Another building on North Main Street is up for a refurbishing under a new owner, this one across the street from the State House.
The building, which has three ground-level storefronts at 76-82 N. Main St., has been bought by Bangor Savings Bank, which plans to turn one portion into its first downtown branch.
“It’s very clear when you come to Concord, that a Main Street location is the place to be,” said Kate Rush, director of community relations for the Maine-based bank.
Bangor Savings Bank came to Concord last year with its purchase of Granite Bank and its Loudon Road branch. The Main Street branch, in the building that once held the Crazy Goat Tavern, will have tellers and be open to walk-in customers but will have a different focus, Rush said.
“Customer preferences are evolving. How people use a branch is different than it used to be,” she said. “When folks come into a branch, more and more they’re coming in to talk about financial needs, looking for someone able to help them in a more comprehensive way.”
The company plans to turn the three-story 82 N. Main site into a ground-level bank branch, with a lending and wealth management office on the third floor. The second floor will be leased out, Rush said.
The rest of the building, a pair of two-story units, will be refurbished and leased out.
A computer-generated street-level illustration presented as part of the application to the city included an intriguing prospect: The top of the two-story portion could be turned into rooftop seating above a brewery. However, Rush said no tenants have been signed yet, so the rooftop garden seating is only theoretical.
“We are hoping for it, working with a restaurant, but I’m not sure about the roof deck, whether that’s part of their plans or not,” she said.
The arrival of Bangor Savings Bank to downtown is part of a trend, as noted in past Monitor stories. There are seven branches of savings institutions open on North Main Street already.
The full-service bank branch is expected to open next March, with 14 employees. Landry/French Construction will be the general contractor.
Bangor Savings Bank has 58 branches in Maine and New Hampshire.
(David Brooks can be reached at 369-3313 or dbrooks@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @GraniteGeek.)
