Category: Under Construction

Za Coming to Preble Street

| Posted in Under Construction

Jessica and Brandon Tenney, the owners of Truckin Pizza, are taking over the former Slab Sicilian Street Food spot on Preble Street where they plan to open a new restaurant called Za (instagram).

The restaurant will serve pizza by the slice and as whole pies as well as sandwiches, salads, sides, appetizers and desserts. Their What the Dill Pizza is topped with house-made ranch and sour pickles, fresh dill, potato chips, red onion and mozzarella. A popular item from their salad list is a Roasted Beet Salad made with blueberries, goat cheese, pomegranate molasses, vinaigrette, basil, watercress and pickled onions.

The bar menu will offer wine, local draft beers, cocktails on tap from local distilleries, signature cocktails and spirits from Wild Bevy Distilling in Wells. The Za bar menu will also feature house-made non-alcoholic cocktails, local sodas, and sparkling water.

The Tenneys both hail from Maine. Brandon Tenney is a Culinary Institute of America graduate and worked in NYC before moving back to Maine. Jessica Tenney has worked in restaurants and in wedding and event planning. They each have 25 years of experience in the restaurant and event industries.

This is a dream come true for Brandon and I. This opportunity came and we just knew we couldn’t pass it up. It feels like a full circle moment for us after spending over two decades each working in the restaurant and event space in and around Portland. We are so grateful for all the love and support we have received with Truckin’ Pizza. Everyone kept asking if we had a brick and mortar and where they could find more of our food in Portland that it just seemed like the natural next step.

The Tenneys launched Truckin Pizza in 2022. In addition to providing catering for weddings and other events, Truckin Pizza also operates a food truck at Wild Bevy where they serve dishes like poutine, Tuscan artichoke salad and mac and cheese.

They hope to open Za for business this spring, and plan to use the large outdoor space to host live music and other events during the warmer months.

Restaurant Real Estate: February 2025

| Posted in Under Construction, Real Estate

Welcome to the February 2025 edition of the Portland Food Map restaurant real estate listings sponsored by The Boulos Company—a commercial real estate brokerage that has helped Maine’s restauranteurs buy and lease restaurant spaces since 1975.

This resource gathers in one convenient place the spaces available in Portland (and a few in the surrounding area) that could be potential sites for restaurants and food producers and retailers to locate their next business. Finding the right spot is one of the crucial early challenges in launching a new business and hopefully this resource will make that step just a little bit easier.

West End/Valley/Libby Town

87 Brackett St – the 1,077 sq ft former OhNo Cafe is for lease for $2,700/month +utilities (MG). The space also includes a 825 sq ft basement area. It is available as of February 1, 2025.

919 Congress St – the 9,540 sq ft former Salvage BBQ building is available for $20/sq ft (MG).

270 Saint John St – a 2,714 sq ft space in Union Station Plaza is available for $17/sq ft (NNN).

211 Valley St – a 1,260 sq ft former garage and the .13 acres it is on are for sale on Valley Street for $1,300,000.

235 Vaughan St – the former Vaughan Street Variety storefront in the West End has been completely renovated. The 620 sq ft space is available for $2500/month (MG). Call (207) 650-0846 for more information.

Arts District

486 Congress St – this 2,400 sq ft former cannabis retail space is available for $22/sq ft (NNN).

511 Congress St – the 2,875 sq ft former Golden Lotus space is available for $16.50/sq ft.

554 Congress St – 1,621 sq ft former Dunkin’ Donuts space for $17.04/sq ft (NNN).

555 Congress St – the 1,908 sq ft former Five Fifty-Five dining room and mezzanine are available to lease for $20/sq ft (NNN).

594 Congress St – the 2,592 sq ft space in the Upper H. H. Hay Building formerly occupied by Starbucks is available for $28/sq ft (MG).

602 Congress St – The ~1,500 sq ft ground floor space at the corner of High and Congress is available to lease. For more info contact Joe Atwood at (207) 899-7373.

77 Free St – the space previously occupied by the Free Street restaurant and bar is available. The 8,500 – 17,000 sq ft space is for lease for $5/sq ft (NNN). Call (207) 761-6500 for additional details.

133 Spring St – the 2,002 sq ft former Bao Bao restaurant space is available for $25/sq ft (MG). It includes a fully equipped kitchen, bar and dining room.

Bayside/Inner Washington

115 Cumberland Ave – this 600 sq ft space on the corner of Cleeve Street is available for $1,750/month (MG).

52 Hanover St – 1,500 – 3,000 sq ft of retail space on the first floor of the Armature building is available for $30/sq ft (NNN). One spot in the building has been earmarked for a coffee shop.

178 Kennebec St – a 2,644 sq ft of space is available in a newly constructed Bayside building for $25/sq ft (NNN).

114 Preble St – The 4,424 sq ft former Coals building is for sale for $1,475,000.

186 Washington Ave – the 7,620 sq ft Am Vets building is for sale for $1,600,000. See the listing for photos of the bar and seating area.

Old Port

0 Canal Plaza – the 1,350 sq ft former Nosh Taco building in Canal Plaza is for lease for $60/sq ft (NNN).

1 Canal Plaza – 4,284 – 14,412 sq ft of ground floor retail space will be available as part of upcoming renovations; $30/sq ft (NNN).

15 Chestnut St – the building that was home to Grace restaurant is for sale. It includes the property, business assets and all FF&E. The restaurant seats 175 and features a large circular bar on the first floor of the former church. The building has 14,358 sq ft of space. It’s for sale for $2,595,000.

185 Commercial St – a new building on Commercial Street has a 2,334 sq ft ground floor retail space that is available for $55/sq ft (NNN).

327 Commercial St – the 6,981 – 7,981 sq ft space currently occupied by Tiqa is available for lease or to buy. The lease rate is $30/sq ft (NNN). The sale price is $3,500,000.

