Big J’s Chicken Shack on Thompson’s Point is closing at the end of this month.
Last year Loring and partners opened a new restaurant at Sugarloaf called Hunker Down and is partnering on Erik’s Church in Windham.
Update: The Press Herald reports that Locally Sauced will be taking over the Big J’s space.
Both Tempo Dulu and Opium, the restaurant and bar in the Danforth Inn, are scheduled to close at the end of this month, reports the Press Herald.
Raymond Brunyanszki, co-owner of the inn, said the businesses were not profitable enough and that a “disconnect” existed between the guests staying at the inn and people dining at the restaurant. He also cited the difficulty of finding qualified staff familiar with Southeast Asian cuisine.
Artemisia Cafe has announced plans to shut down their dinner service. This coming Friday will be its last night in operation.
The Italian restaurant that serves dinner at Artemisia opened nearly 5 years ago in May of 2013 and is run by Heather Neville and Guy Frenette. The couple grew-up in Maine but had spent several years working in the restaurant industry in the Bay Area (Chez Panisse, Aquerello, Oliveto). There’s no word yet on what their post-Artemisia plans are.
Abilene has announced they plan to close their restaurant at the end of March.
As many of you have heard by now, after much consideration we have decided that March will be our last month in operation. We are confident this is the best decision for our family and we are all excited for new adventures to come.
WCYY has reported that Valley Chinese Cuisine on Forest Ave has gone out of business.
This will come as some fairly shocking news for lovers of the Chinese food favorite. So why is it closing? Well, sources tell us, the owners just want to retire. For those that frequent the establishment, they know it has been a family owned and operated restaurant. You could pop in for lunch or dinner at any hour and see the same faces behind the counter. The long hours and strenuous seven-days-a-week schedule led the owners to decide that it’s time to move on.
The Press Herald reports the very sad news that Francine Bistro in Camden has gone out of business.
The restaurant closed for the winter in November with a sign on the door that indicated it would reopen in May. But chef/owner Brian Hill confirmed Wednesday that he has shuttered the restaurant for good after 15 years, citing a combination of “insurmountable debt” and a desire to spend more time with his young daughter, who lives with her mother in southern California.
Baxter’s Fine Candies is closing their store on Brackett Street and will be moving Westbrook to set-up shop with Black Dinah. They’re holding a moving sale this Friday and Saturday.
I’ve scanned through the records for the past year and here’s a summary of events and trends for 2017:
The most popular articles published on Portland Food Map in the past year.
February – LB Kitchen, Trattoria Fanny, Vieux Port Creole, Jager and A&C Grocery opened, 12 Maine chefs/restaurants were semifinalists for the 2017 James Beard Awards, and the Maine Restaurant Association named Josh Berry their Chef of the Year.
April – Battery Steele Brewing, Mami, Cheevitdee and the Mashed food truck opened and Holy Donut opened a new location in Scarborough, Joe’s opened at their new location on Congress Street, the International Pectinid Workshop took place in Portland, Hugo’s and Miyake were named to the Opinionated About Dining Top 100 list, Milo DeGoosh participated in the US Barista Guild competition, Cara Stadler reverted her restaurants to the standard tipping model, and Aurora Provisions was purchased by Melissa Carr.
June – Hifi Donuts, Yobo, Maiz, Yes Brewing, the Hakka Me and Falafel Mafia food trucks, Blyth & Burrows, Opium and North 43 Bistro opened, 1820 Wines launched, Allagash pledged to buy one million pounds of Maine-grown grain per year by 2021, the 1st Annual Inner Washington Block Party took place, the first issue of Edible Maine was released, Knack Factory produced a video about Rabelais, Fork Food Lab merged with Foodworks in Brooklyn, and Zapoteca closed.
August – Roma Cafe, Island Creek, Nonesuch River Brewing, and the Kind Stack and Mainely Hotdogs food carts opened, Bon Appetit named The Purple House and Nina June to their list of the 50 Best New Restaurants in America, it was the 10th anniversary of Portland Food Map, and Joshua McFadden, chef of Ava Gene’s and Tusk in Portland Oregon served a dinner at the Palace Diner, and Trattoria Fanny closed.
October – Eventide opened their new location in Boston, the Scratch Baking Toast Bar, Belleville, Mainely Wraps, Little Woodfords, Leavitt & Sons and Higher Grounds opened, the 4th Annual Heirloom Apple Tasting took place, Rep. Chellie Pingree received a leadership award from the Beard Foundation, Drifters Wife announced plans to expand, and Falafel Underground closed.The numbers in parentheses indicate their rank last year. The order of the list is determined by the number of times these restaurants were looked up on PFM during the year.
For some other perspectives on the past year see the Portland Press Herald, Portland Phoenix, Portland Magazine, Map & Menu, The Beer Babe, Peter Peter Portland Eater, Maine Sunday Telegram and The 207 Foodie.
Here are links to the Portland Food Map year in review reports for 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010.
Rhum, the tiki cocktail bar and restaurant on Cross Street, closed last night, December 30. Rhum launched February 6, 2016. It was part of the Fifth Food Group led by Jason Loring.
Update: The Press Herald has now also posted a report about Rhum closing.
Falafel Underground aka Peddleman’s Falafel will be closing their service at Union Bagel at the end of this month in preparation for launching a restaurant in their own space this Winter.
It is with heavy, but EXCITED hearts that we share the news that after MONDAY, OCTOBER 30TH falafel service as you know it at Union Bagel Co. will come to a close. We believe that we have found a space of our own to perfectly suit our needs, and hope to have the even better news of telling you where it is by the end of this year!
Now and in the interim period you can find their goods at the Portland Food Co-op, Lois’ Natural Marketplace, New Morning Natural Foods in Biddeford, Royal River Natural Foods in Freeport.