Category: Under Construction

The Forecaster has posted an update on the branch of the Old Port Lobster Shack under construction on Fore Street. It is the 4th location of a California firm owned by a Boston native and former Portland resident.

Russell Deutsch is ready for a homecoming, even if it is a bit later than expected.

“There is no rush, I want to do it right,” he said Monday about his delayed plans to open the Old Port Lobster Shack in late April at 425 Fore St.

It has been almost a year since city councilors approved a license for the restaurant, which would be the first on the East Coast for the California chain.

Peddleman’s (facebook, instagram) held their pop-up dinner last night at Bao Bao, and by all accounts it was a success.

Peddleman’s regular takeout service at Union Bagel which will operate Saturday through Monday, 5:30 – 9pm begining March 5th. Here’s a look at the menu.

Here’s a look inside the construction site of Hero, a counter service sandwich shop located at 30 City Center, the former home of Soakology. It is collaboration between Empire co-owner Todd Bernard and Mike Keon and Anthony Allen, founders of Otto Pizza. Hero plans to provide downtown office workers with a new lunchtime alternative, and will also be serving prepared meals like rotisserie chicken to go at the end of the work day.

Petite Jacqueline is slated to re-open in May. The bistro will be merged with Portland Patisserie and the new business will occupy 46 Market Street. The reconfigured space will include a bar and seat 48 overall. The plan is to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner at the new Petite Jacqueline 7 days a week.

Bunker Brewing (website, facebook, instagram, twitter) is moving from East Bayside to 17 Westfield Street in the Libbytown neighborhood. Bunker’s production volume has grown more than 5-fold since they first opened in 2011. The new 8,400 square foot space will provide plenty of space for their continued expansion and is a big step up from the 1,200 square foot space they now occupy on Anderson Street.

Portland Trails’ Fore River Parkway Trail passes nearby the Westfield Street building providing a pedestrian friendly connection with Thompson’s Point and Bissell Brothers new brewery. Co-owners Chresten Sorensen and Jay Villani ideally hope to open the new Bunker this July. They plan to hold on to the namesake Bunker location in East Bayside, specific plans for reuse of the building are still tbd.

Lone Pine Brewing (website, facebook, twitter, instagram) has posted a set of photos from the ongoing build out of their brewery on Anderson Street in East Bayside.

With all of our shiny new gear unpacked, unwrapped, and resting peacefully in its place, the race is on to get everything in order and start filling tanks. We have one remaining inspection before we can get brewing, so we are taking our time to get the system right.

Lone Pine Brewery is the project of Tom Madden from Madden Beverage in Saco.

Best Chefs America interviewed Krista Kern Desjarlais for their article on How to Open a Restaurant.

Krista Kern Desjarlais, of Bresca and the Honey Bee and the upcoming bakery The Purple House, thinks that most restaurants fail because people haven’t financially planned for the worst. There will be delays in construction, zoning, and gaining licensure. Extra costs always show up during the design process. You’ll need reservoirs of cash to pay for overhead during thin times, or if you aren’t slammed the moment you open your doors. It takes most restaurants at least a year to start making a profit.

The Portland Phoenix has published an update on the Drifter’s Wife, the new natural wine bar under construction on Washington Ave by the owners of Maine & Loire, Peter and Orenda Hale.

Chef [Ben] Jackson said he plans to take full advantage of Portland’s established amenities, like the farmers’ markets, and to source locally as often as possible.  Although a formal menu has not yet been released, Jackson has a few ideas as to food offerings. Jackson cited Moroccan and Japanese culinary influences (he and his wife are traveling to Japan for their honeymoon in the coming weeks) but said that the main theme is probably going to be twists on French classics. This is a nod to Maine-et-Loire in west-central France, Maine and Loire’s namesake and a region in which many of the Hales’ favorite wines are produced.

Ben Jackson is the former executive sous chef at Reynard in the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn. It was at the Wythe that both the Jacksons and Hales worked and originally met.

Visit the Drifter’s Wife’s instagram page and website for more information.