383 Commercial St – 1,193 – 4,805 square feet of space in a newly constructed building on Commercial Street is available for $28/sq ft (NNN).

8 Exchange St – 1,800-3,600 sq ft of space formerly occupied by The Bar & Bites on lower Exchange Street is available for $60/sq ft (MG).

85 Exchange St – The space that had previously been the home of Dobra Tea is back on the market. The 1,350 sq ft space is available for $45/sq ft (MG).

201 Federal St – a 2,300 sq ft space in the new 18-story Casco building is available for $40/sq ft (MG). The building owners are seeking a business to open a market in that space.

433 Fore St – a 930 sq ft space on the first floor of the Hyatt is for lease for $60/sq ft (MG).

477 Fore St – the 1,361 sq ft space formerly occupied by B + B Bakery is available for $30/sq ft (MG).

127 Marginal Way – the 3,040 sq ft former All Speed bicycle shop space across the parking lot from Trader Joes is available for $35/sq ft (NNN).

100 Middle St – a 350 sq ft cafe space on first floor of an Old Port office building is available for $850/month (Gross).

115 Middle St – the 2,065 sq ft space formerly occupied by Beach Boys Cannabis is for lease for $39.75/sq ft (MG). Back in the 1970s it had been the home of Model Food Importers which retailed wine, cheese and other imported foods.

121 Middle St – a 2,482 sq ft retail spot is available for $45/sq ft (MG).

157 Middle St – 2,039 – 5,155 sq ft of retail space is available for $27.95/sq ft (MG).

191 Middle St – 1,500 sq ft of retail space formerly occupied by Crystal Joys is for lease for $60/sq ft (MG).

5 Milk St – this 2,199 sq ft former hair salon is available for $28/sq ft (NNN).

15 Monument Square – the 1,000 sq ft former Sisters Gourmet Deli space is available to lease for $30/sq ft (NNN).

28 Monument Square – a number of spots on the first and second floors of the Public Market House are available.

25 Pearl St – 1,689 sq ft former Subway space available for $30/sq ft (MG).

66 Pearl St – the 5,796 sq ft space that was the former home of Bull Moose is available for $15.75/sq ft (MG).

3 Spring St – the space formerly occupied by Stage Cannabis is for lease; 2,000 sq ft for $15.50/sq ft (NNN).

54 York St – a 1,605 sq ft space is available for $30/sq ft (MG). It’s located in the same building as the new Weldon Hotel at the corner of York and Maple Streets.

Old Port Bar – an undisclosed 1,160/sq ft bar/restaurant in the Old Port is for sale for $175,000.

Outer Forest Ave

546 Deering St – the 2,198 sq ft former Dunkin Donut building in Woodfords Corner is for lease for $35/sq ft (NNN).

332 Forest Ave – a 1,962 sq ft space in a building at the corner of Bedford Street and Forest Ave is available for $16/sq ft (NNN).

503 – 509 Forest Ave – When renovations are completed this year, this building will have 1,268 – 6,313 sq ft of space available for $10-15/sq ft (NNN). See this feature article for more information.

1871 Forest Ave – the former Tortilla Flats is for sale. The 8,771 sq ft building is on 3.43 acres of property and is listed for $1,750,000.

631 Stevens Ave – the 1,000 sq ft cafe space inside the Stevens Square Community Center is for lease.

Elsewhere in Portland

239 Congress St –the 780 sq ft space formerly occupied by Tiny Tims is available for $2,500/month (Absolute Gross). It’s nearby Cocktail Mary, The End of Portland, Quanto Basta and LB Kitchen.

550 Washington Ave – 2,000 – 2,400 sq ft of the former Botto’s bakery is available to lease for $18/sq ft (NNN).

Northgate Shopping Center – 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft of space is available.

Westgate Shopping Center – three spaces are for lease 1,440, 3,800 and 5,000 sq ft. The lease rates are negotiable and the property owner has a strong interest in finding a restaurant tenant for the shopping plaza.

Other Spaces – some vacated restaurant spaces haven’t yet been formerly listed for by the owner. Check the closing announcements for insights on where those opportunities may be.

South Portland

740 Broadway, South Portland – the 1,200 sq ft former Two Fat Cats space is available for $2,494/month. Contact info@twofatcatsbakery.com for more information.

449 Main St, South Portland – The former Rudy’s Diner and an adjacent home are for sale for $849,000.

60 Ocean St, South Portland – The restaurant space currently occupied by Taco Trio is for lease. The 6,006 sq ft space is available for $16.98/sq ft (NNN). Taco Trio is returning to their original location at 119 Ocean Street in early 2025.

145 Ocean St, South Portland – The ~1,000 sq ft former BenReuben’s space in South Portland is available for $3,000/month (MG). Contact Josh at (207) 408-3879 for more information.

239 Ocean St, South Portland – the 1,621 sq ft former Pizza Joint building in South Portland is for sale for $795,000.

Elevation Burger, South Portland – the business franchise, infrastructure, equipment and lease for 2,600 sq ft space are for sale for $250,000. Call (207) 838-2274 for more information.

Elsewhere in Maine

100 Larrabee Rd, Westbrook – the owners of Phoever are looking for someone to takeover their space when they move to a new location.

The Downs – A 2,019 sq ft restaurant space is for sale in The Downs a 577-acre mixed use development in Scarborough.

881 Route 1, Yarmouth – Shared kitchen space formerly utilized by MaineFlavor before they moved to the West End is available.

188 Lincoln St, Lewiston – This 2,371 – 5,554 sq ft former fire station has been renovated for use as a retail/restaurant space. It’s listed at $5-14/sq ft (NNN). See this instagram article for additional information on the building and the neighborhood.

