Mainebiz

V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 2 5 We're attorneys. But we're people first. Meet Anne-Marie. Dedicated, trusted, and community-driven, Anne-Marie is a recognized leader in employment law with more than two decades of experience guiding businesses through complex workplace challenges. bernsteinshur.com Anne-Marie Storey Senior Counsel From the Editor I t's a divisive and popular issue today to talk about whether Amazon has put Main Street retailers out of business. But I would argue that the heart of a strong downtown is about more than the lowest prices or best selection. If you're talking about a strong downtown, you need independent retailers, naturally, but also a coffee shop, a bookstore, some lively bars and restaurants, nightlife (maybe a live-music venue), a town hall and a library, not to mention parking and walkability. Most of all, a good downtown provides human con- nection, which is one thing you won't get at Amazon. If you're running into friends or acquaintances, if you're sharing the weather report, if you're getting a business lead — you've got a healthy downtown. is issue looks at two areas where the life of the downtown is a barometer of the vitality of a city or town. Staff Writer Tina Fischer and photographer Tim Greenway spent some time in Bath, which has gone through significant changes downtown. With a major ownership shift, many of the downtown properties were sold to retailers that had previ- ously been tenants. e result has been investment, upgrades to buildings and, as a side benefit, an increase in downtown housing development. Her story starts on Page 10. In Bar Harbor, the debate around the downtown has focused on controlling the number of passen- gers coming in from cruise ships and pausing devel- opment of lodging establishments. e retail and restaurants have always had plenty of customers, but regulations limiting the number of people com- ing into town has created tension between retailers and elected officials. Senior Writer Laurie Schreiber has the story, which starts on Page 14. And be sure to check out Senior Writer Renee Cordes' recap of some of the best "On the Record" interviews of the year, on Page 22. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz Featured @ Mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews Mainebiz offers the latest business news in the Daily Report and the Real Estate Insider newsletters. Here is the top content from Nov. 24 to Dec. 8. 1. Portland law firm Pierce Atwood to ring in 2026 with new managing partner 2. Developer provides path for nontraditional investments in real estate 3. Independent minded: Maine's insurance companies take on growth, challenges 4. Amazon's proposed distribution facility in Gorham raises concerns over traffic and noise 5. Portland Museum of Art to buy adjacent properties 6. Capital gains: How women are transforming the investment landscape 7. Downs developer to build 51-unit apartment building in Freeport 8. Cumberland County's single-family homes got even pricier in October 9. Acquisition of Central Maine Healthcare gets conditional OK from Maine regulators 10. With Port Clyde property donation, Colby College will expand midcoast footprint F I L E P H O T O 1 A good downtown provides human connection, which is one thing you won't get at Amazon. Striking a balance in Maine's downtowns

• Cover