Portland, ME The Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce will be moving from its longtime location at 443 Congress St. to 93 Exchange St., in a deal brokered by Cam Foster and Drew Sigfridson of The Boulos Company on behalf of the tenant, and Malone’s Pete Harrington on behalf of the landlord. The Chamber plans to be up and running in its new home by June 1.

In May 2021, the Chamber hired Foster and Sigfridson to begin the search for a new headquarters. With their lease expiring in February 2022, they saw an opportunity to reduce real estate costs by eliminating unneeded square footage. Must-haves included a downtown location with a brick and beam feel, a large conference room, a retail presence, and most importantly, easy access for the community.

The project team, which included Gretchen Boulos of Boulos Commercial Design, evaluated all available options, doing test-fits and financial analyses to show how the organization would lay out and operate. At 3,357 s/f, the first floor of 93 Exchange St. checked all the boxes. The historic brownstone  is located across the street from the Press Hotel, one block from Post Office Park, around the corner from the Chamber’s old location.

“Cam and his team were incredibly helpful throughout the entire process. They provided value from day one to the day we signed the lease,” said Chamber CEO Qunicy Hentzel. “Our new office space is key for the organization. It will serve as a hub for collaboration as well as a place for our members and the business community to gather and build relationships. Gretchen Boulos with Boulos Commercial Design was also instrumental in this process. She helped us design a workplace that will make our Chamber team and members proud.”

“For many years, businesses looking for office space in downtown Portland haven’t had a lot of options,” said Foster. “As companies reassess their needs amidst the shift to a hybrid workplace, we’re seeing a rise in available office options, and it’s creating enticing new opportunities. Business leaders are asking, ‘What do we want to give our employees and clients access to? How can we streamline our costs and spend more on what matters to us? And what are the available options?’ There’s a lot of activity on the horizon, and it’s very exciting.”