WATERVILLE — Zach Brann is joining a growing number of entrepreneurs working to further revitalize downtown Waterville as he plans to open a craft beer, wine, specialty food and gift store on Main Street.

Main Street Provisions, which is to open in mid-October at the former L. Tardif Jeweler location at 62 Main St., is expected to have an artisan feel and focus on products from Maine and the rest of New England, including meats and cheeses, crackers, chips and gifts, such as glassware, cutting boards and utensils.

Brann, 32, of Sidney began renovating the space in April, to the curiosity of passersby.

“We try to have sort of an open door policy as we are working and renovating,” Brann said last week. “We get a lot of people stopping in and asking what’s going on. There’s a lot of fun buzz around it, a lot of interaction and communication around social media.”

Brann said he plans to carry products from artisans and local craftspeople, which would support the store and smaller producers.

“We really want to pride ourselves on that,” he said. “We want to pride ourselves on customer experience and recommendations — customer service, beyond the big chain grocery stores.”

The store, which has access from Main Street and The Concourse, has new floors, lighting, paint, signs, fixtures, plumbing and electrical features.

Brann grew up in Oakland, graduating from Messalonskee High School in 2009 and the University of Maine in 2014, with a degree in English and communications. He worked in marketing, public relations and branding in the Portland area and fell in love with craft breweries, local makers and artisan culture and industry there, he said.

When he moved back to central Maine, he had it in the back of his mind as something he, too, wanted to do, he said.

Zach Brann is set to open Main Street Provisions in mid-October at 62 Main St., shown at right, in downtown Waterville. The business is expected to have an artisan feel and offer craft beer, wine, specialty foods and gifts, with an emphasis on products from Maine and the rest of New England. The storefront is the former home of L. Tardif Jeweler. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Waterville’s downtown revitalization provided the arena for that, and Brann jumped in, finding a space that has much history associated with it. L. Tardif Jeweler closed several months ago after 87 years. The storefront is across Main Street from the new Paul J. Schupf Art Center and other cultural amenities.

“We’re really excited about our location,” Brann said, “and we’re really excited about being part of the economic revitalization of Waterville.”

To start, the store is to have Brann as the full-time manager, an assistant manager and a handful of part-time workers. Its hours are expected to be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, although the times could change, according to Brann. The Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce is scheduled to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 25.

Along with Main Street Provisions, other businesses are expected to open soon in Waterville.

Opening by the end of the month just a few doors down from Main Street Provisions is MetaMorph Jewelry Studio. Town Fair Tire is scheduled to begin operating Oct. 15 at Elm Plaza, off upper Main Street, in space vacated by Olympia Sports.

Also at Elm Plaza, Five Below, a store that offers novelty items, candy, games and toys, is scheduled to open next to Back in Motion Physical Therapy, which is adjacent to Hobby Lobby. The store also has locations in Augusta and South Portland.

An AT&T retail store is scheduled to open at the former Little Caesar’s pizza shop on Main Street. Coastal Med Tech moved Sept. 1 to 177 College Ave., the former home to Maroon Flooring Inc. Coastal Med Tech had originally been in Waterville, but moved to Oakland and then outgrew its space there. The College Avenue property, owned by local businessman Bill Mitchell, has undergone extensive renovation.

Mitchell also owns 220 Main St., which was leased formerly to Jorgensen’s Cafe, a business that closed earlier this year. Mitchell said the building is being refreshed with new paint and a roof replacement in anticipation of renting it to one entity or subdividing it into two or more spaces for office or retail use.

In December 2021, Mitchell sold GHM Agency at 51 Main St. to Allen Insurance and Financial, an employee-owned business.

Gervais & Associates, a new certified public accountant firm, opened earlier this year on the second floor at 18 Common St., a building Mitchell also owns. Andy’s Driving Academy also opened less than a year ago on that floor.

IV HydraLounge opened Sept. 1 at 350 Kennedy Memorial Drive and offers a variety of services, including hydration and IVs for immunity, migraines, nausea, pain and other conditions. It also provides vitamin injections.

Royal Hong Kong Barbecue is to open at 40 Elm St., at the former location of Babe’s Shoe Repair, next to Domino’s Pizza. Owner Bob Tang did not return a call seeking the date on which the eatery is expected to open.

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