Heartbreaking local news alert: The Renys in downtown Portland is closing

We wish that the Burn’s first opportunity to break local news were better news for those of us who live and work near downtown Portland: The Renys department store on Congress Street plans to close sometime before the end of its lease in April 2026. 

A spokesperson for the company told The Burn that Renys would be closing due to “safety concerns.” 

Renys staff told The Burn that company leadership cited incidents at the store, less business since the start of the COVID pandemic, and the price of the building as reasons for the closure. A social media post made Tuesday morning by a current staff member at the Portland store said that company management cited “violent incidents at the store.”

Renys has stores in 18 Maine municipalities including Portland, including its flagship store in Damariscotta. Renys first opened its Congress Street store in Portland in 2011.

The company has not made a public statement or released information about the closure, though they did say that Renys as a company is in fine financial standing.