According to an informal survey, Greater Freeport businesses are reporting a strong 2014.

All of the 20-25 retailers contacted last week by the Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce reported an increase in business last year.

“Business of all varieties all say they had a better year than in 2013,” said Sande Updegraph, the chamber’s executive director, who conducted an informal survey. “A few said it was remarkably better. I did not hear record-breaking, except for a few who have only been in business a year or two.”

A few businesses, such as Winter People Clothing Co. on Route 1, reported substantial growth, Updegraph reported.

Dale Bouton, who owns Winter People Clothing Co. with his wife Carol, said last Friday that the store’s Carhartt line has been a major factor in the company’s double-digit growth. Bouton said that local people are stopping in more at the clothing store, which opened in August 2013, and is located next to the iconic Freeport Big Indian.

“People are becoming more and more aware of our store,” Bouton said. “We’re hopefully becoming more of a local attraction than just tourists going through the area. The Carhartt brand has been very strong, and we had a very good year. We try to be the most complete Carhartt store around – everything from boots to jackets to socks, the whole works.”

Winter People also sells Minnetonka, Arborware and Under Armour apparel, among other lines. Most of it is rugged work and/or outdoor clothing.

“October, November and December are our best months,” Bouton said. “It’s all about the holidays in this area.”

Winter People also operates its corporate office at the location. The parent company sells corporate clothing and uniforms for hotels and restaurants. An onsite UPS store also has brought in customers, Bouton said.

Updegraph noted that Freeport’s new parking garage, with entrances on Mill and Depot streets, is regularly filled by midday. In addition, she said, Amtrak Downeaster passenger train ridership increased in both Freeport and Brunswick in 2014. Calls to the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which manages the Downeaster, for specific numbers were not returned by the Tri-Town’s Weekly’s deadline Monday.

“I did not hear reasons for the uptick except the usual ­– lower gas prices, fairly good weather, a few new stores and general feeling of optimism,” Updegraph said.

As for the town’s magnet store, L.L. Bean, company spokesman Mac McKeever did not have hard numbers Monday, but did report a strong showing.

“Across all of its channels and locations, L.L. Bean had a very strong year in 2014, but our Freeport store in particular did very well, buoyed, among other things, by great sales during the busy tourist season and into the fall, as well by robust holiday shopping sales,” he said.

An increase in retail sales can provide a boost to Freeport’s motels and inns. Chris Barstow, general manager of Hampton Inn, near Shaw’s at 194 Lower Main St., said that there is a residual effect.

“Sometimes guests plan to take a day trip, and on the fly they decide to stay a day or two,” Barstow said. “Most of our merchants who I work with report they had a good year. I understand that retailers had a banner year. Our revenue and occupancy are up.”

An improved economy doesn’t hurt.

“I think people believe we have gotten out of the Great Recession and we’re on the road to prosperity,” Barstow said. “People have more discretionary spending, and that’s good for the industry. We’re very excited for the coming year.”

The owner of the Mediterranean Grill, at 10 School St., said the nearby Hilton Garden Inn has helped his business.

“Foot traffic to Hilton Garden helped us out,” said Erkan Cigri, who with his wife, Tina, has owned Mediterranean Grill for 10 years. “I think we did so much better than the year before. The worst were 2012 and 2013.”

The Cigris serve Turkish and some Greek food at their restaurant, which is visible from Main Street. They offer doner, a lamb and beef dish, moussaka and other delicacies popular in Erkan Cigri’s native country of Turkey, and everything is homemade.

Mediterranean Grill closes at the end of January, and opens back up for the spring and summer seasons on March 1.

“Our bread and butter is the summer business,” Cigri said.

Not everything is rosy in downtown Freeport, however. Retailers located on side streets sometimes have a difficult time keeping pace. J.L. Coombs closed its shoe stores in early December. The company had operated stores on Bow Street, as well as on Route 1 in Freeport and in Portland.

The Wishful Moon, located at 12 School St., is closing at the end of January. Stephanie Petkers, who opened the gift and crafts shop on July 4, 2013, said she plans to reopen at a more visible location.

“I think it just speaks to how important location is in this town,” Petkers said. “It’s really tough to change foot-traffic patterns.”

Petkers would know. She put out new signage last fall, and even had a small machine that spewed out bubbles, trying to attract people to her shop.

“Our location got the better of us,” Petkers said. “My focus is to look for a better spot and focus on our bath and body items, which are our best sellers.”

The Wishful Moon will continue to sell its products online, at www.thewishfulmoon.com.

Carrie McBride, owner of Earrings and Company at 2 Mechanic St., knows exactly what Petkers is saying. McBride said she had a decent year, but business has been down in the summer months. Earrings and Company offers handcrafted jewelry, and also features the Chamilia line of bracelets.

“People only venture, typically, a block, a block and a half from Main Street,” McBride said. “It’s not better, it’s flat. To me it’s kind of a ho-hum year. It ended up as a positive, but all year we waited for (customers) to come.”

Erkan Cigri had a bounce-back year in 2014 at Mediterranean Grill on School Street in Freeport. Staff photo by Larry Grard