7 Local Businesses That Have Become Bangor Icons

Webster's dictionary defines the word ICON as ": a person or thing widely admired especially for having great influence or significance in a particular sphere."

If you look at Downtown Bangor through that lens, there are a handful of businesses that have set up shop in the Queen City and become icons for the area.

Let's take a look at 7 of them.

1.) Bagel Central-33 Central Street

Bagel Central came about in 1998, when the already iconic "Bagel Shop" which started in 1984 as a Kosher bagel shop which required membership, changed hands and was sold to a long-time employee who changed the name over to what it is now. The name and subsequently the location of the old Bagel Shop was altered, but most everything else remained the same. Although it's had a couple of owners since the late 90s, Bagel Central kept the old philosophy and ways of making fresh bagels, from scratch, daily. With consistency and continuity, Bagel Central has now, 27 years later, solidified its position as a Bangor Icon. Whether you're popping in to grab lunch, setting up shop at their long windowsill to get some work done for the day while you look out over Central Street, or you stop in to grab a bag of fresh bagels, Bagel Central is known throughout the city as one of the places to be in Bangor.

2.) The Briar Patch-27 Central Street

While Bangor used to have a handful of book stores Downtown, one of the only ones left is The Briar Patch on Central Street. For over 3 decades, The Briar Patch has been supplying kids, grown up and educators alike with book and games to help open their imaginations. First opened by Cathy Anderson, the bookstore has been run by Bangor resident and long-time store employee, Gibran Graham, since 2016. If they don't have what you're looking for on their shelves, The Briar Patch can order what you need and have you thumbing through the pages of your favorite books in no time.

3.) Knapp's Music Center-51 Main Street

Knapp's, as most locals call it, is not only Maine's oldest music store, but it's the oldest retail shop in Downtown Bangor. Owner Dan Meek says it was started in 1952 by a nab named Lester Knapp, as a Sunday School Supply Outlet. In the 1990, Bill Williams took over the business and hired Meek, who would eventually buy the business from him in 1999. Not only can you purchase music and music accessories from Knapp's, but they sell and repair instruments, as well.

4.) Robinson Ballet 107 Union Street

Founded by Ralph Robinson in 1977, Robinson Ballet Company was the first professional ballet company in Bangor. While Ralph passed away in 2024, his family has been making sure his work and vision stay alive. Every year, Robinson Ballet puts on various shows and performances, but the one that's become a tradition in Eastern Maine, is their production of the holiday classic The Nutcracker, which they often perform with members of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra (another Iconic Bangor organization.) Generations of young dancers have take lessons at their Union Street studio location, with many transitioning then from student to instructor.

5.) Paddy Murphy's-16 Main Street

Paddy's, as it's often referred to, has become something of a local landmark in Downtown Bangor since it opened in 2007. A favorite meeting spot for locals, as it sits right next to West Market Square, Paddy's is also something tourists add to their itinerary when they're planning their trip to the city. As Colin Gallagher wrote in the Maine Campus last year, Patty's is known for their comfort food and their sense of community. "The current location of 26 Main St. was first constructed by physician John Mason in 1833. In 1875, ownership was given to the Caldwell Sweet Company, otherwise known as Sweet Market, which closed its doors in 2006." Whether you're planning to just stop in for a pint or stay for the night, Paddy's has become one of those places in Bangor that you'll find folks consistently gathering within the city.

6.) Penobscot Theatre Company-131 Main Street

Penobscot Theatre Company has been in the Bangor area for over 50 years. It started started out first as Acadia Repertory Theater in the early 1970s, before incorporating as  "Penobscot Theatre Company" in the earl 1980s. (Acadia Rep now operates out of MDI.) Penobscot Theatre first started putting on shows a little ways down the road on Main Street in what used to be called The Parish House. A much smaller venue then it now has over at the old Bangor Opera House facility at 131 Main Street, the literal change of scenery has opened up so many options for so many great productions to be brought to Bangor through the years. Bangor's longest running professional theatre company, PTC has been entertaining audiences, both young and old, for decades.

7.) The New Waverly Restaurant-36 Merchant's Plaza

The Wave, as its affectionately called by most, is one of those legendary spots in Bangor that you have to check out, at least once in your life. Touting itself as "Bangor's Oldest Neighborhood Bar, The Wave is nothing fancy. In fact, it's quite the opposite. But that's what's kept this Bastien of the blue collar bar open for decades and decades. That and very dedicated management and loyal customers. As the Downtown Bangor organization so aptly puts it "You haven’t been Downtown, until you have been underground." To give you some context, The Wave is the place where most of the food and beverage workers from surrounding establishments end up after they get off of their shifts.

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We know that there are others that have earned their status as Bangor Icons. Which do you think we should add to this list?