Freeport, Maine

Freeport is a unique commercial neighborhood geared to providing shoppers with an outstanding retail experience that feels more like a theme-park vacation than a shopping trip. The town is lined with shops, from national retailers to regional names. The full effect is an immersion atmosphere that whispers rather than shouts: Nothing crass here, just us tasteful shops, within a couple of hours of Boston, so come on in.

It began with the astounding growth of L.L. Bean, the old-time outdoor supplier at the center of the town. It started out as a maker of specialized hunting boots and a seller of fly fishing supplies, then expanded into outdoor gear in general, and was soon carrying brands other than its own. It made a name for itself by selling high quality sporting goods through a catalogue it sent out on request. And its retail store stayed open all the time, long before 24/7 came to mean anything to retailers or the buying public.

The famous catalogue is still the standard for the mail-order industry, and the Bean building itself is at the center of a retail universe that literally grew up around it in visitor-centered coastal Maine. There's nothing like it anywhere. It is not a glorified shopping mall or a collection of retail boxes that might have been erected in anywhere USA. It's a New England village with deep roots, a history, and a community life that transcends its retail identity.

Tourists have been coming here for generations to enjoy coastal Maine's treasures with the locals. Fishing, hunting, camping, photography, birding and boating have been the traditional attractions. Now, the town's astounding concentration of retail sources has become a treasure in itself, and tourists peel off Interstate 95 by the thousands to shop and buy. Freeport still offers the simple joys of a coastal town. It has a beautiful natural harbor, yachting facilities, tourist amenities second to none and a proximity to Portland and its jetport that makes it accessible to visitors from around the world.

Fineberg Management Inc. operates several prime commercial properties in Freeport, each with its own identity. All share in Freeport's exuberant commercial aura, its quiet but purposeful foot traffic and its unique celebration of the spirit of enterprise. Local and state governments take a practical view of the changes in the past couple of decades, but are mindful and protective of what makes this a special place: Freeport moves at the speed of Maine.