60 Mile Rd, Wells – The former Varano’s Restaurant building and a 2 bed room apartment are for sale for $1,895,000. See this instagram article for additional information on the building and the neighborhood.

Billy’s Chowder House – Both the building and business of Billy’s Chowder House in Wells is for sale. The ~200 seat restaurant comes with a 62-car parking lot and sits on Mile Road which connects Route 1 with Wells Beach. See this instagram article for additional information on the building and the neighborhood.

111 Bath Rd, Brunswick – The Fat Boy Drive-In business and property is for sale for $825,000. Fat Boy has been in business since 1955.

42 Maine St, Brunswick –the 1,220 sq ft space formerly occupied by the Great Impasta is now available for $3,500/month (NNN).

94 Maine St, Brunswick – the 550 sq ft basement tasting room space for Crooked Keg Brewing is available.

Bayley’s Seafood, Scarborough – This 3,018 sq ft turnkey seafood restaurant is available to lease for $24/sq ft.

1200 Portland Rd, Arundel – An undisclosed turnkey 9,938 sq ft restaurant is for sale for $2,500,000.

Glossary

MG – Modified Gross which indicates that the operating expenses (taxes, insurance, maintenance, etc.) for the property are included in the lease rate. The tenant would pay its own utilities, which sometimes includes heat.

NNN – Triple Net which indicates that operating expenses are not included in the lease rate, and the tenant will pay them separately. They are often referred to as CAM (Common Area Maintenance) charges and taxes, which are expressed as $/sf. The tenant is also responsible for utilities.

Gross – Gross indicates all expenses including utilities are included in the lease rate. The tenant would be responsible for phone and internet access, as well as interior janitorial.

New Owners of Hot Suppa

| Posted in Under Construction

The Bangor Daily News has a report on the change in ownership at Hot Suppa. Founders Moses and Alec Sabina have sold the restaurant they founded in 2006 to two members of their staff Amber Nachreiner and husband Cameron Rodrigues.

Both under 40, Rodrigues grew up in York and Nachreiner hails from southern California. They have decades of experience in restaurants and met while working in one at Lake Tahoe. The couple moved to Falmouth in 2022, and Nachreiner began working the front of house at Hot Suppa! around the same time. Rodrigues was the assistant bar manager at Central Provisions before moving to Hot Suppa! to train in the kitchen under Moses Sabina.

Rodrigues said he and Nachreiner have no plans to monkey with the menu or vibe at Hot Suppa! They know a good thing when they see one.

Matt Ginn to Lead at the Dry Dock

| Posted in Under Construction, People

Matt Ginn has joined the team relaunching the Dry Dock (instagram) as the restaurant’s general manager.

In a statement released today Ginn shared, “I’ve worked in kitchens my entire career and for the last decade, opened, ran and helped several restaurants in Portland and Greater Portland reach their award-winning potential. The move to a more all-encompassing restaurant role for one establishment, and overseeing menu creation and kitchen staff hires for the re-opening of a restaurant that I grew up coming to, is the personal and professional change that I’ve been looking for.” Ginn continued, “I’ve known the Holden family for a long time and have a deep respect for what they do not only as the best Maine seafood company and B Corp, but as an employer and what they do to give back to our community. With Dry Dock, I’m excited to restore a legendary Portland restaurant and bring new life to it with this terrific team.”

The Dry Dock had been a fixture on the Portland waterfront since it launched in 1983. It’s been closed for a number of years. Luke Holden, Ben Conniff, Bryan Holden—co-owners of Luke’s Lobster— leased 84 Commercial Street in October with plans to relaunch the Dry Dock as a seafood tavern with a full bar program.

The Dry Dock is being thoroughly refurbished including a new kitchen and the construction of two large bars. When it re-opens this summer it will have an expanded deck, and is expected to seat up to 300 people.

Ginn is a Maine native and an experienced chef and leader. He comes to his position after 10 years with the Prentice Hospitality Group (Evo, Chebeague Island Inn, The Good Table, Twelve) where he was the group’s executive chef. Ginn was the Maine Lobster Chef of the Year in 2015. Earlier in his career he worked at L’Espalier in Boston and was the chef de cuisine at Five Fifty-Five.

New Cocktail Mary Postponed

| Posted in Under Construction

Cocktail Mary is postponing the project to move the bar in a new larger location, and they’ve announced plans to close their current spot at 229 Congress Street on January 28th.

I’m popping on to share some important updates. Our last day of service at 229 Congress Street will be January 28th. This is not an easy decision that we’ve made and while it’s bittersweet to say goodbye to 229 our physical space, it’s also a really great opportunity for growth. After a lot of thought we’ve decided at this time not to pursue a new brick and mortar location. Instead we’ll continue fostering this amazing community by hosting pop-ups, cocktail parties, and dance nights in partnership with like minded businesses. This isn’t the end of Cocktail Mary. It’s just a pivot. We’ll take this time to resource ourselves and lay the groundwork for a stronger foundation. Although our timeline will now be longer than we initially hoped, this will enable us to build a permanent space to a standard that the community deserves. 

Cocktail Mary is raising funds for the move via a $30k crowd funding campaign on NuMarket, and expects to make further headway toward the financial resources needed to relaunch through holding the Cocktail Mary events mentioned above.

On a separate track, Cocktail Mary owner Isaac MacDougal and a set of partners are working to launch a new business, the Supper Club Cocktail Lounge (website, instagram). Supper Club is under construction at 441 Congress Street. and is on track to open by early March.

Two for East Bayside: Minibar and Luna

| Posted in Under Construction

Two businesses are under construction in East Bayside. Both are located in the former World’s Gym space on Marginal Way.

Naomi Hall, co-owner of the former Omi’s coffee shop, is launching a new cafe. Luna (instagram) will be co-located within the new Salud Portland fitness facility. In addition to serving coffee, snacks and smoothies, Luna will also offer drop-in childcare “providing caregivers a chance to relax, recharge, or enjoy a fitness class while their little ones have fun in a supervised play space.”

