Brewer's Wilson Street business corridor growing
Friday, May 05, 2006

Lowe's Home Centers Inc., which announced its interest in moving to Brewer last week, is just one of many new businesses interested in the city's Wilson Street corridor, city officials are saying.

The day after the Lowe's announcement, for example, news was released that the Wendy's restaurant located at 394 Wilson St. would be converted into a Tim Hortons - a Canadian-based coffeehouse that also offers soups and sandwiches.

"I think it's a compilation of many years of momentum," D'arcy Main-Boyington, Brewer's economic development director, said Thursday, explaining the recent surge in Wilson Street businesses.

"Super Wal-Mart was a big deal to increase the momentum a lot, [along with] progress at the Brewer Professional Center with Eastern Maine Healthcare, and our waterfront developments.

"All of those are showing Brewer as a community that's on the move," she said.

Lowe's is planning a 139,410-square-foot store with an additional 31,659-square-foot garden center, with up to 200 employees, on 19.3 acres near the Interstate 395 junction with Wilson Street, which should continue the economic momentum along the city's business district.

"That should really fuel it along even more," Main-Boyington said. "Brewer has really made a name for itself about being very business-friendly and being very conducive to business."

Shortly after Wal-Mart opened in Brewer, Applebee's Neighborhood Bar & Grill, Dunkin' Donuts and Ruby Tuesday's moved to the area, and several other businesses along the corridor refurbished their facilities, city planner Linda Johns said.

"I would think with the addition of Lowe's, there would be more development," she said.

Lowe's has applied for state permits and is expected to submit a major site plan for the store Monday, May 8, the same day company officials are to host a public information meeting at 7 p.m. in Brewer Auditorium.

Wilson Street's new and expected improvements include:

. Kosta's, a new Greek, American and Italian restaurant at 429 Wilson St., which opened in late February and replaced the former Burger King.

. Shed Happens Inc. at 505 Wilson St., the former McQuick's Oil Lube, which is being converted into a retail site to sell storage sheds, doghouses, screen houses and picnic tables.

. Friendly's Ice Cream, 431 Wilson St., which closed in November, was sold to a Bangor businessman, and is now available for lease, Carol Epstein, of Epstein Commercial Real Estate, said Thursday.

. Yudy's Tire & Service Center, 541 Wilson St., is for sale and is currently under contract; there is speculation that a major retail chain is considering occupying the location, Main-Boyington said.

. Two banks are considering locating along Wilson Street, city officials said.

"We have a few more businesses that are in the works for Wilson Street that have not been announced," Main-Boyington said. "I think that it's only getting better as time goes on.

"If you look, not just Wilson Street, but Dirigo Drive offer an opportunity to develop out there," she said.