Biddeford Characteristics
With a population of over 22,000 Biddeford is Maine's 6th largest city. Historically, the city was a world leader in textile manufacturing and is still home to West Point Stevens, a blanket manufacturer. Today, the economy has diversified as the city and private owners are working to redevelop the historic mills for new uses, and as new ventures are coming into the downtown area. Cabinet, furniture, and other woodworking firms have joined musicians, artists, and restaurants in repopulating the mills.
No trip to downtown Biddeford is complete without a visit to the newly renovated historic City Theater on Main Street. The Theater offers local theater, comedy, music and movies and has once again become a destination spot for residents and tourists in southern Maine. With six ethnic restaurants nearby, as well as a growing number of independent coffee shops, it is easy to have a fun evening in downtown Biddeford.
Heart of Biddeford (HOB), the city's Main Street group, is working to bring people back downtown through a number of promotional events including Chalk on the Walk, an annual art festival focused on sidewalk chalk drawings by professional and amateur artists alike, which also features music and a craft fair. The group hosts quarterly “Pulse of Biddeford” events downtown in an effort to educate the community on downtown happenings, as well as have a good time with music and food. The group recently hosted a boat tour on the Saco River for people to see how the downtown looks from the river.
HOB's design committee is also gearing up to make the downtown more visually appealing, including creating a new use for a vacant lot on Main Street. The economic restructuring committee is working on a "doing business in downtown Biddeford" guide which will make it easier for the new businesses coming into town to locate here. The group is also starting an attraction plan for the downtown. With all of the great energy in Biddeford, we are delighted to have them as part of the Main Street Maine program!
