Sullivan Tire & Auto Service has reopened its 805 Lisbon St. location more than a year after being forced to close by the city of Lewiston.

Sullivan Tire Marketing Director Mark Gillard told The Buzz they reopened in the past two weeks and that some of the original employees have returned. Others, who were offered jobs at other Sullivan Tire locations, chose to stay where they are.

Heavy rain last summer flooded many buildings in Lewiston and Auburn and contributed to a sinkhole opening up at the Lisbon Street location, which led the city of Lewiston to condemn the building on Aug. 9, 2023, forcing the company to temporarily close that location. A failed drainage pipe is also believed to have been a factor.

City inspectors cleared the building for occupancy Aug. 13, according to Angelynne Amores, the director marketing and communications for the city. She confirmed two drainage pipes were dye tested by the city and that the city-owned pipe was not the cause of the sinkhole. A second drainage pipe was on private property and the sinkhole occurred on private property, taking the issue out of city hands.

Gillard says they are just happy to be back in the community and that they look forward to greeting old customers back. The company also bought out the former Statham Tire at 150 Center St., in Auburn, giving them two locations in the Twin Cities.

Learn and Grow Childcare Center opens a third location in Lewiston

Brenda St. Amand started her first child care business 32 years ago in her Lewiston home. She’s just opened her third location at 739 Main St., Lewiston and is accepting applications for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years.

The new facility has room for up to 64 children and is open Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m-5 p.m. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided, and the center is accepting subsidies.

Learn and Grow’s other locations are on Route 202 in Monmouth and at 24 Sleeper Road, Lewiston.

You can reach St. Amand at 207-240-1234 or through the center’s Facebook page.

Nutty Netties Café soft opening set for new Court Street location in Auburn

Nutty Netties Café is holding the first three soft opening dates for its second location 34 Court St., in Auburn. The new location will be open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 23-25, and new hours will be announced in the coming days.

For now, the new location will be a retail operation as work gets under way on the second phase of the large space, which owner Aaron Bucceri hopes to open by year’s end or early in 2025.

The store features a gift shop with handmade chocolates and sweets, fresh coffee and muffins from the Auburn Mall store and will feature artists and handicrafts from Maine small businesses that include soaps, handmade blankets, oils and more.

When completed, the second half of the store will have seating, a bar and entertainment space that Bucceri emphasizes will be family-friendly and will have extended hours into the evening.

The Bucceris plan to expand their offerings to include buffets and brunch and other events including classes, music and live comedy as part of a partnership with the Great Falls Comedy Club and Craft Brew Underground next door.

The entrance to the new Nutty Netties retail is on Court Street adjacent to Auburn City Hall.

The Buzz offers quick hits about trending area business happenings. Have a Buzzable tip? Contact business writer Christopher Wheelock at 689-2817 or [email protected]