Passamaquoddy Nation will not buy Eastport grocery store

Passamaquoddy Tribe Votes Against Purchasing Eastport’s Only Grocery Store

In a Tuesday referendum, voters in the Passamaquoddy Tribe rejected the idea that the tribal nation should pursue the purchase of the R&M IGA Foodliner, the only full‑size grocery store in Eastport, Maine. Unofficial results posted on social media show 237 residents opposed further due‑diligence while 152 supported the measure.

The IGA Foodliner, located at the corner of State Route 190 and Main Street, closed last week after its owner announced retirement. The store has been the sole source of groceries for Eastport’s 1,300 residents and the 600‑person Pleasant Point reservation, and its closure has raised concerns about access to affordable food.

“If the IGA does not reopen, residents along State Route 190 will have to drive 35 minutes or more to Calais for a full‑size grocer,” said tribal officials. The lack of a nearby supermarket could have ripple effects on local food prices and the community’s economic resilience.

Jeremy Edwards, president of Edwards Brothers Supermarkets, told reporters on Wednesday that he has spoken with the former IGA owner about a potential purchase. Edwards, who inspected the property shortly after the store’s closure, added, “We’re certainly interested.” While no decision has yet been made, Edwards said the tribe’s rejection of the purchase may prompt other buyers to step forward.

The referendum took place alongside a regularly scheduled tribal election in which voters re‑elected Chief Amkuwiposohehs “Pos” Bassett and Vice Chief Evelyn Lewey to four‑year terms. Rena Newell, who previously held a non‑voting seat in the Maine Legislature from 2018 to 2022, will return to that position.

The outcome leaves Eastport and the Pleasant Point reservation without a local grocery store, potentially pushing residents farther from essential goods and increasing reliance on neighboring towns. The tribe’s decision to halt the purchase opens the door for private investors like Edwards Brothers, whose interest in the property may shape the region’s future grocery landscape.