Alex Spear

There’s a new business on Maine Street for those looking for a sweet treat this fall. Located in the Tontine Mall, The Frappe Shoppe has been open for four weeks and owner Jamie Alexander has enjoyed every second.

“I wanted to do this for a long time,” Alexander said. “I’m a sweets girl. I’ve always thought that maybe one day I’ll open up an ice cream shop.”

Since Alexander’s original idea, she decided to switch from ice cream to frappes. Frappes are similar to thick milkshakes but different from Frappés, which, although spelled quite similarly, is a form of iced coffee. Alexander is no stranger to frappes. Her family used to own a local restaurant, and making the sweet treat there was a favorite part of her job.

“I loved making the frappes in the restaurant,” Alexander said. “It was my favorite thing to do, and I knew that it would be something that people enjoyed and wanted.”

Much like her family’s old restaurant, the Frappe Shop is family-oriented. Alexander works with her mother and daughter, and the small space lends itself well to the small business.

“I knew about this spot before. Growing up, it used to be a record store and then a [photography studio]. But for the longest time, it’s been nothing. So I went in there one day and asked if we could use it,” Alexander said.

Renovating 147.5 Maine Street took Alexander and her team all summer. Since opening, she’s been excited to welcome the Brunswick community. Despite only being open for a month, customers are flocking to enjoy the frappes.

“It’s really tasty,” customer Mary Schindo said. “I think [the popularity] is absolutely warranted, and I’m glad it’s here. Next time I’m going to bring my husband because he will definitely want to try this.”

Another local customer echoed Schindo’s thoughts, reflecting on Maine Street’s revitalization since the beginning of the pandemic.

“I think it’s fantastic,” they said. “It’s nice to have a family-oriented shop to bring more life into the city of Brunswick. It’s unfortunate with the pandemic that we’ve seen many restaurants and stores [shut down]. And to see life coming back is promising.”

So far, there has been a steady flow of customers coming to get frappes for their first time and those who are returning to enjoy them again.

“This is my second time coming to the shop,” a customer said. “But we know the owner from their previous endeavor, so it’s great to know that we can get a great frappe that we love so much.”

Alexander loves connecting with customers as well as hearing their feedback about future projects. She looks forward to offering hot chocolate in the winter and continuing to provide products that are different from what is typically available on Maine Street.

“I try to be different than everybody else—not necessarily because I just want to be different but because I want Brunswick to thrive,” Alexander said. “If we’re all just competing against each other with the same product then that’s taking away something from somebody else. I want people to come in one day and get a frappe, and then go the next day and get gelato.”

Alexander doesn’t offer a typical  frappe. At the shop, customers have the opportunity   to mix and match flavors, with options ranging from classic chocolate to salted caramel and even black cherry. In the fall, customers can indulge in maple and pumpkin spice flavors, and in the winter, Alexander is excited to add candy cane and gingerbread to the list. While the Frappe Shop has yet to offer dairy-free options, their peanut butter and pistachio options are allergen-free.

According to Alexander, there’s no one customer favorite.

“People come in here and they want what they want. Of course, I’ve tried every single one of them, and they’re all good,” Alexander said.

Now that school is in session, Alexander is excited for students to stop by the shop.

“Everybody deserves a treat,” Alexander said. “Come in and get a frappe, you’ll love them. They’re delicious.”