Kevin Moschella has leased 15,288 sq ft of space where he plans to open Minibar (instagram) which will feature an 18-hole indoor minigolf course and a 125+ seat sports bar and restaurant. Chef Josh Berry is consulting on the menu for Minibar. Some ideas for the menu are dishes like arancini, north shore roast beef sliders, lobster roll sliders, mac and cheese balls, and burgers. Minibar will have a full bar featuring boozy milkshakes, local beers and spirits, and craft cocktails. Moschella’s vision is to create a venue with a wide appeal for people of all age that can also be a destination for group outings, celebrations and corporate events. He hopes to launch Minibar in early June.

Restaurant Real Estate: January 2025

| Posted in Under Construction, Real Estate

Welcome to the January 2025 edition of the Portland Food Map restaurant real estate listings sponsored by The Boulos Company—a commercial real estate brokerage that has helped Maine’s restauranteurs buy and lease restaurant spaces since 1975.

This resource gathers in one convenient place the spaces available in Portland (and a few in the surrounding area) that could be potential sites for restaurants and food producers and retailers to locate their next business. Finding the right spot is one of the crucial early challenges in launching a new business and hopefully this resource will make that step just a little bit easier.

West End/Valley/Libby Town

87 Brackett St – the 1,077 sq ft former OhNo Cafe is for lease for $2,700/month +utilities (MG). The space also includes a 825 sq ft basement area. It is available as of February 1, 2025.

919 Congress St – the 9,540 sq ft former Salvage BBQ building is available for $20/sq ft (MG).

270 Saint John St – a 2,714 sq ft space in Union Station Plaza is available for $17/sq ft (NNN).

211 Valley St – a 1,260 sq ft former garage and the .13 acres it is on are for sale on Valley Street for $1,300,000.

235 Vaughan St – the former Vaughan Street Variety storefront in the West End has been completely renovated. The 620 sq ft space is available for $2500/month (MG). Call (207) 650-0846 for more information.

Arts District

511 Congress St – the 2,875 sq ft former Golden Lotus space is available for $16.50/sq ft.

554 Congress St – 1,621 sq ft former Dunkin’ Donuts space for $17.04/sq ft (NNN).

555 Congress St – the 1,908 sq ft former Five Fifty-Five dining room and mezzanine are available to lease for $20/sq ft (NNN).

594 Congress St – the 2,592 sq ft space in the Upper H. H. Hay Building formerly occupied by Starbucks is available for $28/sq ft (MG).

602 Congress St – The ~1,500 sq ft ground floor space at the corner of High and Congress is available to lease. For more info contact Joe Atwood at (207) 899-7373.

77 Free St – the space previously occupied by the Free Street restaurant and bar is available. The 8,500 – 17,000 sq ft space is for lease for $5/sq ft (NNN). Call (207) 761-6500 for additional details.

Bayside/Inner Washington

52 Hanover St – On the first floor of the Armature is 1,500 – 3,000 sq ft of retail space available for $30/sq ft (NNN). One spot in the building has been earmarked for a coffee shop.

178 Kennebec St – 2,644 sq ft of space are available in a newly constructed Bayside building for $25/sq ft (NNN).

114 Preble St – The 4,424 sq ft former Coals building is for sale for $1,475,000.

186 Washington Ave – the 7,620 sq ft Am Vets building is for sale for $1,600,000. See the listing for photos of the bar and seating area.

Old Port

0 Canal Plaza – the 1,350 sq ft former Nosh Taco building in Canal Plaza is for lease for $60/sq ft (NNN).

1 Canal Plaza – 4,284 – 14,412 sq ft of ground floor retail space will be available as part of upcoming renovations; $30/sq ft (NNN).

15 Chestnut St – the building that was home to Grace restaurant is for sale. It includes the property, business assets and all FF&E. The restaurant seats 175 and features a large circular bar on the first floor of the former church. The building has 14,358 sq ft of space. It’s for sale for $2,595,000.

185 Commercial St – a new building on Commercial Street has a 2,334 sq ft ground floor retail space that is available for $55/sq ft (NNN).

327 Commercial St – the 6,981 – 7,981 sq ft space currently occupied by Tiqa is available for lease or to buy. The lease rate is $30/sq ft (NNN). The sale price is $3,500,000.

383 Commercial St – 1,193 – 4,805 square feet of space in a newly constructed building on Commercial Street is available for $28/sq ft (NNN).

8 Exchange St – 1,800-3,600 sq ft of space formerly occupied by The Bar & Bites on lower Exchange Street is available for $34.99/sq ft (MG).

85 Exchange St – The space that had previously been the home of Dobra Tea is back on the market. The 1,350 sq ft space is available for $45/sq ft (MG).

201 Federal St – a 2,300 sq ft space in the new 18-story Casco building is available for $40/sq ft (MG). The building owners are seeking a business to open a market in that space.

340 Fore St – a 932 retail space at the corner of Fore and Silver Streets is available to lease for $35/sq ft (MG).

433 Fore St – a 930 sq ft space on the first floor of the Hyatt is for lease for $60/sq ft (MG).

477 Fore St – the 1,361 sq ft space formerly occupied by B + B Bakery is available for $30/sq ft (MG).

40 Free St – a 1,511 sq ft space in the new building constructed by JB Brown is available for $27.50/sq ft (NNN).

127 Marginal Way – the 3,040 sq ft former All Speed bicycle shop space across the parking lot from Trader Joes is available for $35/sq ft (NNN).

