National Retailer to Open First Maine Store in Portland’s Old Port

If you haven't been paying much attention to Portland's Old Port lately, you're missing the rather obvious evolution of one of the most popular parts of the city.

As recently as ten years ago, the Old Port in Portland, Maine, was littered with dive bars and dance clubs. Most of the retail shops sold trinkets or everyday attire. The area was known for its lively nightlife and the potential trouble that followed it.

But these days? Portland's Old Port is undergoing a seismic shift. Gone are many of those dives and dance clubs and they've been replaced with high-end restaurants and retailers. For many of those retailers, Portland's Old Port seems like the perfect place to break into the Maine market.

Another significant addition to Portland's retail scene has been announced. According to East Brown Cow, the popular national retailer Free People is set to open their first store in Maine this year, and they'll do it at 121 Middle Street in the Old Port.

Free People specializes in boho fashion, specifically for women. The retailer operates under the same umbrella as other retailers like Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie. Both of those retailers operate stores nearby.

The Portland location of Free People will be a signature location. The building they'll open in is undergoing significant renovations, and Free People plans to showcase their latest offerings at this store. There is not a grand opening date set at this time for Free People.

Free People joins several other local and national retailers who have moved into the Old Port area in the last few years, as the neighborhood shifts towards being a gathering and shopping hub versus a party scene.