Renys to close downtown Portland store by year's end

Photo / Renee Cordes Renys plans to close its downtown Portland store, located at 540 Congress St., by the end of this year.

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By Renee Cordes

After more than a dozen years in downtown Portland, Renys plans to wrap up its Congress Street adventure by the end of the year, the Newcastle-based retailer said.

The family-owned discounter, which advertises with the jingle "Renys: A Maine Adventure," recently expanded to Waterville with a store in a former JC Penney.

Renys also has stores in Bangor, Bath, Belfast, Bridgton, Camden, Dexter, Ellsworth, Farmington, Gardiner, Madison, Pittsfield, Saco, Topsham, Wells and Windham, and two in Damariscotta close to its corporate warehouse and distribution center in Newcastle. The company has around 500 total employees.

"Renys has made the very difficult decision not to extend the lease on our Portland store," the company said in a statement emailed to Mainebiz on Thursday. "Regrettably, after 15 years, we will be closing at the end of this year. Store sales have not rebounded since the pandemic. We will be offering transfers to our employees as well as bonuses for those who stay with us through closing."

The store is located at 540 Congress St. near the Maine College of Art & Design, which owns the basement of the Renys building, according to a spokeswoman for the school. The Renys building was occupied by L.L.Bean until September 2010.

Renys’s departure comes amid concerns voiced by local business owners about a downtown crime wave they say is making it hazardous to live and do business.

John Reny, the company's president, did not respond to a request for comment. Earlier this year, he told Mainebiz that the company had high expectations for Waterville and that the Bangor store, opened in 2024, was doing "extremely well."

"We've been opening stores where everyone else is closing," he said at the time.

'Important anchor point'

In a Thursday morning interview at Portland City Hall, Mayor Mark Dion told Mainebiz that he was disappointed to learn about Renys' plans to close but hopeful that the city could help the retailer "find a path" to stay in Portland — at least based on earlier reports that the departure wouldn't happen until 2026.

"We're willing to participate if we can be of help to Renys' reconsideration," he said. "That's really an important anchor point up there, and I wouldn't want to see it vacant."

On a more personal note, Dion said, "I'm a consumer of Renys products. I love that store. I wish it would not consider leaving Portland."