100 Middle St – a 350 sq ft cafe space on first floor of an Old Port office building is available for $850/month (G).

115 Middle St – the 2,065 sq ft space formerly occupied by Beach Boys Cannabis is for lease for $39.75/sq ft (MG). Back in the 1970s it had been the home of Model Food Importers which retailed wine, cheese and other imported foods.

121 Middle St – a 2,482 sq ft retail spot is available for $45/sq ft (MG).

157 Middle St – 2,039 – 5,155 sq ft of retail space is available for $27.95/sq ft (MG).

5 Milk St – this 2,199 sq ft former hair salon is available for $28/sq ft (NNN).

15 Monument Square – the 1,000 sq ft former Sisters Gourmet Deli space is available to lease for $30/sq ft (NNN).

28 Monument Square – a number of spots on the first and second floors of the Public Market House are available.

25 Pearl St – 1,689 sq ft former Subway space available for $30/sq ft (MG).

66 Pearl St – the 5,796 sq ft space that was the former home of Bull Moose is available for $15.75/sq ft (MG).

35 Silver St – The North Point closed in October. The business is now for sale for $75,000.

3 Spring St – the space formerly occupied by Stage Cannabis is for lease; 2,000 sq ft for $15.50/sq ft (NNN).

54 York St – a 1,605 sq ft space is available for $30/sq ft (MG). It’s located in the same building as the new Weldon Hotel at the corner of York and Maple Streets.

Old Port Bar – an undisclosed 1,160/sq ft bar/restaurant in the Old Port is for sale for $175,000.

Outer Forest Ave

546 Deering St – the 2,198 sq ft former Dunkin Donut building in Woodfords Corner is for lease for $35/sq ft (NNN).

332 Forest Ave – a 1,962 sq ft space in a building at the corner of Bedford Street and Forest Ave is available for $16/sq ft (NNN).

503 – 509 Forest Ave – When renovations are completed this year, this building will have 1,268 – 6,313 sq ft of space available for $10-15/sq ft (NNN). See this feature article for more information.

630 Forest Ave – a 1,440 sq ft retail space in Woodfords Corner is available for $17 (NNN).

1871 Forest Ave – the former Tortilla Flats is for sale. The 8,771 sq ft building is on 3.43 acres of property and is listed for $1,750,000.

631 Stevens Ave – the 1,000 sq ft cafe space inside the Stevens Square Community Center is for lease.

Elsewhere in Portland

239 Congress St –the 780 sq ft space formerly occupied by Tiny Tims is available for $2,500/month (Absolute Gross). It’s nearby Cocktail Mary, The End of Portland, Quanto Basta and LB Kitchen.

550 Washington Ave – 2,000 – 2,400 sq ft of the former Botto’s bakery is available to lease for $18/sq ft (NNN).

Northgate Shopping Center – 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft of space is available.

Westgate Shopping Center – three spaces are for lease 1,440, 3,800 and 5,000 sq ft. The lease rates are negotiable and the property owner has a strong interest in finding a restaurant tenant for the shopping plaza.

Other Spaces – some vacated restaurant spaces haven’t yet been formerly listed for by the owner. Check the closing announcements for insights on where those opportunities may be.

South Portland

740 Broadway, South Portland – the 1,200 sq ft former Two Fat Cats space is available for $2,494/month. Contact info@twofatcatsbakery.com for more information.

449 Main St, South Portland – The former Rudy’s Diner and an adjacent home are for sale for $849,000.

60 Ocean St, South Portland – The restaurant space currently occupied by Taco Trio is for lease. The 6,006 sq ft space is available for $19.98/sq ft (NNN). Taco Trio is returning to their original location at 119 Ocean Street in early 2025.

145 Ocean St, South Portland – The ~1,000 sq ft former BenReuben’s space in South Portland is available for $3,000/month (MG). Contact Josh at (207) 408-3879 for more information.

239 Ocean St, South Portland – the 1,621 sq ft former Pizza Joint building in South Portland is for sale for $895,000.

Elevation Burger, South Portland – the business franchise, infrastructure, equipment and lease for 2,600 sq ft space are for sale for $250,000. Call (207) 838-2274 for more information.

Elsewhere in Maine

100 Larrabee Rd, Westbrook – the owners of Phoever are looking for someone to takeover their space when they move to a new location.

The Downs – A 2,019 sq ft restaurant space is for sale in The Downs a 577-acre mixed use development in Scarborough.

881 Route 1, Yarmouth – Shared kitchen space formerly utilized by MaineFlavor before they moved to the West End is available.

188 Lincoln St, Lewiston – This 2,371 – 5,554 sq ft former fire station has been renovated for use as a retail/restaurant space. It’s listed at $5-14/sq ft (NNN). See this instagram article for additional information on the building and the neighborhood.

60 Mile Rd, Wells – The former Varano’s Restaurant building and a 2 bed room apartment are for sale for $2,095,000. See this instagram article for additional information on the building and the neighborhood.

Billy’s Chowder House – Both the building and business of Billy’s Chowder House in Wells is for sale. The ~200 seat restaurant comes with a 62-car parking lot and sits on Mile Road which connects Route 1 with Wells Beach. See this instagram article for additional information on the building and the neighborhood.

111 Bath Rd, Brunswick – The Fat Boy Drive-In business and property is for sale for $875,000. Fat Boy has been in business since 1955.

Bayley’s Seafood, Scarborough – This 3,018 sq ft turnkey seafood restaurant is available to lease for $24/sq ft.

1200 Portland Rd, Arundel – An undisclosed turnkey 9,938 sq ft restaurant is for sale for $2,500,000.

Glossary

MG – Modified Gross which indicates that the operating expenses (taxes, insurance, maintenance, etc.) for the property are included in the lease rate. The tenant would pay its own utilities, which sometimes includes heat.

NNN – Triple Net which indicates that operating expenses are not included in the lease rate, and the tenant will pay them separately. They are often referred to as CAM (Common Area Maintenance) charges and taxes, which are expressed as $/sf. The tenant is also responsible for utilities.

