ROCKPORT – Maine Sport, in Rockport, hosted the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Wednesday, July 10. The popular monthly event assembles business owners together for a social hour at a different chamber member’s business each month.

“Maine Sport has undergone a lot of changes recently,” Marketing Manager Samantha Batson said. “We’re striving to be there more for the community members. We have a brand new Patagonia shop that we’re very excited to show off, as well as, an expanded bike shop and shoe area.”

A new slide allows children to travel from the first floor to the ground floor without having to use the stairs.

“All the kids love it,” she said. “The parents are a little indifferent, but all the kids love it.”

Tom Peaco, director of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, said it has already been a busy week for the chamber.

“Both visitor centers in Camden and Rockland are open seven days a week,” he said. “We have the Blue’s Festival coming to town this weekend and a lot of people are already showing up for that. It’s crazy to think that by the time the next Business After Hours comes around the big three festivals in Rockland will be done.”

Peaco said businesses are feeling positive about the summer.

“The lodging properties are feeling good about their bookings for the summer,” he said. “We’re excited to have our new lodging search on our website for lodging availabilities. People can go there and type in dates they’re looking for and see which of our 60 lodging properties have rooms those nights and the rates for the evening.”

Peaco said the next Business After Hours will be held August 21, at Union Hall in Rockport and will be hosted by LCI.