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V O L . X X X N O. X X I V O C T O B E R 2 1 , 2 0 2 4 24 M I D C O A S T / D OW N E A S T F O C U S "It's exciting. It's a whole atmo- sphere," says Novack. "Everyone is happy and welcoming. A lot of people had never heard of Eastport before. We want people to know what Eastport is all about." e experience was "very posi- tive," says Joan Lowden, a member of the Eastport Chamber of Commerce board and marketing committee who designed and implemented the "Visit Eastport" website. "e important thing is finding that sweet spot in terms of the volume of ships where it feels festive, businesses benefit and it doesn't become a burden on residents. Right now, we've got a nice balance." New businesses e community includes long-estab- lished businesses, such as the century- old WaCo Diner and Raye's Mustard, and new arrivals. When Lowden moved there in 2017, many downtown storefronts were empty, she says. "In the past couple of years, there's been a huge renaissance with an influx of new businesses joining long- time business," Lowden continues. A former Silicon Valley software consultant, Lowden is also a perform- ing and visual artist who offers walking tours of the historic downtown to cruise ship passengers. e main reason she was attracted to Eastport was its "vibrant arts and cultural scene." What's bringing new business? "We got a little boost from COVID, when people were leaving the cities and looking for opportunities to live a qui- eter life — and we had affordable water- front property available," says Lowden. "So we had quite an unexpected bump, especially in people from away, either retired or looking for a second career." Wine and beer at includes Laura Stanczyk, who acquired a 137-year-old building at 73-75 Water St. in 2020, renovated, leased space to Horn Run Brewing and opened short-term rentals and Phoenix Fine Wines, a wine bar and retail shop with trivia nights and live music. Stanczyk, a casting director in Manhattan, enjoyed visiting Maine. With her son, "We drove into Eastport, I had a Rosie's hotdog and said, 'I could live here.'" » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E We're building a better Maine! Maine Community Foundation is working together with donors, nonprofits, businesses, and governments in all 16 counties to address big issues. To get involved and learn more, visit mainecf.org P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y H O R N R U N B R E W I N G Lisa and Jeff Smith say Horn Run Brewing is up to 180 'mug club' members since opening in Easport in 2021. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y M A R Y A N N W I L E S Arts and culture, such as Sunday afternoon jazz at Phoenix Fine Wines, are considered a draw to the downtown.

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