Keith Luke

Following the recent closure of two dog-themed businesses in the Portland area, Mainebiz checked in with experts for their take on the business model.

With vacation season in full swing, we checked in with Maine movers and shakers about their favorite places to recharge in the Pine Tree State.

"This is a transformational project for lower Western Avenue," Augusta's economic development director told Mainebiz.

“We'd like to give our employees the best views ... of the capital and the river,” Andrew Silsby, president and CEO, told Mainebiz.

Mainebiz checked in with leaders across several sectors to find out what they’re reading now — or are planning to dive into this summer.

Forecasts run the gamut from the specter of a recession to a dose of practical optimism from a coffee entrepreneur.

Business leaders from around the state have varying expectations for the coming year.

Mainebiz asked more than a dozen movers and shakers what they are most grateful for this year. Their answers were as varied as Chef Snoopy’s whimsical dishes in “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.”

In recent years, the city has found developers to build apartment blocks and renew vintage brick and stone buildings in the downtown area.

The discount retailer aims to open a store at Shaw's Plaza on Western Avenue before Christmas, the company's president told Mainebiz.