Gross – Gross indicates all expenses including utilities are included in the lease rate. The tenant would be responsible for phone and internet access, as well as interior janitorial.

The 2024 Year in Review

| Posted in Under Construction, Openings, Year in Review, Maine

Here’s a look back at the 2024 year in food. Read on for a refresher on what took place in Portland and all across the state, a look forward at the new new opening that are in the pipeline for 2025, a list of the most popular news stories of the past year, and some observations on the changing business landscape.

This is the 15th year we’ve produced a Year in Review report. Once you get a refresh on 2024 you can travel back in time with a read of the reports from 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010.

Best New – Dozens of new establishments opened across Maine this year—many gems among them. While picking out a single Best New from among the rest may be an impossible task, here are a few contenders for you to consider.

  • Magissa – Nancy Klosteridis and Emily Otero opened Magissa in May serving contemporary takes on Greek traditional dishes. Great food and service, delightful desserts and drinks and moderate prices have made it an instant hit.
  • Cantina Calafia – A distinctive sense of style, unique and inventive dishes like a savory crab churro and the goat cheese flan are part of what makes it easy to recommend this West End restaurant. Cantina Calafia launched in March and is located at the corner of Pine and Brackett Streets.
  • Ocotillo – Brought to life by the team from Terlingua, Ocotillo takes its culinary cues from the flavors of Mexico and Texas. Initially launched as a brunch-only business, they added happy hour and dinner to the line-up in November making it that much easier to find a time to visit. The New York Times recently called out their Mushroom Breakfast Taco in their list of The 26 Best Dishes We Ate Across the U.S. in 2024.
  • First Fig – Joanna Spinks launched First Fig back in February. The combo cafe/winebar/wine shop provides Camden with a space that offers ease and comfort along with a selection of natural wines, snacks, espresso. We hear the weekend appearances by Taqueria Max are not to be missed.
  • Finestkind– Part of the new wave of restaurants opening in Saco, Finest kind launched in September the brainchild of Victoria and Tom Barthelmes along with their business partners Chris and Paige Gould from Central Provisions and Tipo. The instantly popular daytime cafe serves a wide range of house-made baked goods, sandwiches, salads and other dishes like the delicious Maine Grains Bowl.
  • Circumstance – This seasonal restaurant opened in May in the small town of Swanville near Belfast. Chef/owner Khristopher Hogg is serving an inventive menu based that admirably meets his mission to “reflects the pursuit of craft, creativity, and an appreciation of place.”

A Changing Landscape – 2024 will be remembered in part for the run of high profile restaurant closures that took place in early fall. Coals, Thistle & Grouse, Sister’s Gourmet Deli, Golden Lotus, Slab, Salvage, North Point, Ohno Cafe, Anania’s and Local 188 all closed in a matter of weeks from mid-September to Thanksgiving.

Restaurant closure took place elsewhere in the state and during the year (see details below) but the fall closure triggered a wider public discussion and it was then the media began asking why restaurants are closing and when panel discussions took place to discuss a “restaurant apocalypse“.

Some of the factors that restaurants were faced with in 2024 were:

  • Competition – At last count there is about 1 restaurant/bar/etc in Portland for every 200 residents. While that provides for an amazing diversity of choice for customers, it also presents a highly competitive landscape for restaurant to operate in. Older restaurants are always at risk of losing their base of regulars as new businesses open and newer ones have a short window when they are the new place to establish themselves.
  • Rising Costs – Inflation drove up the costs of a wide range of goods that go into producing the restaurant experiences we enjoy. Labor costs have risen in order to keep pace with the increased housing and other costs of employee’s lives. That’s all challenged restaurant profitability and the ability to save money to make it through the slower winter season.
  • Affordability – Those rising costs led to potential customers having less disposable income to spend on eating out just at a time when menu prices were rising.
  • Timing – In any past year, there’s been a heightened number of closures in the fall after the summer tourists season ends and before the leaner winter months. 2024 saw a 9% decrease in the number of tourists relative to 2023 leaving some restaurants with less cash on hand.
  •  Unique Factors – Each of the businesses that closed in the past year are unique (it’s part of what we loved about them) and had factors special to their particular situations that were part of the decision to close.

While there have been a heightened number of closures in 2024 (and in 2023), more food and dining establishments opened last year than closed. It was a ~2:1 ratio for the year in Portland with a high point in May when twelve new bars, restaurants, cafe shops and cafes opened to the public.

While it’s unknown yet if the challenges outlined above will continue to drive closures in 2025, one thing is certain of is that despite the closures Portland and the state overall continues to have a vibrant restaurant scene. As you’ll see in this next few sections of this report, new entrepreneurs have exciting concepts in the works and new business have been opening all across Maine during the past year.

2025 Openings –There’s a lot in the works to look forward to in 2025. Here are a few highlights to whet your appetite for the coming year:

