Dee Dee’s Barbershop is one of the coolest new businesses in Portland. It sits like a gleaming jewel just off Congress Street in the Arts District, with a yellow sign, an open garage door and excellent ‘70s and ‘80s rock tunes spilling out. Take a seat on the wraparound mustard couch, pick up a Marvel comic, and you’ll feel transported to another era.

“I’ve always been very into the ‘70s,” explains owner Desiree Decker, aka Des, as she takes a seat. “This sofa, for example, is from the 1960s.”

Des has spent 13 years working in the barbering worlds of Colorado and Maine, building a loyal following of clients that will happily follow her down alleyways to get an excellent short haircut, straight razor head shave, or beard trim.

After attending barbering school in her home state of Colorado, Des spent eight years working in barbershops before moving to Portland five years ago. She rented chairs at Ethan Hunter Salon & Barber and The Blind Pig Barber Company. Then she became an entrepreneur.

“I never pictured myself having my own shop, but this January a friend and I decided to buy a bar; the sale fell through, but I got great experience writing business plans, so I shifted gears and decided to build this.”

She wanted a spot on the peninsula, and Clay Hardy of CORE brought her to this unique space.

“The garage door really caught my eye,” she says. “And it was the perfect square footage; my previous barbershops have all been cute and cozy.”

She named the shop Dee Dee’s as a play on her initials (D.D.) and because it speaks to her obsession with all things vintage. She also enlisted four other women with strong barbering chops and clientele to join her; they rent four of the five chairs.

“It has mid-century, diner-esque vibes to it,” she says of the space. “Dee Dee feels like a girl who would be behind the counter. Come on in and vibe out at Dee Dee’s,” she adds with a laugh. “Put your feet up and grab a cold drink out of the fridge.”

Learn more at www.deedeesbarbershop.com 

Hyperlite Mountain Gear has grown from a startup in a Kennebunk garage into one of Biddeford’s most celebrated businesses. It’s a world-renowned outdoor equipment brand, yet its roots are humble and innovative—much like its founder, Mike St. Pierre.

When we meet in Hyperlite’s headquarters in Pepperell Mill, Mike explains his unconventional career path. He began as an audio engineer, touring with Don Henley and The Eagles. Then he trained as a chef in some of the country’s most acclaimed restaurants, including New York City’s three-Michelin-star Per Se. But his love for the great outdoors brought him back to Maine. And when he couldn’t find the equipment for hikes, he set about creating it himself.

“I’ve always chosen things I’m passionate about,” explains Mike. “When I started Hyperlite, most of the products out there were overbuilt and really heavy. Manufacturers had lost sight of what was truly important, adding more features, pockets, and zippers. We stripped everything back to the essentials.”

He started the company in his garage in Kennebunk. By 2010, the fast-growing business had relocated to the Pepperrell Mill campus in Biddeford. Mike arrived just as the historic textile complex was beginning its transformation into a vibrant community of apartments, restaurants, small businesses, and arts studios.

“It was pretty bohemian back then,” he says, grinning. “And it gave us so much room to grow.”

It turned out to be the perfect launch pad. The company’s ultralight backpacks, tents, and accessories became popular with adventurers around the world. They are especially well known in the U.S. among hikers tackling iconic routes like the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. The brand’s fanbase spans climbers, backcountry skiers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds.

“Our philosophy is striking the optimal balance between weight, durability, and weather protection,” says Mike.

Today, Hyperlite serves customers globally through its online store and an international network of retailers. But Maine remains central to the company’s identity. Mike says the collaborative environment at the mills continues to be a vital part of their culture. Its product development, research and development, marketing, customer service, fulfillment and finance teams remain based here.

Mike also says he’s encouraged by the energy CORE has brought since taking over management of Pepperrell Mill.

“CORE seems genuinely interested in tenants’ perspectives and how the campus can continue to improve,” he says. “We’ve been part of conversations about future ideas. It’s exciting to see continued investment into making this a place where businesses can thrive.”

Learn more about Hyperlite Mountain Gear at hyperlitemountaingear.com.

On a nondescript part of Cumberland Avenue, a block away from Maine Historical Society, you’ll find what some people argue is the best pizza in the entire world. Not just in Portland or the northeast.

Pizzaiolo means a pizza maker in Italian. “It means ‘pizza guy’” explains owner Patrick Scally, aka Pat. (A female pizza maker is called a pizzaiola.) Pat is quick to point out that the pizza his team creates has its roots in the Big Apple.

“This isn’t New York-style pizza,” he says when we sit down to talk. “This is New York pizza.”

It’s certainly a busy spot. Kids from nearby Portland High School are sitting at two of the three tables. Two men holding hard hats stand in line for slices, while a DoorDash delivery person walks out holding a tower of about ten pizza cartons.

“We sell more types of pizza than anywhere else,” Pat explains. “We have anywhere from 15-24 different kinds each day. We also use fresh ingredients—fresh beef, fresh mushrooms. Our meatballs are the best in the city.”

He points to a wall where a series of reviews are framed in glass. These are the accounts of various journalists and food writers who have stumbled in and discovered pizza perfection.

Pat is an intriguing character. He was born in Area 51, New Mexico, to a father who worked in the military. He was then raised between Downeast and Portland. Fresh out of school, he got a job at Papa Ginos. His can-do attitude got him promoted to general manager within 18 months. It was in San Diego that he got his big break, landing a job at the award-winning and world-renowned Bronx Pizza.

“I probably threw over a million pizza doughs into the air while I was there,” he muses.

When he came back home, he set up his own store and began teaching a new generation of Portlanders how to make sublime pizza.

“It’s all about the love in the dough,” he says, smiling. I look behind the counter to watch store manager Mitch Harmon toss fresh dough into the air. “It’s what my mom always used to say. If someone isn’t feeling right, you’ll know it in the dough.”

Pizzaiolo, 360 Cumberland Avenue, Portland, ME, https://pizzaioloportland.com/