Category: Openings

Today’s Press Herald includes a report on the opening day of Red’s Dairy Freeze in South Portland. Red’s was originally opened in 1952 by Leonard “Red” Bolling as a Tastee Freeze franchise and in 1965 he went independent and changed the name to Red’s Dairy Freeze. The business has been offline since last May when a fire severely damaged the building.

First in line at the walk-up window was South Portland firefighter Chris Swenson. On the morning of the fire, he and firefighter Josh Perry broke in the back door of Red’s and entered the hot, dark and smoky space.

On Friday, Swenson ordered a triple-chocolate Boston, one of Red’s signature shakes topped with ice cream and sauce.

The Forecaster reports that Red’s Dairy Freeze will reopen soon.

Laura Bolling, the owner’s daughter, is coy about a specific date. Rather than dishing out the information, Bolling this week offered nuggets, like the little pieces of candy in Red’s’ tasty Nor’easters.

The countdown can be measured in days, not weeks, she said. And, the total number of days is less than seven.

…and according to an article in the Friday Press Herald, Red’s will open at noon today.

The family that owns Red’s Dairy Freeze confirmed late Thursday night that it will begin serving soft-serve ice cream at noon today.

Shanghai Tokyo is having their Grand Opening today. As the name suggests the restaurant serves a mix of Chinese and Japanese food. The restaurant is located at 511 Congress Street. Soju was the last restaurant in that space, prior to that it was the home of Thai Che Buffet.

Tranchemontagne’s, Andre and Jame’s Tranchemontagne’s new restaurant in Westbrook, opened on Tuesday. The new eatery replaces the brother’s prior venture at that address, The French Press Eatery. You can see a copy of their menu on their Facebook page (login required).

East Ender opened tonight serving a limited menu of drinks and appetizers such as meat and cheese plates, salad, fries and deviled eggs. You can see a draft of their full menu on their website (click on the word Delicious at the bottom of the homepage).

East Ender is located on Middle Street adjacent to Duckfat in the space formerly occupied by Norm’s East End Grill. Megan Schroeter and Mitch Gerow who had worked together as the bar manager and sous chef at Evangeline are the owners of East Ender.

15 Exchange is opening for business tonight. The Italian restaurant occupies the store front that had long been the home of Walter’s.

This is the third new business to open in the past 2 days. Which one do you think will be next out of the gate: EastEnder, Gigo, Gingko Blue or Shanghai-Tokyo?

Gorgeous Gelato is now open. Portland’s newest destination for gelato is located at 434 Fore Street.

The new Otto Pizza, located in the former North Star Music Cafe at 225 Congress Street is opening tonight. A recent article in the Portland Daily Sun reported that the restaurant will “offer 90-plus seats of family style sit-down dining, a full bar, and an expanded menu along with its popular by-the-slice take-out.”

According to a report in the Press Herald, a new Indian restaurant has opened in South Portland.

Aroma, Authentic India Cuisine, sells food that is traditionally from South India and is made from unique spices and curries, said part-owner Jay Yeety.

District Grille is opening with a limited appetizer menu and a cash bar tonight. They will be closed on Wednesday and plan to reopen with full dinner service starting Thursday . Pete Sueltenfuss is leading the kitchen staff with brothers Bill and James O’Brien along with Anthony Mastropasqua as owners of the restaurant.
The restaurant’s liquor license application states that they plan to serve an “Upscale American” menu.