Category: Business Spotlight

New Ideas for the Oldies Station

Andy Austin in the Seacoast Oldies broadcast booth Photo: Gail Burnett By Gail Burnett Andy Austin never knew his grandfather Ed Austin, a Sanford police officer who died before he was born. It was years before Austin learned that his grandfather had been one of the first voices on WSME, a Sanford radio station that debuted in 1957. “But we had this weird lineage,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in radio, since I was 6.” He used to “broadcast”…

Sanford Sawmill Closes, Goes on Market

An empty log yard and idle truck at Robbins Lumber Co. on New Dam Road. Photo: Lee Burnett By Lee Burnett Robbins Lumber Co. has laid off more than 35 employees and shuttered its sawmill on New Dam Road, according to the company. About a dozen other employees who also lost jobs were offered jobs at Robbins’ sawmill in Baldwin. “The Sanford mill unfortunately closed in August and is currently for sale,” company co-owner Catherine Robbins-Halsted wrote in an email…

McDougal Family Honored for Leadership

Ashley and Matt McAdam receive the Geiger Award. McDougal Orchards of Springvale, represented by Matt McAdam and his wife Ashley, has received the Geiger Environmental Leadership Award from the nonprofit Institute for Family-Owned Business. A panel of judges for the Maine-based organization picked McDougal and six other businesses from 500 potential candidates for the award, which honors companies that set the standard for sustainability. “We were blown away,” Matt McAdam said, “and our hearts are still racing days later that…

Business Notes

Painting gnomes at Hammer & Stain; appliances awaiting their next assignment at Main St. Appliance. Photos: Hammer & Stain and Zendelle Bouchard By Zendelle Bouchard Openings, Moves & Expansions; Subway Closes Downtown A brand-new business opened this past weekend at Main Street Marketplace (formerly Midtown Mall). Hammer & Stain York County offers evening and weekend DIY crafting and art workshop experiences. At their inaugural workshop, participants painted ceramic Christmas decorations including trees, sleighs and more. Some of the other workshops…

New Restaurants Liven Up Sanford’s Dining Scene

OTTO Pizza is hiring for its newest location in South Sanford. Photo: Zendelle Bouchard By Zendelle Bouchard Several recent and upcoming restaurant openings are offering Sanford and Springvale residents new choices for dining out. Downtown In the Main Street Marketplace (formerly known as the Midtown Mall), Ted’s Fried Clams opened in the former home of Bubba Frye’s the last week of September and was met with such a rush of customers they ran out of food on multiple days. In…