It seemed like last year Rockland had the most changes over the winter, but this year, except for a little shuffling, things have been relatively quiet. Here's what happened over the fall and winter— what's open, what's closed, what's new.

Restaurant/Brew News

After the closure of 3Crow last year, many wondered what would become of the elegant space at 449 Main Street. Jenn Rockwell, along with her father Rick Rockwell, of Rockland Realty, who own the building, converted it into a new restaurant on November 1 calling it Ada’s Kitchen. Ada’s has since been a hot spot with the locals and after 10 p.m. crowd for their dance parties. See Penobscot Bay Pilot’s story about that here.

Liberator Brewing Co.

Rockland will soon be welcoming a new microbrewery, Liberator Brewing Company, named for the World War Two B-24 bomber, is scheduled to open late this spring in the space formerly occupied by Terra Optima market on south Main Street. headed up by Rich Ruggiero, a long-time member of the Midcoast craft brew scene, get the whole story here by Jenna Lookner.

Pour Farm Brewery

Located in Union, Bill Stinson and his wife, Ashley are opening a nanobrewery this spring to produce small batch beers with plans to open four days a week, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Get the whole story here by Jenna Lookner.

North Beacon Oyster Co.

North Beacon Oyster Co., owned by chef Mike Mastronardi of Drift Inn Canteen (formerly Yardbird Canteen) in Port Clyde) is scheduled to open close to Memorial Day. Located at 421 Main in Rockland former home of The Daily Perch/Broken Egg, the small eatery plans to focus on small plates, and that the raw bar-centric menu will be driven largely by Maine ingredients. Read that story by Jenna Lookner.

Business News

Earth Flow and Fire & Earth Candy

The basement of the Thorndike building on 385 Main Street has been empty for a very long time and given its hidden speakeasy roots, it’s exciting to see a new company come in and transform the brick-walled low-slung space. Earth Flow and Fire opens the second week of May with a new hot yoga studio and adjoining vegan juice/sandwich/salad bar called Earth Candy. See our recent story on that here.

New Midcoast School of Technology

A $25 million building is now 25 percent complete for the new new school building at 1 North Main Street in Rockland. The school is scheduled to be completed by June 2019 and will accept students that fall. See the recent story by Chris Wolf here. 

Tire Warehouse

The shuttered Tim Horton’s fast food restaurant at 166 Camden Street (Route One) began to transform this winter as Tire Warehouse began a build out of 7,437 square feet building. As of April, construction has not yet been complete. See that story here.

F & A’s Market at Crossroads

A new hometown market plans to open in early May at 131 North Street, by the high school, which plans to be a convenience store, a specialty grocery store and a pizza takeout spot.

Owls Head General Store closes

The iconic seven-napkin burger will be no more! In November, the general store announced it would be closing and the business is still for sale.

Other news

In February and March, Rockland had some big news: an extension of Amtrak service from Boston to Rockland and 100th anniversary of Trackside Station building.

And then, soon after that, the disappointing news that alas, the train service would not be extended this year after all.  See that story here.

 If we've missed any business updates, comings and goings, expansions and the like, shoot us an email with the subject line "Add to Rockland story" and we'll give it a look.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com