The former Bank of Maine building and lot in Newcastle was purchased the final week of May by Dirk and Ann Poole, owners of Ma’s Bobbin Works of Nobleboro.
Dirk Poole said he and his wife plan to open an antique and gift shop in the space at the north end of the building formerly occupied by the bank, located opposite the intersection of Main and Pump Streets in Newcastle.
Poole said they plan to name the shop Just Milling Around and hope to open sometime in August. They have not decided yet on their hours of operation, Poole said.
Poole, of Newcastle, said they have operated Ma’s Bobbin Works, a wholesale gift company, for nearly 40 years.
“We take the old textile bobbins out of the mills and make them into candle holders,” Poole said. “As the bobbins are starting to run out, we’re not able to replace them.”
According to Poole, the couple plans to sell antiques and bobbins and move their eBay business into the space.
The south end of the building and the second floor will be rented or leased as office space, Poole said. There are no tenants lined up as of yet.
Poole said that he has removed the night deposit and the bank safe. Turning off the outdoor lights was more of a challenge, he said.
“I didn’t want to pay for all these lights running all the time,” Poole said. “We had trouble finding out how to turn the outdoor lights off, which were wired directly into a security system on the second floor of the building.”
According to Poole, the business will have a flat sign mounted on the building with direct lighting.
Poole said, “We’re going to be very low key.”
