There’s been the usual reshuffling of spaces in downtown Rockland over the winter. Here's what happened over the fall and winter— what's open, what's closed, what's new.

What is New

Maine Mead Works

In October, the Portland-based meadery “Maine Mead Works” opened their third Maine tasting room in Rockland at 483 Main Street. Find out more here.

Rock City Café

In March 2018, Rock City Employee Cooperative, a cafe and coffee roastery, officially became a worker-owned cooperative, with 17 employees buying the business from its previous owner and founder, Susanne Ward. Business continues to thrive and they are still providing coffee, food, live music, and recently, threw a dance to raise funds for Trekkers.   They can be found on Facebook and at www.rockcitycoffee.com.

Eat Soup Food Truck

Eat Soup, a food truck business owned by Kate Grinnell Miller and Mike Miller (formerly of Grapes and Bricks restaurants) took over renting a truck from another operator who only uses it for the summer. As such Eat Soup, (located at 1 Commercial Street) provides affordable sandwiches such as grilled cheese and a rotation of four daily soups. However Snowbirds, eat Soup  is only open between November and March of each year in order to give the food truck back to the original owner for his summer business. See that story here.

The Slipway

Locals and fans of the Thomaston waterfront restaurant, The Slipway, were bummed last summer when owner Scott had to put his focus on his other Camden restaurant/bar The Rhumb Line, but will be mighty pleased to know that The Slipway plans to re-open for the 2019 season. FMI: Facebook page

Threshers Brewing Co.

Threshers Brewing Co., which opened in Searsmont in 2016 by two carpenters and brewers Ethan Evangelos and Scott Bendtson, just wanted a chill place for families to gather and to enjoy some good beer. They’ve now expanded and are currently working on 1 Starr Street in Thomaston (the blue building that formerly housed Billy’s Tavern). Now open, Thresher’s Brewing Co.’s second location will be a tasting room and restaurant. See that story here.

Ollie’s Food Truck

Down near Moody’s Diner, a new food truck is emerging from a former restaurant/grocery store in Jefferson, Ollie’s Place. Owners Vickey and Ralph Tolman Jones plan to open their red mobile food truck in May with mobile  subs, wraps, burgers, Reuben sandwiches with Morse’s sauerkraut, lobster and crabmeat rolls, pan-fried haddock sandwiches and quesadillas. They will also carry Gifford’s ice cream. Read that story here

What Has Closed

Rhonda Hilchey Nordstrom, owner of RHEAL day spa, announced in March that after 20 years in the business, she was retiring. “Dear friends, Twenty years ago I had a dream to return to my home town and open a business. Not just any business but a special place for women to retreat to for ten minutes or three hours.” While RHEAL Day Spa is physically closed, they continue to sell their products online. www.rhealskincare.com

The Flower Goddess quietly closed without notice. The space is now open to renters.

The Pearl, the restaurant, at the end of the pier at Rockland Harbor Park, will not be open for the 2019 season, according to a Faceook post by owner Larry Reed citing the need to get work done on the place that will take all summer. He said that the intention is to re-open May, 2020.

What Has Changed

DAUGHTERS, a clothing and accessories shop, has expanded and is currently moving to 442 Main St. (formerly Periscope Shop) opposite from Ada’s Kitchen. DAUGHTERS will no longer solely a vintage shop and will also be an online store. FMI: Facebook page.

Curator, had a grand re-opening, after discovering an empty space below their store. Now with two floors, they are offering vintage menswear and a whole new floor of womenswear in the basement space. Read that story here.

Business News

Bull On The Run, a new all-inclusive minivan tour to Midcoast breweries, distilleries and wineries, plans on opening by Mother’s Day, with tours starting at Rock Harbor Brewing Co. Find out more of that story here.

In April, Leggings Republic, a new clothing brand, located at 8 Lindsey Street, across from the Waterworks opened to the public.

In March, Midcoast Habitat for Humanity announced the on Philbrook Ave. they purchased from Madeline Philbrick’s estate, Jan. 1, 2017 would be the site of a subdivision of affordable housing through small houses (A Tiny House is anything less than 400-square-feet in size). See more of that story here.

Also in March, Lincoln Street Arts Center received an ordinance change allowing renovations to four classrooms to be turned into living spaces for tenants as a way to support local artists by providing a studio for one to six months, along with a $1,000/month stipend and second, to bring in artists from away “to add diversity.” See more of that story here.

City News

On March 3, the city of Rockland opened its new seasonal public ice rink at Harbor Park. Sorry Snowbirds, you won’t be able to enjoy this when you come back, but it provided a great way to enjoy the outdoors this winter with hot chocolate.

If we've missed any new businesses that would be interesting to folks coming back to Maine, shoot us an email with the subject line "Add to Rockland story" and we'll add it into the list! Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com