Irving: Eastport store won’t be rebuilt

EASTPORT – The Canadian giant Irving Oil Co. announced Thursday it has no plans to rebuild its Washington Street Mainway store.

The store was destroyed in February by fire. Approximately 10 full- and part-time employees lost their jobs. Soon after, Irving tore down the burnt shell and erected a fence around the property.

“Irving Oil has decided, upon careful consideration, not to rebuild its Eastport, Maine, location,” Harry Hadiaris, director of Convenience Retail for Irving Oil, said Thursday. “Today’s economic conditions have prevented us from doing so. We will work diligently, however, to find a new vendor, either a buyer or lessee, who will operate a convenience retail store under the Irving brand and continue to offer our quality products and customer service to the people of Eastport and the surrounding areas.”

For weeks now there have been reports that Irving would not rebuild. Employees were notified just days ago.

City Manager George “Bud” Finch said Thursday that although he was disappointed, he was confident a buyer or lessee would be found. “We will continue to work with Irving as they pursue a new vendor, buyer or lessee …,” he said.

Finch noted that the loss of the store had been a blow to the local economy, not only because of the loss of jobs, but also the loss of service. The Irving Mainway was the early morning stop for coffee and a newspaper and the late night run for a snack.

Shortly after the fire, local businesses picked up the slack.

Jim Lowe, owner of Bay City Mobil, extended his hours and days to meet the area’s fuel needs. Merrill and Roger Conti, owners of the local R&M IGA, extended their hours, and the seasonal Moose Island General Store opened up months earlier than expected.

“While the current economic conditions have created great difficulties for businesses of all sizes, I am confident that our continued work with Irving and others will ultimately bear fruit and once again there will be a thriving business on the corner,” Finch said.

During the early morning hours of Feb. 6, a fire broke out in a room in the rear of the store, sending employees and customers fleeing into the parking lot.

Flames shot high into the sky and firefighters from area departments were able to keep the flames from spreading to nearby structures.