The exodus of businesses from Portland to Westbrook continues with the recent move of an office-furniture retailer to the recently remodeled Edwards Block.
Business Interiors, a retailer specializing in designing office spaces for businesses, moved into the Edwards Block building, which also houses Portland Pie Co., in the summer. The firm celebrated its move last week with an open house for clients and associates.
When asked why the company moved, the response was similar to other businesses who have done the same recently – space, low rental costs, parking and Westbrook’s efforts to bring it here.
“Westbrook took an interest in us being successful,” said Jonathan deGregoris, the firm’s sales manager. “Portland wasn’t that way.”
DeGregoris said the business spent 10 years in downtown Portland, where parking was always a problem. “Parking was, let’s say, less than optimal,” he said. “I think everybody in the building got booted at least once.”
The company’s lease came up in the summer, while at the same time changed ownership to a parent company that DeGregoris said was more forward-thinking about where it puts its businesses. It seemed that other communities such as South Portland and Scarborough didn’t really have the space for more new businesses, he said. Westbrook seemed like an up-and-coming area and the Edwards Block space, on Main Street, was right, so the company moved.
“The changes with the mill and everything has opened up a whole town that wasn’t in play before,” said deGregoris. “I think that bodes very well for Westbrook that lots of folks are moving this way.”
Besides that, Westbrook made doing business easier. Last week, the company held a day-long open house for clients and potential clients to come in and see what products the company offers. DeGregoris said the city was very helpful in getting it off.
“They truly wanted to see that our event was a success,” he said. “It’s fairly profound, having been used to Portland’s attitude.”
For Erik Carson, Westbrook director of economic and community development, the arrival of Business Interiors is good for the city. Most of the business activity in the downtown is offices and professional services, and is improved by having retailers to balance that out, said Carson.
“It’s good to have a mix,” he said.
From one downtown to another – only better
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