Mills Market has been a staple of Andover since the 1890s. In its 4th generation of family ownership, this local country store provides a variety of grocery items as well as homemade prepared foods. Located in a prime location for tourists, many local customers have been coming into the market for years as well as their children and grandchildren.
Mills Market – Andover
The Only Doughnut – Belfast
Sally Jaskold, then owner of “The Only Doughnut” in Belfast, came to the Maine SBDC feeling stressed and overwhelmed: Her successful farmer’s market bakery had morphed into a full-fledged brick-and-mortar operation with multiple employees, and she was feeling limited in her business-savvy skills. Connecting with Business Advisor Alison Lane allowed her to take a deep breath and think proactively about her next steps.
Timberwolves BBQ – Mars Hill
Michael Stiggle is the heart and soul of Timberwolves Restaurant, a family-owned and operated barbecue restaurant and bar located just one mile from the Canadian border in the small town of Mars Hill. Whether you find him cooking the “Best Burger in Maine” (as designated by Downeast Magazine), working on his new barbecue sauce line, or sharing a story with his customers, Michael Stiggle is a constant reminder that there are amazing things happening in Aroostook County.
Bravo Maine! – Portland, ME
Maine is well known for its unique and pristine food offerings, especially in Southern Maine. Justine Corbi wanted to join the Maine culinary scene in her own way: by creating a culinary learning experience open to children and adults at all stages of cooking experience. This would be an opportunity for anyone to learn how to cook delicious, authentic meals and delights featuring tastes from all over the globe. This was the inspiration for Bravo Maine! Read More
Sonny’s Gun & City Jewelry – Caribou, ME
Founded in 2011, Sonny’s Gun Shop is an Aroostook County adventure. They buy and sell a huge variety of quality pre-own and new goods. Whether it’s guns, jewelry, musical instruments, or video games, Sonny carries a range of products that meet the needs of a vast array of customers.Read More
Coastal Equipment Corporation – Portland
Corey Grobe’s years of experience in consulting and management were the perfect foundation for his next step: the purchase of a successful material handling equipment sales & service company Coastal Equipment Corporation in Portland, Maine. Coastal Equipment Corporation designs and manufactures special equipment and custom fabrication to solve their customer’s problems. Corey’s expertise in technology solutions, innovation, and efficiency are the perfect complement to a profitable, yet traditional business, in which he can apply his knowledge and take it to the next level.
WanderWeb – Bangor
For years, Corey Zimmerman had worked in healthcare management. She was ready to exercise her creative brain and decided to make the leap into entrepreneurship in 2019. She started The WanderWeb, a web design and digital marketing firm located in Bangor. Corey found her passion for helping local businesses grow by optimizing their web presence. The WanderWeb provides extensive assistance in web design, search engine optimization, photography and video, and social media marketing.
Bath Sweet Shoppe – Bath
An entrepreneur at heart, Jennifer DeChant had always dreamed of owning and running a small business. When her corporate job was eliminated, she took stock of her options. Was now the time to take the leap? During a pandemic? Was it just too crazy?
The Love Card – Penobscot
Even before the pandemic changed the way we interacted with each other, people were looking for deeper connections. Joanne Steenberg found a way to create those shared moments with something called a “Love Card” A simple green circle with a pink heart in the middle and a message on the back saying ‘You are holding this card because you are loved…” They quickly became an easy way for people around the world to make a positive impact in someone’s life.
Wilcox Wellness & Fitness – Brunswick
They say the first year of a small business is the hardest, but for Allison Hopkins year 2 hasn’t been without its challenges as small business owners adapt to COVID-19. In January 2019 she worked with friends Paige and Mike Wilcox to open her own franchise of Wilcox Wellness & Fitness in Brunswick. All things considered, things were going really well. She certainly faced her fair share of challenges and difficulties but while working with Brad Swanson, a Maine Master Certified Business Advisor from the Maine SBDC at CEI, she met her sales goals and a profitable business was well within her sights. She had big plans for the upcoming year.