What kinds of businesses do you wish Maine had more of? (Lewiston: employment, to buy)

[Maineah]

I think we need more banks. I don't think there is one on every street yet.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

brothel's

I would second that motion.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by RANGER.101ST

topless resturants, or more good bakerys, more country bar's

Good ideas there as well.

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by RANGER.101ST

topless resturants,or more good bakerys,more country bar's

How about a topless bar & grill that has donuts for bar food? You could call it "Sticky Buns"

[Submariner]

I have been rather disappointed at the lack of Ag stores. Recently 'Tractor Supply' opened in Skowhegan, but they need competition. And unfortunately only a portion of the marketshare they are focusing on are farmers [a lot of floor space is dedicated to Western clothing]. So their actual farm equipment is squeezed, and they lack a good selection. Also the state is dragging it's feet on allowing them to stock drugs, so I have to mail-order most of our drugs.

Also the lack of livestock auction yards. Corinth had one but it closed down last year. Skowhegan has one, but you can not effectively service the state with only one. It is small, and very ran down. Animals are not vet inspected. And the auction block has no scale. It is really pushing the extreme limits on 'buyer beware'.

[Bydand]

I agree with Forest 100% about the lack of ag related stores. I was so happy when we got to our new location and they have a real honest to goodness Tractor Supply store here (one small corner with western clothes, the rest like it should be). That was the one type store I missed the whole time I lived in Maine.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Bydand

How about a topless bar & grill that has donuts for bar food? You could call it "Sticky Buns"

I may have been there, it was not in Maine though.

It may have been Florida, or California.

The 'shifting sands' in Virginia was nearly topless [they required pasties]. They served food from their grill and often had donuts. Right on the beach too!

[starwalker]

soup and salad restaurants

[BacktoNE]

Good shoe stores. It's a pain having to go to Boston for good shoes, or having to order them and hope they fit right. I'm not talking about every day stuff, but for those occasions when you need a really spectacular pair that won't fall apart half way through the event.

A "Whole Foods" in central and northern Maine. Any plans that you know of?

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Bydand

I agree with Forest 100% about the lack of ag related stores. I was so happy when we got to our new location and they have a real honest to goodness Tractor Supply store here (one small corner with western clothes, the rest like it should be). That was the one type store I missed the whole time I lived in Maine.

I often need some part, and I am at a loss as to whether a hardware store or an autoparts store or a dealership would have it. As a result I have gone the route running between a bunch of places to find whatever. Each type of store these days wants to specialize and focus on one area.

An odd size spark plug for example. In the end, you must find it on-line and order it.

Or custom gaskets.

Or good sutures.

A good Ag store you can walk into with a piston ring in your hand. And walk out again with a replacement. No year, no make, no model, just the measurement of the ring.

Common Ag equipment runs the whole gamut from one-lung diesel engines with huge flywheels, to sheep vaccines, to sprinkler heads, to cream separators, and threshers.

When I visit my family, within a 1-hour radius must be 4 such stores. But not in Maine.