Although its historic downtown is at a crossroads, parts of Saco are in a growth mode. Like many towns in Maine, the U.S. Route 1 corridor has been booming of late, with retail and restaurant additions.
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Saco, a town of 20,381, is known for Thornton Academy, Ferry Beach State Park and Funtown Splashtown USA.
Although its historic downtown is at a crossroads — with a lack of open spaces, few downtown apartments and just a handful of restaurants — parts of the town are heading into a development phase.
Like many towns in Maine, the U.S. Route 1 corridor has been booming of late, with the addition of several chain restaurants, including Chipotle and Jersey Mike’s.
Efforts to bring more business to the downtown have been piecemeal, though local officials are hopeful that a range of incentives will help spark new business development.
A downtown anchor
Rob Biggs, the former executive director of Saco Main Street, opened the Saco Scoop, at 209 Main St, in June 2017.
The ice cream shop was created as a space for the community to gather on Main Street. The project also filled a long-time vacant space in what’s known as the Atkinson Building.
“I took it upon myself to talk to the board and we decided we needed to do something there to create a spark,” says Biggs. “It ended up being an ice cream shop with Maine-made products. After that happened, the flower shop and the restaurant behind it came in. We also pushed it to stay open till 9 p.m. seven days a week. With that, we heard from Rapid Ray’s [restaurant] that they saw an influx of business coming downtown.”
The Saco Scoop ran as a nonprofit until Melissa Colley bought the business in January.
Colley was first hired as the ice cream shop manager in October of 2019 after her family moved from Kittery when her daughters started school at Thornton Academy.
“I just needed something to do because they were walking to school,” says Colley. “So I took on the job as manager again just as something to do. The rest is history. Saco Main Street considered the Scoop a success, but it blew beyond their expectations, so that is when they decided to sell it.”
“They came to me and said, ‘Here is the situation: Would you be willing to buy it?’ At first, I was like, ‘I am going to be 51.’ I didn’t even know if I wanted to continue managing because, again, I did this as something to do and not a full-time job which is what it turned into. It was just that I had been so loyal.”
Once Colley took over, she invested in upgrades, including new flooring, and added Maine-themed merchandise, including mugs, ballcaps, stickers and novelty socks. She also expanded the menu, adding fresh, locally baked treats paired with ice cream or a made-to-order espresso, latte, or flavored coffee. Her staff, which primarily consists of high school students who call her Mom, encouraged her to add flavored Red Bull drinks to meet the demand of her younger customers.
“It was a successful decision spearheaded by our previous executive director, Rob Biggs,” says Angie Presby, who is executive director of Saco Main Street. “The recent sale to the manager for the past three years, Melissa Colley, had a fairytale ending in our eyes. She was the spirit of the Saco Scoop, attracting visitors who enjoyed the ice cream, but were mostly there so they could converse with her and catch up. The scoopers all became family to her, and she’s kept them all on as employees. Saco Main Street opened a path for an entrepreneur.”
What’s needed
During Biggs’ tenure as executive director of Saco Main Street, he introduced events like the Cabin Fever Reliever — a celebration of all things Maine — and the annual Small Business Saturday, which encouraged people to shop downtown by distributing $5 gift certificates that could be used at local merchants.
Biggs has also led efforts for streetscape upgrades like planters, Adirondack chairs, flags, better holiday lighting on Main Street and a creatively painted crosswalk. He spearheaded the creation of Post Office Park from an unused piece of property next to the Saco Scoop and the weekly summer music series “Music in the Parking Lot,” held at the Dyer Library parking lot.
Since Biggs’ departure in 2022, Saco Main Street is on its third executive director.
“There may be a loss of energy just because of those actions that happened, which is a shame,” says Biggs. “But I don’t think it’s just because Rob Biggs isn’t there. I would love to think that, but it’s just that more things have happened that are creating a little bit of anxiety. Saco is still strong. We have some great young businesses, both young in ownership as well as businesses that came to Saco because of what they saw and I don’t think that has suddenly gone away.”
Stefa Normantas is on the board of Saco Main Street and a managing partner at Green Tree Events, located at 35 Storer St. in Saco. She has lived in the town for 25 years and has had her business in the area for over 10 years.
