Local chamber outlines flurry of business openings and community events

The Bath-Brunswick-Topsham Regional Chamber of Commerce laid out a fast-moving slate of openings, events and partnership activities that will reshape downtown activity across Sagadahoc County in the coming weeks. The chamber moved its annual meeting to Feb. 5 and paired it with the first Chamber After Hours at Cook’s Lobster & Ale House, citing renovation-related scheduling at its usual host. That early-quarter timing puts business networking squarely ahead of a busy late winter event calendar.

Among economic highlights are a string of new and relocating small businesses expected to open or begin operations in the next six to eight weeks. Confirmed arrivals and moves include Fabian Oil on Pleasant Street; Maine Street Mercantile & MFG Co. taking over the former House of Logan storefront in Bath; Peace House Studio occupying a downstairs space; Over the Moon relocating to the renovated Smith Cleaners space on Centre Street in Bath; Green Arrow Yarns on Front Street in Bath; Second Hand Sprouts thrift shop on Commercial Street in Bath; Baked on Maine in the former Great Impasta spot in downtown Brunswick; and Porteur in the Tontine Mall in downtown Brunswick. The chamber also announced Fox Pest Control as a new member serving the region.

The timing and concentration of openings matter for downtown commercial markets. Midwinter renovations and relocations point to continued investment in core retail corridors and adaptive reuse of vacant spaces. For property owners and local officials, renewed tenant activity can reduce vacancy pressure, support steady property tax flows and generate part-time and full-time jobs in retail and services during the spring tourism season. The chamber encouraged residents to monitor individual businesses’ social media or upcoming updates for exact opening dates and hours.

Event programming is front-loaded as well. The Brunswick Downtown Association’s “207 Day” on Feb. 7 will stage lighthearted, community-focused draws including a Whoopie Pie Bakeoff, a 9 a.m. Fun Run with Maine-themed costumes encouraged, and a Lobster Slapshot competition that replaces pucks with plastic lobsters for a hockey-style shootout—designed to bring families and foot traffic downtown. Meanwhile, the chamber and Main Street Bath are coordinating a multi-venue ribbon-cutting train in late February or early March: consecutive ceremonies at several businesses finishing with drinks, designed to spotlight recent investment and make a concentrated push for consumer attention.

From a policy and market perspective, these developments reflect the importance of public-private coordination in small downtown economies. Chamber-led events and Main Street collaborations amplify marketing reach for new tenants, while ongoing renovations underscore the need for municipal support—such as expedited permitting or facade funding—to keep vacancy rates falling and to accelerate openings ahead of peak visitor months.

For Sagadahoc County residents, the next month promises increased options for shopping and dining, more reasons to visit Bath and Brunswick, and an uptick in community gatherings that can lift nearby businesses. Watch individual businesses’ social channels for openings, and expect a visible surge of activity downtown as ribbon cuttings and 207 Day celebrations bring neighbors back onto Main Street.