LISBON – As if a petition with 1,000 signatures wasn’t enough, residents of this retail-challenged town have rolled out a welcome banner for Renys department store.

Literally.

A big white-and-red sign stating “We Want Reny’s” now greets motorists who enter the town from the east on Route 196. Unfurled Thursday under the town’s municipal sign, the banner underscores how strongly local folks want a department store to call their own.

“I think it will happen eventually,” said Dan Feeney, the town’s economic development director who will clock out Friday from a job he’s held for 18 years. Feeney is accepting a position as economic development director with neighboring Topsham.

But he’s not leaving without giving it one last try with Renys, a retailer he’s been trying to woo to Lisbon for several years. On Wednesday, he and Town Manager Curtis Lunt and Councilman Dale Crafts met with John Reny, hoping to convince him to open a store in Lisbon.

“We’re not there yet; we’re still trying to entice them,” said Feeney. “But we understand John has to find a deal that works for them.”

They pulled out all the stops. Besides showing Reny plans for new retail development in the center of town, town officials presented him with the petition and a Moxie T-shirt.

“We’re very honored to think the people think so much of us,” said Reny, vice president of the Maine-based chain, who was obviously flattered and a little overwhelmed by the display. “I think we would take a look at it and make a decision.”

But not soon. The company is already committed to expansions of its Bridgton and Belfast stores and Reny said the company tends to act conservatively. It already operates 14 stores throughout the state.

“We like to do things at our own pace,” he said. “There are dangers in trying to be too big, too fast.”

He did acknowledge, though, that Lisbon’s effort was impressive.

“We’ve never had that kind of full-court press,” he said with a chuckle. “We get different inquiries from around the state all the time. But not like this.”