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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 27 J U N E 1 2 , 2 0 1 7 F O C U S S M A L L B U S I N E S S project knowing it would be capital- intensive," says Robert Manheimer, the local member of the investor group, BGRE LLC, which has owned the property since 2015. He was the prin- cipal involved with the reconstruction. "But we felt the community deserved to have something that was so impor- tant, right in the heart of town, to rebuild, to revitalize, to be a nice place for employees to work, to be a gath- ering place for the community and a place for the children to go after school and feel safe and welcome." e lack of a store this past year only reinforces its importance to the com- munity, says Deborah Brewster, chair of the Brooklin Board of Selectmen. " e store, in my view, is part of the lifeblood of the community," Brewster says. " at key piece has been miss- ing, and we all felt it. I think the store symbolizes a resurgence of business opportunity and a community upsurge in Brooklin that we've all been looking forward to." So how did the community get along without the store? "Everyone drives to Blue Hill for groceries," she says. "And another wonderful thing that happened — there's traditionally a group of people who have gathered at the store when it opens at 5 a.m., before they go fi sh- ing or wherever they work." During the closure, they recreated that gathering space at a nearby hall associated with a local church. " e same group has been gath- ering there and making themselves coff ee, and people have been bring- ing them muffi ns and doughnuts," Brewster says. "So this notion of a meeting place is really so important." Brooklin is a community of about 820 year-round residents, a number that doubles in the summer. A sign on the main drag boasts the community is the "Boatbuilding Capital of the World" — a tribute to builders of yachts and workboats like Atlantic Boat Co., Brion Rieff Boat Builders, Brooklin Boat Yard, D.N. Hylan, Eric Dow Boat Shop and North Brooklin Boats, as well as marinas, boat designers, sailmakers, mooring services and marine photogra- phy. e town has a robust artisan and small-lodging vibe, too. And to drive to WoodenBoat Publications Inc. and its boatbuilding school, which are off Naskeag Point Road, you have to pass the general store. General makeovers A round Maine, a number of general stores have closed, been put up for sale or, in some fortunate cases, been remade. Here are some of the general stores that have gotten new life: ¡ Handy's Market and Café in Yarmouth in the past two years had a signifi cant renovation. It now has an in-house OTTO Pizza, a com- munity meeting room and the café area sells goods from Holy Donut, Bard Coffee and Standard Baking. ¡ In Alna, Ken and Jane Solorzano bought the town's general store, changing the name to the Alna General Store. They have plans for upgrades and new products and services, the Boothbay Register reported. ¡ Tenants Harbor General Store, owned by L.L. Bean heir Linda Bean, went on the market in March 2016 for $525,000, and remains on the market. She also owns the Port Clyde General Store. ¡ The Carrying Place, on Swan's Island, was purchased in 2014 by Connecticut couple Brian and Kathy Krafjack, who renamed the store The Island Market & Supply, increased staple-product offerings, took contracts for propane and mail delivery — all with the aim of sustaining year-round revenues. ¡ In late May, Libra Foundation said publicly it would revitalize the vacant Monson General Store as part of a larger investment in the Piscataquis County town. 1 5 1 2 3 4 2 3 4 5 866.736.2804 mainebls.com EQUIPMENT REAL ESTATE BUSINESS ACQUISITION Maine Loans for Maine Businesses Loans from $50,000 to $20,000,000 Streamlined Process Gets Deals Done Quickly Decisions Made in Maine C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » Brooklin General Store

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