🔒With new home, Downtown Bangor Partnership steps up presence

In recent years, the Downtown Bangor Partnership been promoting commercial, residential and cultural life within the downtown district.

It’s been instrumental in helping to market a wave of new retailers offering wares as varied as flowers, charms, hot tubs, ice cream and Hawaiian shaved ice, while promoting restaurants and health providers.

Until recently, the partnership had operated in a warren of offices up a steep, narrow stairway — not exactly noticeable to passersby.

After a year of planning, the organization finally relocated to a prominent downtown, street-level location at 33 State St., a landmark known as the Old Bangor Hydro Building.

The move sets the stage for the creation of a Downtown Bangor Welcome Center, planned to open in time for the summer tourism season, according to a news release.

“The Downtown Bangor Partnership is thrilled to move operations to a building that is so near and dear to the community and allows for better connection with the stakeholders and visitors we serve,” said Betsy Lundy, the partnership’s executive director. “It has long been our goal to build an active community hub that can serve as a resource to help visitors from near and far get the most out of their visit.”

In addition to hosting the welcome center and the partnership’s staff operations, 33 State St. will be home to radio broadcasters WKIT (100.3 FM) and Mix Maine Media, which will each have street-level studios.

Space in the welcome center will host a gallery or pop-up, small business incubator. Lundy said the incubator could serve as a pipeline for individuals looking for an affordable and manageable space to test the market.

The location provides improved visibility, space to better serve downtown businesses and the capacity to expand visitor-facing services. The move was completed in late January. Work is underway to organize the space.

Downtown identity

The partnership promotes and markets activities that enhance the identity of downtown Bangor, encouraging retention and growth of commercial, residential and cultural life within the downtown district.

The relocation comes during a period of organizational growth. Founded in 1988, the partnership operates with two full-time staff members for the first time in its history, in addition to the partnership’s Hospitality and Safety Ambassadors program, introduced in 2024 and now numbering six safety and hospitality ambassadors who help visitors looking for directions, provide security escorts for downtown workers, maintain cleanliness of public spaces, assist individuals in need, engage with folks on the streets, refer them to services, deter disruptive actions and complement local law enforcement and community organizations.

The partnership produces downtown events designed to bring consistent foot traffic to the city, including a summer and fall sidewalk art festival, Downtown Countdown and an adopt-a-garden program. The partnership markets downtown Bangor year-round and supports local organizations and businesses with promotion, coordination and visibility. It also serves as a liaison between businesses, property owners, the city and partner organizations.

Tourism promotion

Tourism promotion is a major component of the partnership’s work. The Downtown Bangor Welcome Center will be designed to serve as a visible, centralized visitor information hub about local events, businesses and downtown experiences.

Planned are a staffed environment open during periods of high local visitation and a distribution center for materials about downtown businesses and organizations. The welcome center will collaborate with the Husson University School of Hospitality and Tourism, including student interns; and with the Maine Office of Tourism and the Maine Tourism Association.

"We are surrounded by incredible historic buildings, a vibrant art scene, excellent dining and a caring, genuine local community, all along the beautiful Penobscot River," Monique Bouchard, the partnership’s marketing and events director, said of the location.

Radio presence

The partnership will share space with Mix Maine, a radio station moving into the region, and WKIT, a longtime local station that relocated downtown in March 2025.

Both stations plan to broadcast streetside from the 33 State St. A storefront studio is planned to open in the late spring.

The partnership creates new opportunities for cross-promotion, including community calendar promotion, ongoing representation across Mix Maine’s media channels and collaborative community engagement, said Lundy.

Marble and cornices

The Classical Revival–style building at 33 State St. was designed by Bangor architect Wilfred Mansur and constructed in 1912 as the First National Bank Building, following the Great Fire of 1911.

After the bank failed during the Great Depression, the building became the headquarters of Bangor Hydro-Electric Co., which later expanded through internal connections to neighboring 213 Exchange St., also built in 1912.

By the early 2000s, the buildings stood largely vacant. In 2016, the properties were sold and partial rehabilitation began. In 2022, Dash Davidson of High Tide Capital purchased the buildings. Working with Pike Development and Maine Historic Preservation, Davidson worked to ensure the historic character and architectural details — including marble, wood, hand-laid tile, pressed brick, cast-stone columns, decorative cornices and original windows — were preserved throughout renovation.

The redevelopment transformed the Exchange Block into 15 one- and two-bedroom apartments and first-floor commercial spaces, returning the building to active public use after decades of vacancy.

Future opportunities in the space could include a gallery, display, or retail pop-ups.