“The downtown is lacking restaurants and shops,” says Normantas. “For college-aged students or high school students, there isn’t enough to get them to come downtown.
“We work on the board to support current businesses and drive people downtown,” she adds. “Part of the challenge is that there need to be more spaces to welcome new businesses. There isn’t a lot of real estate either.”
She says she would like to see a brewery or a barbecue restaurant brought downtown, but there are few vacancies.
“We need to have more opportunities for businesses,” says Normantas.
Normantas said the town needs affordable housing to help attract and retain younger residents.
Tracey Desjardins, the economic development director for Saco, recently hosted the Biddeford Saco Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Business After Hours at Saco City Hall. Her goal was to spotlight Saco’s small businesses.
“The event allowed me to go over what is happening in the town, collaborate and provide resources for local businesses,” says Desjardins. “I wanted businesses to meet me and know that the economic development team is here if they have any questions or concerns.”
Desjardins is working with Saco Main Street on an audit of downtown buildings, with the goal of determining what is available and/or vacant. She plans to reach out to business owners to see if the businesses need any help from the department or could benefit from one of their grant programs.
Town grant program and business resources
There are incentives for businesses to open or expand in Saco.
Saco offers a grant program called the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Building will support entrepreneurship, innovation and post-pandemic economic recovery.
Saco Main Street and Heart of Biddeford have partnered with Maine Development Foundation’s Maine Downtown Center to receive funding and planning support to continue developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The grant has come to Maine Development Foundation from a congressionally directed spending request awarded through U.S. Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, and Susan Collins, R-Maine.
“There have been focus groups and surveys amongst current business owners and those who wish to set out on their entrepreneurial journey to determine where the money will be best utilized based on their input,” says Presby.
Influx of chain restaurants
Although the downtown seems quiet, the area around the U.S. Route 1 corridor, has seen growth, including an infusion of chain shops.
Chipotle, with nearly 3,200 restaurants nationwide, opened in March. In a neighboring space, Jersey Mike’s,with 2,450 locations nationwide, is scheduled to open soon.
In the space vacated last summer by Ricetta’s Brick Oven Ristorante, Boomers, a restaurant and sports bar, opened in March.
“So many people have enjoyed meals in that building over the years. It’s really wonderful that Boomers will become a new place to have some food, make some friends and create new memories,” says Presby. “We’re happy they chose Saco.”
At a planning board meeting on April 3, the town approved a Ziggi’s Coffee, a franchise brand that started in Longmont, Colo. It’s believed to be the first Ziggi’s in Maine. The site will be a new build, 840 square feet, with a drive-through with a walk-up window and seasonal outdoor seating, according to planning board documents. The coffee shop will be at 991 Portland Road, near the border of Saco and Scarborough.
Housing plans in the works
Housing is also a crucial need in Saco. Some housing projects underway in Saco include:
- At 990 Portland Road, Clover Leaf Development LLC / Terradyn Consultants LLC has proposed a 120-unit apartment complex on 66 acres. The complex would include 10 to 12 buildings, a courtyard, dog park and multi-use building. All parking areas will be adjacent to buildings. Of the units, 108 will be one-bedroom or studio apartments and 12 will be two-bedroom apartments.
- At 201 North St., JW Group LLC, plans a 34-unit condominium development.
- On Saco Island, Edward “Ted” Moore of Saco Island Ventures LLC plans 24 townhouses. The developer presented a plan to the city’s planning board for 12 duplex buildings on the six-acre property. The Saco River island is part of the city’s Main Street and is connected by a bridge to Saco’s downtown on the north and Biddeford to the south.
The town is also planning to develop a new elementary school.
Desjardins says the town’s next growth will be in the U.S. Route 1 area heading into Scarborough.
“We’re still in the research phase,” says Presby. “The end result will be one that fills the current needs of those wishing to continue, or begin, doing business in our cities. Saco Main Street and Heart of Biddeford have the mutual goal of providing environments for successful entrepreneurship in our communities. We’re looking forward to working with current and welcoming future entrepreneurs into our ecosystems.”
