Bangor, Maine — The Downtown Bangor Partnership (DBP) is excited to announce that it has successfully relocated its offices to 33 State Street, a landmark downtown building fondly known to many locals as the Old Bangor Hydro Building. The move marks a major milestone for the organization and sets the stage for the creation of a Downtown Bangor Welcome Center, planned to open in time for the summer 2026 tourism season.

 

In addition to hosting the Welcome Center and DBP staff operations, 33 State Street will be home to WKIT and Mix Maine Media, which will each have street level studios creating a more dynamic engagement opportunity for on air staff and their fans.  

 

There is also dedicated space within the Welcome Center to host a gallery or pop up, small business incubator which Downtown Bangor hopes will serve as a stepping stone and pipeline for individuals looking for an affordable and manageable space to test the market. 

 

DBP staff completed the move during the last week of January, and are actively organizing the new space to welcome the public in the months ahead.

 

Downtown Bangor Partnership Executive Director Betsy Lundy says, “The Downtown Bangor Partnership is thrilled to move operations to a building that is so near and dear to the community and allows for better connection with the stakeholders and visitors we serve. It has long been our goal to build an active community hub that can serve as a resource to help visitors from near and far get the most out of their visit.”   

 

The new location provides DBP with improved visibility, space to better serve downtown businesses, and the capacity to expand visitor-facing services.

About the Downtown Bangor Partnership

The Downtown Bangor Partnership promotes and markets activities that enhance the distinctive identity of Downtown Bangor, encouraging retention and growth of commercial, residential, and cultural life within the downtown district. 

The relocation comes during a period of significant organizational growth for DBP, which, while founded in 1988, will operate with two full-time staff members for the first time in the organization’s history, in addition to a team of 6 safety and hospitality ambassadors dedicated to enhancing the experience of visiting Downtown Bangor. 

Fiscal Year 2025 saw the realization of many strategic plan initiatives, including increased collaboration with City of Bangor departments, increased marketing capacity, enhanced placemaking assets, and an update to downtown boundaries.

The Downtown Bangor Partnership is best known for bringing people together to make downtown work better—for businesses, residents, and visitors—through events, marketing, placemaking, and behind-the-scenes coordination.

Producing signature downtown events that bring consistent foot traffic and energy to the city, including the Summer and Fall Sidewalk Art Festival, Downtown Countdown, and the beloved Adopt-a-Garden program, DBP markets Downtown Bangor year round, supports local organizations and businesses with promotion, coordination, and visibility. It also serves as a liaison between businesses, property owners, the City, and partner organizations.

The Downtown Bangor Welcome Center

The Downtown Bangor Welcome Center at 33 State Street will serve as a highly visible, centralized repository of information about local events, businesses, and downtown experiences. Since the loss of a local convention and visitors bureau, Bangor has lacked a dedicated, easily accessible visitor information hub. Tourism promotion is now a major component of DBP’s work and they have achieved considerable success reaching urban centers with direct flight paths to Bangor. The Welcome Center helps visitors from near and far maximize their visit to Bangor.  

Planned features include:

• Welcoming, staffed environment to be open during periods of high local visitation
• Distribution center for materials about downtown businesses and organizations
• Collaboration with the Husson University School of Hospitality and Tourism, including student interns
• Ongoing collaboration with the Maine Office of Tourism and the Maine Tourism Association
• Future membership opportunities for non-downtown businesses seeking materials distribution

Sharing Space with Local and Regional Media

DBP will share space at 33 State Street with MixMaine, a radio station moving into the region, and WKIT, a longtime and beloved local station which relocated Downtown in March of 2025. 

 

WKIT was a long-time presence Downtown, before moving to Broadway in the early 1990s, first operating at 1 Main St. (now houses Umami Noodle Bar) and later, from the Pearl Building at 8 Harlow St – diagonally across the street from its new location. 

 

Both stations plan to broadcast streetside from the building, further activating the space and increasing downtown visibility. A storefront studio is planned to open in late spring of 2026.

 

The partnership creates new opportunities for cross-promotion, including community calendar promotion, ongoing representation across MixMaine’s media channels, and collaborative community engagement.

A Landmark Building with Deep Roots

The Classical Revival–style building at 33 State Street was designed by Bangor architect Wilfred Mansur and constructed in 1912 as the First National Bank Building, anchoring the heart of Bangor’s business district following the Great Fire of 1911. After the bank failed during the Great Depression, the building became the headquarters of Bangor Hydro-Electric Company, later expanding through internal connections to neighboring 213 Exchange Street, also built in 1912.

By the early 2000s, the buildings stood largely vacant. In 2016, the properties were sold and partial rehabilitation began. In 2022, Dash Davidson of High Tide Capital purchased the buildings. Working closely with Pike Development and Maine Historic Preservation, Davidson ensured the historic character and architectural details—including marble, wood, hand-laid tile, pressed brick, cast-stone columns, decorative cornices, and original windows—were preserved throughout renovation.The redevelopment transformed the Exchange Block into 15 one- and two-bedroom apartments and first-floor commercial spaces, returning the building to active public use after decades of vacancy.

Future opportunities in the space may include a gallery, display, or retail pop-ups that further support downtown arts, culture, and community engagement. 

With its move complete, the Downtown Bangor Partnership is focused on activating the space, building partnerships, and preparing to welcome residents and visitors alike.

The Downtown Bangor Partnership looks forward to utilizing the Welcome Center to anchor the work of the organization and usher forward a new phase of growth. For more information about the Downtown Bangor Partnership and upcoming announcements regarding the Downtown Bangor Welcome Center, visit DowntownBangor.com.