Newly renovated commercial space for rent at 196 Penobscot Avenue in downtown Millinocket, Maine — a 1,500 sq ft storefront in the heart of the Katahdin region, steps from the gateway to Baxter State Park, the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. It's a rare downtown lease option in a market where most available commercial buildings are for sale, not for rent.
This roughly 1,500-square-foot open-plan commercial space is a blank canvas for retail, office, studio, gallery, or service-business use. It features brand-new Maine birch wood flooring, large storefront windows for display and natural light, and an additional entrance on the side of the building. The unit includes a utility closet and a bathroom. The finish combines a new-construction feel with the historical character of a building originally built in 1900 — clean, move-in ready, and full of downtown foot traffic potential.
Highlights:
Approximately 1,500 SF open floor plan commercial space, downtown Millinocket
Brand-new Maine birch wood flooring
Large storefront windows facing Penobscot Avenue
Second entrance on the side of the building
Utility closet and bathroom
Sustainable heating: wood pellet boiler system plus an in-unit heat pump for supplemental heat and air conditioning
Neighboring unit occupied by Baby Ruthies Takeout & Snack Bar
Rent and Utilities:
Monthly rent is $1,750. Rent includes property management, central heating, supplemental electric heat, mini-split cooling, trash, recycling, water, and sewer. The building is heated by an efficient, modern, environmentally sustainable wood pellet boiler system, and the unit has its own heat pump that adds heat in winter and air conditioning in summer. Tenants are responsible only for electric and internet.
Location:
196 Penobscot Avenue sits in the heart of downtown Millinocket's business district, a short walk from the town office, the gear library, local restaurants, downtown shops, town parks, and pedestrian trails — and a short drive from the outdoor recreation that draws both year-round residents and a steady flow of tourists into downtown.
A Downtown Revitalization Space, Backed by a Mission-Driven Landlord:
This space is owned and managed by the Northern Forest Center, a non-profit organization formed to create bold possibilities that give rise to vibrant communities across northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. Since 2018, the Center has invested in property redevelopment to support downtown revitalization and the attraction and retention of area workers and families. The Center redeveloped this 1900 building into five new apartments and two commercial spaces — leasing here means partnering with a non-profit landlord whose mission is aligned with your business's success and downtown Millinocket's comeback.
Ideal For:
Retail shops, outfitters and outdoor gear businesses, cafés and specialty retail, boutiques, galleries and maker studios, salons, wellness studios, and professional or remote-work office space — any small business or entrepreneur looking for commercial space for rent in the Katahdin region.
Contact Isabella Ronson at Ironson@northernforest.org for inquiries and questions. Availability immediately.
