PATTEN, Maine — Business is booming in Patten, with a number of new stores popping up in recent months, while other establishments have expanded their operations in the past year.
Town Manager Raymond Foss said Wednesday, July 11, that the town appears to be in the midst of an economic growth spurt, with real estate sales continuing to go up for the third straight year.
“I think there has been a pent-up demand for new business in our community,” Foss said.
In 2014, real estate sales totaled $1.4 million, while in 2015 sales were estimated at $1.2 million. But sales jumped to $2.2 million in 2016 and to nearly $3 million last year, according to the town manager.
“Our real estate base is only around $40 million so to sell that much in property values is impressive,” he said. “We have been a regional hub for a long time.”
While Patten’s population peaked at just over 1,500 in the 1940s, back when the town had multiple grocery stores and its own movie theater, the town today has about 973 residents.
Among the new business developments in the community is a 7,200-square-foot Dollar General Store under construction on 156 South Patten Road. The grand opening is slated for the fall, according to Angela Petkovic, media consultant for the company. When complete, it will employ between 6 and 10 individuals.
“When choosing store locations, meeting customer needs is Dollar General’s top priority,” she said Friday. “The company looks for places where we can offer customers an easy and convenient shopping choice. We know convenience is a major factor in our customers’ shopping decisions as we generally serve customers within a three to five mile radius, or 10 minute drive. We also take demographic trends, competitive factors, traffic patterns and community concerns into consideration.”
Foss said he was excited to see activity at the Dollar General site as the property had been vacant since 1953.
“I think this will be a real nice addition to our community,” he said.
In addition, Mak’s Coffee House opened for business this month at 59 Main St. offering gourmet coffees, along with breakfast and lunch offerings, while Flatlanders Barbecue, located adjacent to the coffeehouse opened last summer and recently expanded.
Vona Libby also opened up a new mobile eatery called the Lunch Wagon, located on Main Street next to the Red Moose gift shop. Libby is the former owner of Libby’s Mill Pond Dairy Bar in Hodgdon, but sold that business to her daughter last summer.
A vacant building across the street from Mak’s Coffee House, is currently being renovated for what is hoped will become a mexican restaurant, Foss said. In addition, Richardson’s Hardware expanded its operations last year to include a larger outdoor recreation line.
“We are on a downward trend (population wise), but I am hopeful that with these businesses coming to town we will see it swing in the other direction,” Foss said. “Patten has certainly become more purposeful.”
