But Maine’s desirability is nothing new. More recently, the state’s creative spirit has resulted in a dynamic food scene. Kazeem Lawal, the owner of the clothing and accessories store Portland Trading Co., moved from New Jersey to Portland 14 years ago, and has witnessed its stratospheric growth from a small port town to a destination city. “It’s a bit like the Brooklyn of 20 years ago, with old and new coexisting,” he says. “and it’s continuing to grow and evolve, as all cities should and do.”

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Persons: Portland’s, Kazeem Lawal, ”, “ Organizations: Artists, of Crafts, Portland Trading Co Locations: Ogunquit, Deer, Rockland, Portland, New Jersey, “, Brooklyn