Oliver & Friends Bookshop, which opened in 2020 in Belgrade Lakes, Maine, will be relocating to 150 Main St. in Waterville and expects to open the doors of its new space this spring. Colby News reported that as part of the Main Street Commons, a residential facility that houses more than 200 Colby College students, faculty, and staff, the bookshop will occupy approximately 950 square feet of the ground floor.
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| Oliver & Friends' current location. | |
"While it was wonderful to start my business in Belgrade Lakes, it's a very seasonal area and the next chapter for Oliver & Friends Bookshop requires more consistent business throughout the whole year so we can continue to grow and move forward," said bookstore owner Renee Cunningham. "As I started to talk to people about where I might move my shop, Waterville kept coming up. Then I saw the emphasis on the arts and humanities in the city and it quickly became very clear to me that Waterville would be the new home for the bookstore. It really felt like the perfect location."
She added that the spirit of the city's business community was also important and that she felt instantly welcomed as a potential new business owner in Waterville: "What's happening in Waterville with the revitalization is one of the main reasons I chose to move here. It was impossible not to get excited about what's going on in the city, and we're very much looking forward to being a part of and supporting this exciting momentum. Our goal is to create a really welcoming space where there's something for every reader, encourage conversation, and bring the community together."
Colby's v-p of planning and strategy, Brian Clark, said, "We're extremely pleased to have Renee and her shop occupy the Main Street Commons. It's a great addition to downtown Waterville and another example of creating an ideal Main Street that's evolved into a real destination due in large part to the wide range of dynamic small businesses located there."
Garvan Donegan, director of planning, innovation, and economic development at the Central Maine Growth Council, added: "Waterville's year-round activity and thriving economic trends make it an ideal location for Oliver & Friends Bookshop. The new retail operation is poised to enrich the city's cultural fabric, providing a hub for literary exploration and community engagement, and it aligns seamlessly with the city's revitalization efforts."