Freeport Maine Village Station Retail Center to Be Auctioned Off

Is Freeport Maine's shopping district in trouble?

You may have noticed a lot of national retailers pulling their stores out of the outlet shoppers paradise that is Freeport, Maine. What was once a quiet Main Street I remember in the 70s and 80s with just L.L. Bean as the only big retailer, has transformed into something many never saw coming, but that seems to be changing.

According to a report from WMTW in 2019, big national retailers began to move out of Freeport. That made more room for local retailers to take the spaces, but there are still plenty of outlet stores along Freeport's Main Street, for now anyway.

One of those shopping outlet centers that still has plenty of outlet stores is Freeport Village Station, named after the nearby stop for the Amtrak Downeaster passenger rail service.

According to WGME 13, this three-and-a-half-acre shopping area is being put up for auction after its owners, Boston-based developers Berenson, had a breach of contract. The property is valued at over $32 million.

Freeport Village Station is chock full of outlet stores. Here's the full list:

• Brooks Brothers Factory Store
• Carter's
• Claire's
• Coach Outlet
• Famous Footwear Outlet
• Francesca's
• Freeport Market
• Haberdashery Off Price
• Kitchen Store Outlet
• L.L. Bean Outlet
• Lindt Chocolate
• Oakley Vault
• Old Navy Outlet
• OshKosh B'Gosh
• Skechers Outlet
• Sunglass Hut
• Talbot's Outlet.

The auction is scheduled for March 6 and it's open to the public if you want to drop some fat cash to own a piece of Freeport.

What happens to Freeport Village Station after it's in the hands of new owners remains to be seen. One would hope whoever takes it over keeps things just the way they are.