Photos and Captions by Bruce Dent
Millinocket, once a booming town with a population of 8,000, has seen massive economic change since the final mill closure in 2008. One place this is made abundantly clear is the town’s downtown located on Penobscot Avenue. Of the 37 establishments, only 22 are still open. But despite the bleak feeling, there are some new businesses seeking to revitalize the area.
Abandoned Buildings
Wilson’s Jewelry was a local store that closed its doors a few years ago.
The photo above and below are examples of abandoned structures that are no longer identifiable as businesses.
Surviving Businesses
Angelo’s Pizza & More is one of the longest surviving businesses in downtown Millinocket. Their busiest season is the summer when the hikers from the Appalachian trail come into town. They sell pizza, hamburgers, soups, and pastas.
The Blue Ox Saloon was opened New Year’s Eve 1994 by Tom St. John. “When the mill shuddered, it basically killed every store on Main Street.” according to Jamie Whitehead, the manager and bartender.
Public Service and Community Assistance
This is the Millinocket Municipal Building, which contains the office of the Town Manager, the Town Council, the Town Clerk, the Police Station, and the Maine District Court.
The Katahdin Institute is a non-profit organization that serves as an educational resource to those in the region. The organization is led by Steve Golieb, the president. They offer a platform for local residents to complete their GED, some college classes, or a full degree. All classes taught in the school are transferable to over 2000 colleges and are accredited by ACE or NCCRS.
New Businesses
Design Lab is one of the newer businesses to come to downtown Millinocket. It is a full service design studio that is owned and operated by John Hafford and Jessica Masse. Despite their hope for the future of the town, they only employ a small number of local residents.
Turn the Page Bookstore & Wine Bar is owned and operated by Steve Golieb. This building also houses Golieb’s health foods company Edible Wilds LLC, which sells teas, jams, and syrups. Before Golieb began renting the building, it was the Pelletier Loggers Restaurant. The Pellitier’s are a family of loggers who became famous when they were featured on the Discovery Channel show American Loggers.
Woods & Water Shop opened July 1, 2017 by Matt Polstein. The storefront is for the sales of goods made in Maine but the primary service is making reservations for the New England Outdoor Center.