Maine Micro Artisans said it will reopen just three days after it said its doors were closed for good.
Maine Micro Artisans announced the reopening on the company’s website and Facebook on Thursday. In a nearly 500-word statement, owner Mary Plummer said the company “broke faith with our makers and staff,” and did not meet its obligations. The stores will reopen Monday, she said.
The reopening of the stores is an unexpected move after their abrupt closures Tuesday. That same day, Plummer told the Bangor Daily News that she and her husband, a co-owner of the business, were considering filing bankruptcy.
The business has two locations, which allow around 260 Maine makers to sell their art, food and other items. The Bangor location relocated to 21 Washington St. in August after previously being located in the Bangor Mall. There’s another location in the Maine Mall in Portland.
Plummer and her husband are still putting pieces into place, she told the BDN on Thursday morning. New resources became available to the company, which meant they could reopen, she said.
A third party will handle bookkeeping and payouts to vendors, Plummer said. She provided no additional details about how that system will work or declined to say who provided the resources to reopen because she was not sure if they would want the information public.
Maine Micro Artisans owes around $40,000 to vendors, and $20,000 in outstanding invoices, Plummer said. The company will work to ensure people receive the money they’re owed, the statement said.
The company also owes back rent for both locations and landlords are working on payment plans or reducing rent so they can move forward, Plummer said.
Plummer previously said the couple was considering bankruptcy. That plan changed after new resources came through, she said.
