A tasty test of loyalty
One of Saco Island’s most popular destinations. Search this event on Facebook.
Great beer and some of the very best comfort food ANYWHERE. That’s a very tasty proposition, especially now. The Forge Collection has learned that a local group called the Biddeford/Saco Flash Mob is organizing an event for Thursday, May 14. The driving force is local resident Mark Poirer, and if you have a Facebook account you can search “Biddeford/Saco Flash Mob” and get all the details. The idea, of course, is to support Run of the Mill, an iconic local establishment, in these very tough times. The event has our full support, and we ask residents of Biddeford and Saco to help out this establishment, and others like it, as much as you can.
It’s hard to say too many good things about The Run of the Mill Public House & Brewery. In Biddeford, the Pepperell Mill Campus is probably the most famous “early pioneer” for downtown redevelopment in this area. On the Saco side of the river, that honor probably goes to Run of the Mill. Sure, a lot of excitement, fanfare and success for many businesses followed MERC’s closure in 2012, but Run of the Mill opened well before that in 2008, showing early faith in the ability of downtown Biddeford-Saco to revitalize and re-invent itself. They had early faith in Biddeford-Saco, so it seems natural to return the favor now.
Since those early days, the pub has definitely become one of the favorite and most central gathering spots for the population of these two cities, and for the ever-increasing number of visitors that Biddeford and Saco are attracting. Weddings, funerals, graduations, class reunions, WHATEVER….Run of the Mill always seems to be one of the top spots where people want to meet.
Geoff Houghton is the owner of Run of the Mill, and also of The Liberal Cup in Hallowell, the original inspiration for his Saco pub. Rebecca Lemieux is the manager. They and the crack staff they put together have always been “on it,” gaining recognition in Downeast, the Portland Press Herald and many other publications throughout the region, and helping to build very positive reputations for these downtowns. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 challenges, they continue to adapt and serve the local community. Here’s a quick excerpt from their web site: “Open for take out only daily Monday-Thursday 2-8pm. Friday, Saturday & Sunday 12-8! Check our daily specials tab to see what we are offering for family style options! We also have growlers! Beer to go!”
You can count The Forge Collection as among The Run of the Mill’s biggest fans. We certainly know that our apartment and office tenants absolutely LOVE the place —- they tell us all the time. Thank you to Mark Poirer and the Biddeford/Saco Flash Mob for organizing Thursday’s event. Weather looks great --- have a blast!