure a U.S. Small Business Administration-backed bank loan. Brooklin is on the Blue Hill peninsula in Hancock County. The town's year-round population of 820 doubles in the sum- mer. A sign on the main road boasts the community is the "Boatbuilding Capital of the World" — a tribute to the local builders of yachts and workboats, as well as the home of marinas, boat designers, sailmakers, mooring services and marine photographers. WoodenBoat Publications Inc. and its boatbuilding school are a major presence in town — and you have to pass the Brooklin General Store to get there. Heart of the community The original store dates to 1866. For the small community, the store is a gathering place where folks pop in for sand- wiches and specials, snacks and boating provisions. In 2015 it was bought by an investor group, BGRE LLC, which had a goal to revitalize the store as a center of the community. It was later torn down and rebuilt. The new 3,959-square-foot, two-story store opened in 2017 and included features like wheeled shelves and coolers to create flexible spaces for community gatherings. There's seating indoors for 20 and outdoor picnic tables, a soft-serve ice cream machine with takeout window, and a commercial kitchen with a hood system, pizza oven, six-burner gas stove, gas grill, convection oven, large dish washing station and enough equipment to operate a full restaurant. The store also has two gas pumps. The new owners plan to bulk up the retail inventory, add fresh produce and offer a full breakfast and lunch menu from the kitchen, along with a rotating selection of grab-and-go options. Coffee will be provided by Brooklin-based Bucklyn Coffee, which has a cafe in Blue Hill. The Brooklin General Store was rebuilt in 2016 in a style designed to evoke the original that dated back to 1866. For the small community, the store is a gathering place where folks pop in for sandwiches and specials, snacks, and boating provisions. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F T H E S WA N A G E N C Y R E A L E S TAT E P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F T H E S WA N A G E N C Y R E A L E S TAT E

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