  • Ramona’s owner Josh Sobel is launching Benny’s on Congress Street.
  • Bowman Brown will be opening a new edition of his spectacular restaurant Elda in Bayside.
  • A group of friends and industry professionals—Bryce Summers, Garrett Lenderman, Ryan Nielsen, Arvid Brown and Nick Coffin—have teamed up to open an all-day bar called Cuties in the Old Port.
  • A salad-centric cafe called Luncheonette is opening in the former Union Bagel building on Cumberland Ave.
  • Sam Minervino and a set of business partners are renovating the former Parker’s building in North Deering where they will open the North Deering Tavern.
  • Isaac MacDougal along with Jake Bosma, Brecken Macdougal and Zach Myers plans to open the Supper Club Cocktail Lounge on Congress Street.
  • Sichuan Kitchen owner Qi Shen will be launching Tuan Yuan Hotpot at 29 Forest Ave in the  Portland Stage building.
  • Tony and Chelsea Bickford have taken over the Scarlet Begonia’s space in Brunswick where they plan to launch Pomelia.
  • The owners of the Solo Pane e Pasticceria are expanding their bakery into the space adjacent to their location on Centre Street in Bath.
  • Chef/owner Jordan Benissan is relocating his Rockland restaurant Me Lon Togo to Freeport.
  • Elevenes, the hobbit-themed all-day cafe and bakery under construction in Brunswick, will be opening on January 11th.
  • Colleen Kelley plans to open a new edition of Silly’s in Standish.
  • A new bakery called Yuri’s Desserts is opening on Spring Street January 2nd. They’ll be serving a variety of cakes, macarons, cookies, shaved ice, croissants and donuts.
  • Augusta-based Cushnoc Brewing has leased space in Waterville where they have been building out the Cushnoc Cantina.
  • Taco Trio is renovating and moving back into their original location in South Portland.
  • A new wine bar and wine shop called Pulling Corks is under construction in Belfast.

There are many other exciting new projects in the works that haven’t gone public yet. Check back throughout the new year as we share the details.

Notable News IN PORTLAND

MAINE FOOD & DINING NEWS

The broader Maine food and dining scene continues to expand. There have been new business launches in nearly every county from Salted Butter Farm Restaurant which opened this summer in Sherman to Baker Bru in North Berwick and from Clifford’s Donut Stop kiosk in Phillips to Aekier Brewing’s tasting room in Wiscasset. The Midcoast in general and Brunswick specifically has seen a high level of change and development.

The statewide developments over the last few years haven’t gone unnoticed. Three of the Beard award semifinalists in 2024 were from outside Portland, Food & Wine magazine included Aragosta on Deer Isle on their list of the Best Restaurants in the US, The Alna Store was on the New York Times list of their “50 favorite places in America right now“,  Down East magazine wrote about a “restaurant renaissance” taking place in Bethel and the Press Herald provided a survey of the food industry in Saco.

Not all the Maine news was sunshine and rose. While the Portland area experienced the highest density of closures, businesses elsewhere in Maine also closed their doors like Yonder in Wiscasset, Goods in Camden, Side by Each in Auburn and Big G’s in Winslow to name a few. Additionally, Biddeford encountered some headwinds this past year with a number of closures including Lorne Wine, Dizzy Bird, Vickie’s Veggie Table and Pint & Pawn.

Here are some additional highlights:

  • Waterford – Chef Brandon Montes joined the team at Tallulah’s which upped the game of the seasonal farm-to-table restaurant.
  • Brunswick – A number of space swaps are taking place in Brunswick. The Great Impasta is moving into a space vacated by Portland-based Maiz, the former Scarlet Begonia’s is being backfilled by a new Sicilian restaurant called Pomelia, Nomad closed and the owners of Dutchman’s are planning to open an Italian restaurant called Paolo’s in its place, Joshua’s Tavern closed and the owners of Linden + Front are in the process of building out Ram & Bull in that spot, and the Stadlers moved Bao Bao from Portland into the building occupied by their restaurant Tao Yuan. On top of that Brunswick saw the opening of Reverie Coffee, a second Blake Orchard, Lil Jam Cookies, and a new edition of Walter’s Cafe, and the sad loss of Caballera’s.  The hobbit-themed cafe and cocktail bar Elevenses is scheduled to open on January 11th.
  • Bath –  Linden + Front opened as did a German bakery and restaurant called The Pelzer. Solo Pane e Pasticceria is expanding their kitchen and seating area into an adjacent storefront.
  • Windham – Portland area restaurant veterans Hannah Buoye and Billy Hager launched Waxwing Bakery. Waxwing serves croissants, chocolate cream pie, savory items like sausage rolls and quiche, muffins, cookies, slices of cake, Tandem Coffee with a full range of espresso-based drinks as well as China Jade and English Breakfast from Mem Tea. Hager and Bouye plan to add a lunch menu early next year that will offer salads and sandwiches.
  • Bridgton – A Japanese-inspired restaurant called Bar Kosho opened in November.
  • Machias – Brewer-based Mason’s Brewing Company’s opened a second location, and Ross Florance launched his weekly 8-course chefs tasting menu restaurant, Flora.
  • Bangor – Two new cocktail bars The Key Room and Barliman’s opened in Bangor this year.
  • Skowhegan – After 72 years in business Island Dairy Treat went out of business.
  • Waterville/Winslow – Borderland Coffee opened in the Schupf Arts Center and Meza took overthe former home of the Lebanese bakery in Waterville, and Big G’s in Winslow closed after ~38 years in business.
  • Piscataquis County – Whittle Bird Coffee Co opened a coffee shop and cafe in Guilford, Pleasant and Center launched a new outdoor cafe in Monson, and Bissell Brothers closed their brewpub in Milo.
  • Lewiston – AfroTaste and Boba closed in Lewiston, and Crouse House Coffee Roaster launched January. El Pocho’s Mexican Grill has moved into the former Boba space on Lisbon Street.
  • Swanville – Chef Khristoher Hogg opened his new restaurant Circumstance.
  • Camden/Rockland – The Place bakery was featured in a New York Times article about the 22 of the Best Bakeries Across the U.S. Right Now. Closure of Goods in Camden made way for Alna Store alumni Hannah Adams and chef Devin Dearden to open Winona’s. Spice Pizzeria, a second location of The Spot and 13 Oak opened in Rockland. First Fig and Buttermilk Kitchen opened for business in Camden. Me Lon Togo chef/owner Jordan Benissan has shared his plans to move his Rockland restaurant to Freeport in 2025.
  • Elsewhere in the Midcoast – Charm Thai and Aekier Brewing opened and Yonder closed in Wiscasset. Barco Provisions and Rue 77 opened and a fire destroyed Schooner Landing in Damariscotta. Ida’s in Waldoboro continued to expand their range of events and food pop-ups. Four local residents took over management of S. Fernald’s Country Store in Newcastle. Honey’s opened in Thomaston, Dos Gatos Gastro Pub opened in Belfast and Amandine in Searsport.
  • Biddeford/Saco – Apero, Catface Cafe and Edelweiss opened in Biddeford. Finestkind, gluten-free bakery/cafe Sweets & Co., and Swell Nitro Coffee launched in Saco. Owner Mark Johnston retired and closed his longtime Saco business Vic & Whit’s at the end of December and Vickie’s Veggie Table, Pint & Pawn, Lorne Wine, and Dizzy Bird all closed in Biddeford. Additionally, Carolina and Luis Tovar became the new owners of Pacifico.
  • Elsewhere in York County –  Lee Franks opened a second location of their South Berwick burger shack. Mussette owner Jonathan Cartwright launched Caring Community Cuisine, a new initiative to “focusing on family nutrition and human interaction to help those battling cancer.” Oarweed Restaurant in Ogunquit was extensively damaged in a fire, Via Sophia by the Sea closed in Kennebunk. In Limerick, Blaze Brewing Company took over operation of Doles Orchard and Gneiss Brewing went out of business. In Springvale, Downhill Bagels launched in March and closed in December while they seek a new location and Meeting Ground Coffee opened. Finally, Festina Lente launched a second restaurant called Secundo in South Berwick and Alex d’Emarese opened his new bakery/cafe in Baker Bru in North Berwick.

