BELFAST—If you're wondering why Camden and Rockland get the Snow Birds moniker and Belfast gets the Snow Bats, it's because years ago, the citizens of Belfast earned the affectionate nickname of Moon Bats. Compared to Camden and Rockland, Belfast was fairly quiet this year, with not a lot of business movement, but Penobscot Bay Pilot has the rundown on everything that has opened and changed while you were gone.

Downtown

In May 2020, a new bike shop with an adjacent coffee shop opened at 39 Main Street. CG Bikes owner Chris Gardner and business associate, Nathaniel Baer, who runs Downshift Coffee took the bike-and-coffee shop model they’d seen in other places around the country and made it work here. See our story here.Last November, George and Kristin Frangoulis launched Belfast Alive! a new community organization to support and promote local artists, business leaders, community organizers, and anybody dedicated to making Belfast a better place in which to live, work, and play. See our story here.

Belfast Fiberarts moved and expanded their Maker Space of 900 square feet at 171 High Street. Anyone into weaving, spinning, sewing, rug hooking, embroidery, felting, or who just wants to hang out and learn fiber arts should check them out.

TOKO Maine, a shopping and home goods store in Ellsworth, is opening a location in late spring at 76 Main Street.

Food Trucks

Moody Dog, known for its hot dog combinations, has added operations this past winter, keeping a seasonal food truck, but also adding curbside/to-go from its new kitchen space at 39 Main Street. The kitchen not only produces breakfast, but also serves as a purveyor for hungry customers at Marshall Wharf Brewing Co., which officially re-opened in August 2020. See our latest story here.

Although The Scone Goddess has been making delicious scones & scone mixes since August of 2019, they have a new trailer that will open May 1. The trailer will be located at the Bayside Store and will be serving more than 40 varieties of fresh-baked original and gluten-free scones.

Other Businesses News

In March 2021, Hamlin’s Marine opened on the waterfront at 7 Front St.

CarQuest Belfast, a division of Quirk Auto Group, relocated in December from its current Belfast location at 105 High Street to Reny’s Plaza, Suite 1D, Belmont Avenue, Belfast. See that story.

Renew ME Day Spa opened in the fall of 2020 at 39 Main Street.

Just Outside Belfast

Workshop/Gallery is a new art gallery and studio in Searsport that opened this spring, merging a working art studio and exhibition space for contemporary art and design. The gallery will be exhibiting sculpture, fine art furniture, painting, and photography. The inaugural exhibition features the fine art furniture of Eric Nation and the plein air paintings of Howard Little.

In Searsport, a new artisan boutique and home goods store plans to open called Trove.

If we’ve missed any business openings since September, 2020, shoot us an email with the subject line “Add to Belfast Snow Bats story” and we'll give it a look.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com