City of Westbrook, Maine
Source: City of Westbrook Facebook
Westbrook, Maine
Westbrook borders Portland, South Portland, Gorham, Windham, and Falmouth, putting it at the center of several busy towns and cities, and a quick drive to either lakes or to the mall. Westbrook even offers public transportation with the Metro Bus system and Regional Transportation Program. Whether you’re heading into Portland for a night out or to Gorham for a class at the University of Southern Maine, it’s easy to get there from Westbrook. Hop on I-95, Route 302, or, if you need to get somewhere further afield,drive the ten minutes to the Portland International Jetport.
But you don’t need to leave Westbrook to work, shop, or dine if you don’t want to. A thriving community, Westbrook offers commercial and retail opportunities alongside residential neighborhoods and family events.
Exploring Westbrook Maine
Shopping & Dining in Westbrook, Maine
Westbrook has a wide selection of both national chains and locally-owned, smaller shops and restaurants. For locally-owned options, head to the walkable downtown area where you’ll find a selection of classic pub fare mixed with international cuisine. Older, local favorites like Profenno’s remain popular while newer spots like Big Fin Poke draw in diners. Beer lovers can grab a pint at Mast Landing Brewing Company and the brunch crowd can relax with a delicious spread of food and a selection of drinks at the Frog & Turtle. If you love a cup of coffee or an adult beverage with your book, check out Quill Books & Beverage.
Of course, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Chik-Fil-A, and the New England staple of Dunkin’ Donuts are all options for on-the-go food.
If you’re cooking at home, Westbrook has a Shaw’s, a Hannaford, and a Market Basket where you can pick up groceries. For other types of shopping, has numerous options, includuing chain stores like Kohl’s, Home Depot, and The Paper Store.
Business & Industry
Though it’s no longer a mill town in the way it once was, Westbrook has plentiful industry and business – including in the old Dana Warp mill buildings along the Presumpscot River. Located within walking distance from downtown, the old mill site looks out over Saccarappa Falls and houses offices for companies that range from clothing manufacturers to mushroom growers to photographers and artists.
Westbrook is also home to the headquarters of Idexx Laboratories, a multinational, billion-dollar company that employs thousands. Other companies are located at Five Star Industrial Park and the new Rock Row mixed-use development is welcoming everything from medical tenants to retail leases.
Outdoor Locations & Recreation
With the Presumpscot River flowing through the town and many open spaces, Westbrook has many ways for people to enjoy the outdoors. Sit and relax along the banks of the Presumpscot at Riverbank Park, or get some exercise on The River Walk, a paved trail that goes along the river.
The Presumpscot River Trail offers a more woodsy environment for a walk, and you can put your kayak into the river at the boat launch that’s at one end of the trail. In the winter, the River Trail is a popular spot for snowshoeing.
Kids and families have several playgrounds to choose from throughout the city, and sports fans of all ages can find playing fields and courts throughout the city. The Bicentennial Skate Park gives skateboarders and bikers a place to enjoy their hobby and snowmobile enthusiasts have miles of trails through Westbrook to explore in the winter.
The Westbrook Community Center offers residents a place to swim, take fitness classes, play a pick-up basketball game or even find needed resources. It houses a food pantry, a thrift shop, and a veterans services center.
Throughout the year, residents and visitors can enjoy numerous events in the city. Winterfest, Run the River, and Feast of the Falls are all held downtown.
Source: Walker Memorial Library Facebook
Walker Memorial Library
Cultural Attractions
Westbrook also has much to offer in the way of cultural entertainment. The Walker Memorial Library is located downtown and is housed in a beautiful brick building. The library regularly hosts events, including an outdoor storytime by the river for kids.
The Westbrook Performing Arts Center provides a gathering place for the community to enjoy theater productions, movies, and concerts. It seats 1,000 and is also regularly the host of business meetings and other community events.
The arts in Westbrook are also supported by the work of the nonprofit group Westbrook Arts & Culture which encourages creativity and artistic endeavors in the city.
In the summer, the city hosts an outdoor concert series with performances at both Riverbank Park and at downtown Vallee Square.
Education
Westbrook’s public school system includes three elementary schools: Canal, Congin, and Saccarappa, which are a middle school, a high school, and Westbrook Regional Vocational Center, respectively.
If parents prefer to send their children to private schools, the drive to Portland and other towns that have private schools for all age groups is not far.
Westbrook is in a perfect location for college students. The University of Southern Maine has campuses in both Gorham and Portland, and Westbrook borders both of those towns. An apartment in Westbrook offers easy access to both campuses, as well as to the many entertainment and social opportunities in Westbrook itself. Additionally, the University of New England’s Portland campus is just a few minutes from the Westbrook border.
Healthcare
Though Westbrook doesn’t have a hospital, it is very close to the hospitals in Portland. The city is home to Spring Harbor, a 100-bed psychiatric hospital, and has many medical practitioners with offices in the city. Mercy Hospital has an ExpressCare location in Westbrook and there is a ConvenientMD Urgent Care located on Main Street.
Options for primary care in Westbrook includes Maine Medical Partners Westbrook Family Medicine. Westbrook Family Dentistry and Main Street Dental are just two of the dental care options, and Eye Care & Eye Center of Maine is right on Main Street. With Hannaford, Walgreens, and CVS all in the city, it’s also never hard to find a pharmacy in Westbrook.
Related Posts
Best Hotels Near Westbrook
Described proudly by many locals as being akin to a “pre-gentrified Portland,” the city of Westbrook is fast becoming a destination in its own right. With new small businesses cropping up faster than daisies in [...]
Best Breakfast Near Westbrook
Westbrook—a former industrial city with the rehabbed mill buildings to show for it—is currently in the midst of a vibrant revitalization, and it seems people have heard the news. The population has grown in this [...]
Best Portland Golf Courses
While cities have the benefit of offering a wide variety of consumer amenities and services, golf courses are not often one of them—and Portland, Maine is no different. The restrictive issue is simple: Cities typically [...]
Best Portland Disc Golf Courses
If you’re like me and never quite got the hang of the whole “hit the tiny, dimpled ball with the long metal stick and try to sink said tiny ball into a tiny hole millions [...]
Best Pizza In Westbrook
If you’re a pizza fanatic and plan on spending any time in the fast-growing (actually, the fastest-growing, population-wise) city of Westbrook, you chose the right place to hang out. The city, which is enjoying an [...]
Best Restaurants in Westbrook
The tenth of Maine’s Main Street America communities and the fastest-growing city in the state, Westbrook has been undergoing an ongoing revitalization and transformation. The industrial mills that were formerly powered by the mighty Presumpscot [...]
