FREEPORT

Freeport continues to solidify its position as the premier retail destination in the state.

The retail business has improved faster here than in the remainder of Cumberland County and the state in each of the last four quarters, as reported by Maine Revenue Services.

Though it comprises less than 3 percent of Cumberland County’s population and less than 4 percent of its land area, Freeport captures approximately 7.3 percent of total annual taxable retail sales in a county that includes Portland, Maine’s largest city.

Known gloablly for L.L. Bean and, later, for the discount outlets that sprang up around it — from Polo Ralph Lauren to Maine Woolens — Freeport’s 2013 second-quarter retail sales exceeded the second quarter of 2012 by 7.6 percent — the largest annual rate of growth seen here in years, according to Keith McBride, executive director of the Freeport Economic Development Corp.

“We have a high percent- age of higher quality retail businesses, both national and local,” said McBride, who provided an overview of conditions in the retail industry to the Town Council this week. “There’s not a ton of turnover. Polo is not going anywhere. Nike is not in danger of shutting down.”

There’s an advantage, after all, in the location.

“Freeport has a competitive retail advantage, with the exception of maybe the malls,” McBride said. “This town is an indication of the economic recovery that we have been seeing in the last year to 18 months. This story is about how well we are coming out of this recession.”

But what, exactly, gives the town this advantage, other than the fact that a bunch of retail outlets are all in one place?

It’s pedestrian-friendly — much more so than the Kittery outlets. There are places along the sidewalk to have a coffee and pastry, or a cocktail. Discovery Park and Gorham Park are eye-pleasing green spaces.

“It’s outdoors,” McBride said. “It’s very special that way. That’s another reason we have a huge advantage as a destination.”

McBride also credits Freeport USA, which keeps the public informed and organizes special events that bring shoppers to town in droves.

“Their efforts in marketing Freeport as a destination have been extremely successful, without having input of any taxpayer money,” McBride said.

Vacancy rates in the village, along lower Main Street and along U.S. Route 1 South, also tell a positive story.

In a year, vacancies have dropped from 22.8 percent to 12.1 percent on Lower Main Street, from 7.7 percent to 6.9 percent on U.S. 1 South and — most significantly — from 12.2 percent to 5.7 percent in the village.

Overall, vacancy rates have declined from 12.8 percent to 8.0 percent in town from a year ago.

“Freeport has gotten really full,” said Janet Dutson, executive director of Freeport USA. “We’re really excited about that, and the retail numbers just back up that Freeport is a really great place to go.”

Hotel reservations and traffic on local highways are both positive indicators as well, Dutson said.

Founded in 1977 as the Freeport Merchants Association, Freeport USA maintains a web site that attracts about 500,000 visits and two million page views a year.

The organization also organizes special events such as the Sparkle Celebration on Dec. 6-8, the Freeport Fall Festival in late September and Moonlight Madness, on Thanksgiving night.

This year, the Amtrak Downeaster will make special trips into the village for Moonlight Madness — Freeport’s version of Black Friday.

lgrard@timesrecord.com