Pittsfield and surrounding areas (Bangor, Waterville: home, school, university)

[Lynn and Russ]

Can anyone give us any insight and/or information to the Pittsfield and surrounding areas? Lynn and I just discovered this area while doing some research. It seems like a very charming place but have not visited there.

We are still working on opening a restaurant in the Orono area but Pittsfield has now piqued our interest and may be a possibility.

Thanks
Lynn and Russ

[puntin]

I lived in Pittsfield for about a year. I didn't have a whole lot of time to really know the town, but I enjoyed our year there. There is a nice little downtown area. I liked the school system there. Also, if you needed a WalMart, Newport is very close with some more restaurant and store choices. Not really a whole lot going on.

Orono has a lot more going on. The university has a great arts center, and of course sports. The school system in Orono is great too. The downtown area in Orono is much much larger than Pittsfield. Plus you are a lot closer to Bangor.

Pittsfield is more quiet than Orono. And if your are going to be opening a restaurant, you will have a bigger customer base in Orono. If you have a great restaurant people are willing to travel from Bangor to Orono too.

[Lynn and Russ]

Originally Posted by puntin

I lived in Pittsfield for about a year. I didn't have a whole lot of time to really know the town, but I enjoyed our year there. There is a nice little downtown area. I liked the school system there. Also, if you needed a WalMart, Newport is very close with some more restaurant and store choices. Not really a whole lot going on.

Orono has a lot more going on. The university has a great arts center, and of course sports. The school system in Orono is great too. The downtown area in Orono is much much larger than Pittsfield. Plus you are a lot closer to Bangor.

Pittsfield is more quiet than Orono. And if your are going to be opening a restaurant, you will have a bigger customer base in Orono. If you have a great restaurant people are willing to travel from Bangor to Orono too.

Thanks for the info. Orono is still the our main focus but we do not want to overlook an area. Pittsfield came into the mix last last week and we were really intrigued with the town. We are looking for a small place to serve wonderful food and for folks to have a great time. We wonder if the food is good in Pittsfield, will people be willing to travel there for a meal.

Lynn and Russ

[BacktoNE]

Many years ago there was a restaurant in Pittsfield that was so good, people would drive up there from Waterville regularly. It's been gone for just long enough now that I've forgotten the name. My DH lived there for a few years and he may remember it. I will check when he gets home.

I know that he enjoyed living in Pittsfield, but he also is one who likes very small towns and not a lot of people living on top of one another. I do know that he felt it was inconvenient to have to drive to Bangor for "big" shopping but there is a WM and a couple of other smaller businesses in Newport, next door.

I think, for your restaurant, you will be much happier in Orono. A lot more people as potential customers, plus the college of course.

When my husband comes home this afternoon, I will ask him if he has anything to add regarding Pittsfield.

[Lynn and Russ]

Originally Posted by BacktoNE

Many years ago there was a restaurant in Pittsfield that was so good, people would drive up there from Waterville regularly. It's been gone for just long enough now that I've forgotten the name. My DH lived there for a few years and he may remember it. I will check when he gets home.

I know that he enjoyed living in Pittsfield, but he also is one who likes very small towns and not a lot of people living on top of one another. I do know that he felt it was inconvenient to have to drive to Bangor for "big" shopping but there is a WM and a couple of other smaller businesses in Newport, next door.

I think, for your restaurant, you will be much happier in Orono. A lot more people as potential customers, plus the college of course.

When my husband comes home this afternoon, I will ask him if he has anything to add regarding Pittsfield.

Thanks for the insight and info on Pittsfield. The only snag with Orono is that there seems to be enough places to eat and we are told that the area cannot sustain another place. We do want a small town life since we will be coming from Lancaster (city) Pennsylvania.

Thanks again
Lynn and Russ

[BacktoNE]

Okay, hubby is home.


He says he liked Pittsfield, but for what you want, he would recommend going 6 miles north to Newport. Apparently "everybody" stops in Newport as you have to go through the big triangle intersection in Newport to get to the local lake, Moosehead or to head either north or south on the interstate. The snowmobilers stop in town because there is a major cross country snowmobile trail that goes through the town.

The last time he was in Newport (2+ years ago now) there was an Irving in town with a restaurant attached.

If you can find a place with a big enough parking lot to accomodate trucks, campers, boats, etc, he thinks you would do really well. In fact, he said that if we were looking to do a restaurant type of business, Newport would be one of his primary target towns. There is a WM, Hannaford, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, etc already there. It's a busy little town and there is more money there than in Pittsfield, per the husband.

If you can think of any other specific questions, he will be happy to help you.

[Lynn and Russ]

Originally Posted by BacktoNE

Okay, hubby is home.


He says he liked Pittsfield, but for what you want, he would recommend going 6 miles north to Newport. Apparently "everybody" stops in Newport as you have to go through the big triangle intersection in Newport to get to the local lake, Moosehead or to head either north or south on the interstate. The snowmobilers stop in town because there is a major cross country snowmobile trail that goes through the town.

The last time he was in Newport (2+ years ago now) there was an Irving in town with a restaurant attached.

If you can find a place with a big enough parking lot to accomodate trucks, campers, boats, etc, he thinks you would do really well. In fact, he said that if we were looking to do a restaurant type of business, Newport would be one of his primary target towns. There is a WM, Hannaford, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, etc already there. It's a busy little town and there is more money there than in Pittsfield, per the husband.

If you can think of any other specific questions, he will be happy to help you.

That is some great feedback, thank you! Our interest in Pittsfield is due to an existing place that is for sell. I beleive it is called The Olde Town Tavern or just Town Tavern. The size is more like what we are looking for at the moment even though we are also looking at a larger existing "Pub" in Orono.

Do you or anyone else have any info on the (Olde) Town Tavern?

[BacktoNE]

DH says he isn't remembering that tavern, but by the time he moved to Pittsfield he was done with his drinking days.

If you have a realtors link to the listing, he will take a peek to see if he recognizes it.