Top ARTICLE

The most popular articles we published in the past year were:

  1. When Pigs Fly – the closing of the bread shop in Bayside. When Pigs Fly had opened the shop in October 2023. (August 31st)
  2. Bao Bao Moving– news that the Stadlers would be moving Bao Bao to Brunswick. (May 13th)
  3. Anania’s – news that owners Ed and Barbara Anania were retiring and selling their Congress Street store. (October 23rd)
  4. Anjon’s – news that the longtime Scarborough restaurant would be reopening. (May 28th)
  5. Cherished Possession – word that a new restaurant was under development in Allen’s Corner. (May 16th)
  6. The Send Brewing – first word that Cole Corbin would be opening a new brewery in the building formerly occupied by Foulmouthed Brewing in Knightville. (June 19th)
  7. Zu Bakery Beard Award – a report from Chicago that Zu Bakery was the recipient of a James Beard Award in the Outstanding Bakery category. (June 10th)
  8. Fujimoto Beard Award– a report from Chicago that  was the recipient of a James Beard Award in the Outstanding Baker category. (June 10th)
  9. Finestkind – first word that a team from Central Provisions/Tipo leader were working on a new restaurant in Saco. (May 14th)
  10. Magissa Opening Soon – a report on the soon-to-open new Greek restaurant in East Bayside. (May 1st)
  11. Cantina Calafia Opening – photos and menu from the West End restaurant that opened on March 13th. (March 10th)
  12. Lucky Cheetah Opening – photos from the new Old Port restaurant opening in the space formerly occupied by the Old Port Tavern. (July 23rd)

The Maine Food Map, Thanksgiving List, Under Construction List, Beard Awards page and guides to Maine cider and Maine apples also received a lot of visitors last year.

Passings

The past year witnessed the passing of several members of the Maine food community.

For some additional perspectives on the past year see the Maine Sunday Telegram Best of 2024 round-up.

The Send Brewing Launching Soon

| Posted in Under Construction

Preparations for the launch of The Send Brewing Company (instagram) are wrapping up. Owner Cole Corbin (linkedin) hopes to open his Knightville brewery and restaurant within the next few weeks.

The Send will have their own IPA, pale ale and stout on tap as well as Sapporo and an additional guest tap—house-made Japanese-style lagers will eventually be added to the tap list. Chef Jayde Miller will be serving a menu of Japanese comfort food including onigiri, fried chicken, curry korokke, gyudon, daikon salad. Miller is a graduate of Johnson & Wales and spent a year living in Japan.

Corbin worked for 8 years at Maine Beer Company initially as a brewer and then as the director of brewing operations and the technical director for the Freeport-based brewery. He’s also worked as a bartender and prep cook at Mast Landing and Knighthawk’s Kitchen. Earlier in his career Corbin was an aerospace engineer at NASA.

The 50-seat space retains the same layout as Foulmouthed Brewing which previously occupied the building. It now features a neon/mural installation co-created by David Johansen (aka Neon Dave) and Jill Perry from Third Bird Creative.

To get caught up on all the new restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries and other businesses under development visit the Portland Food Map Under Construction List.

Tuan Yuan Hotpot on Forest Ave

| Posted in Under Construction

Qi Shen, the owner of Sichuan Kitchen, is working on a second restaurant. Tuan Yuan Hotpot (facebook) will be located at 29 Forest Ave in the former Able Baker space on the first floor of the Portland Stage building. The name of the restaurants means reunion dinner.

Shen launched Sichuan Kitchen in 2017, and had offered hot pot dinners on Wednesday nights prior to 2020. Shen is excited to introduce the Sichuan variation of hot pot dining to her customers and to bring to life a dedicated hot pot restaurant in Portland. She hopes to launch Tuan Yuan by the end of February.

The draft menu for Tuan Yuan includes a variety of broth options like Seafood Kimchee and Chinese Sichuan Spicy and a wide assortment of meats, seafood and vegetables for the hot pot as well as appetizers and desserts (shaved ice and mochi with rice wine).

Tuan Yuan will seat 56 (see the floor plan below). The first floor has a 9-seat bar and seating in booths and tables for an addition 29 people. The mezzanine dining are offers two 6-seat round tables and three small tables.