A Bangor business selling upcycled furniture, vintage items and Maine-themed souvenirs that closed in December has reopened at a new location on Main Street.
Mainely Mercantile opened in 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Owner Melinda Frost sold the consignment shop in April 2022 to Jolette Burke, who transformed it into a business offering rental space to about 40 vendors.
The business at 1211 Broadway was forced to close in December after the new owner of the Judson Heights Center made plans to raise the rent, Burke said. She was encouraged to stay, but it wasn’t a sustainable decision for her small business, she said.
While the new space at 690 Main St. in Bangor is smaller than the previous location, Burke is glad to be open again with a mix of new and returning vendors. She hopes the space will be more manageable and give her the chance to someday host a craft fair or other events.
Burke, who lives in Winterport, reopened with 15 vendors on Saturday. Most of them are Maine-based makers and small business owners. She wants to draw from five to 10 more vendors to the 1,700-square-foot building depending on how much space they need to display their goods.
“I probably wouldn’t have worked so hard to come back if the response from customers online and in person wasn’t so positive,” she said. “We had a lot of folks rooting for us to return.”
Among the vendors at Mainely Mercantile are Gi & Jo’s, which sells candles, soaps, wax melts and other scented products; Soul Sisters, which sells upcycled home decor; and Berry Good Elixir Co., which sells tinctures and elixirs.
Soul Sisters owner Nancy Ronco has collaborated with Debbie Pierce to create Doilies and Dishes, which sells vintage bakeware, cooking utensils, mugs and other goods. They found a creative way to use the galley kitchen that came with the building, Burke said.
She will continue to offer Maine-themed souvenirs, including drinking glasses, hats and magnets, at the store. Burke began selling them because she felt like offerings were limited in Bangor, and they’re often what tourists are seeking, she said.
“I love the location. It’s a better commute for me, and it’s got good parking. We’re close to the [Hollywood] Casino and [Bangor] Waterfront Concerts,” she said. “It’s a good change, and I think people will be receptive.”
Mainely Mercantile will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
