Category: Under Construction

Sip of Europe (website, facebook, instagram, twitter) has leased a 600 square foot space at 229 Congress Street. For the past year Sip of Europe owner Yulia Aleksandrovna has run a seasonal open air coffee shop on the pier in Old Orchard Beach.

Aleksandrovna found success in Old Orchard Beach and decided to open a shop in Portland to “share goodness with other Mainers” on a year round basis. Sip of Europe will serve Lavazza Coffee from Italy, as well as sweet and savory crepes.

Sip of Europe is moving into the space next to Ramen Suzukiya formerly occupied by Goddy G’s clothing store. Aleksandrovna hopes to open as soon as possible but understands that permitting and build-out can sometimes take longer than expected.

After months of speculation, Bissell Brothers has confirmed that they’ll be moving the brewery to Thompson’s Point in 2016.

We are excited to announce that in the second quarter of 2016 we will be moving our entire operation to the Brick North building at Thompson’s Point in Portland. The move will include a significant increase in production capacity, tap room size, & retail efficiency, while allowing us to keep the Bissell Brothers spirit, experience, and commitment to providing fresh beer for Maine intact.

The announcement from Noah and Peter Bissell shares that the “need to consider relocation came far earlier than any of us expected” and they are “pumped to be able to use the flexibility of the larger space to deliver you more of the beers you love, as well as new offerings, and take customer service and the on-premise experience to the next level”.

Bissell Brothers plan to send out regular updates as the build out for the new brewery gets under way.

Plans submitted to the planning board for Thompson’s Point show a 10,000 square foot designated for a brewery. In addition to Bissell Brothers, the point will also be home to a 5,000 square foot tasting room for Cellardoor Winery, Stroudwater Spirits distillery, and Jason Loring’s seafood restaurant called The Point.

Fore River Brewing is holding a launch party on January 13th at The Thirsty Pig.

Fore River is located in the Cash Corner neighborhood of South Portland. Owners John LeGassey, Alex Anastasoff and TJ Hansen plan on opening their tasting room shortly after the launch party.

An article in today’s Press Herald takes note of the growing number of food producers starting in or moving to Westbrook.

The proximity to Portland, but at a reduced price, easy access to Interstate 95 and support from city officials are among the reasons that food producers are choosing Westbrook as a place to grow.

“We welcome the palpable enthusiasm for the Westbrook market and look forward to becoming the manufacturing hub for foodie Maine,” said Assistant City Administrator William Baker, whom several companies credited with reaching out to them before they started looking in Westbrook and helping them find a location there.

Portland Magazine reports that Otto Pizza owners Michael Keon and Anthony Allen have also leased 190 State Street and plan to move Ocho Burrito into to the former Petite Jacqueline space.

…marketing manager, Eric Shepherd, confirms that OCHO…will move into Petite’s vacated space on State Street. “We realized the concept behind OCHO is probably bigger than the space it’s in now. We’d like to provide a lot more interesting ingredients, with plenty of space to eat, and a bar.”

In addition, Allen and Keon will be opening a new Otto Pizza at 250 Read Street and are working on Hero, a sandwich shop under construction at 30 City Center in the old Soaklology location.

Press Herald food writer Meredith Goad has written a round-up of some the more interesting new restaurants expected to open in 2016. In the mix was a brief mention of a new distillery slated for Washington Ave called Hardshore Distilling Company.

Another new distillery, Hardshore Distilling Co., is slated for Washington Avenue – they’ll be making gin to start…

Founder Jordan Milne filed for a trademark and set-up an Instagram account earlier this year.

The Bangor Daily News has published an update on Woodford Food & Beverage (facebook, twitter, instagram, website).

When this 85-seat American brasserie opens in early January, “comfort food to fit the stark mid-century vibe” will be in session.

“We want this to be a go-to place. Like Caiola’s or the Blue Spoon,” said Preyer, of beloved joints in Portland’s West End and Munjoy Hill. “A place where you can come in and order a burger or come to celebrate. Daring, yet simple, for a reasonable value.”

Woodford F&B hopes to open in January.

Uban Eye has posted an update on Scales.

Fans of old Boston institutions like Durgin Park are sure to be hooked. Pot roast, brown bread, corn bread, Parker House rolls, even oyster crackers will all be made in house. Street, a Brookline, MA native, wants to restore the “peasant style,” anything goes, community dining he grew up with at rowdy places like Durgin Park. “It’s an American brasserie,” said Street, with a “19th, 20th century Boston Seaport,” vibe.

Urban Eye reports that the owners hope to open Scales in February.

The Purple House will serve Ogawa Coffee when the North Yarmouth wood-fired bakery and cafe opens early next year. Chef/owner Krista Kern Desjarlais tells me she “loved the richness of the roasts without bitterness or acid” and that both the dark and lighter roasts “remained balanced with citrus and hibiscus notes brightening the flavor without acid on the finish” that make for “really beautiful and delicious” coffees.

Desjarlais is currently looking for a barista to join her staff and participate in the training with Ogawa prior to opening The Purple House.

Ogawa Coffee was founded in Kyoto in 1952, and now operates nearly 40 coffee shops across Japan, and as of earlier this year, one in Boston as well. 2010 World Barista Latte Art champion Haruna Murayama “oversees the  menu development and barista training for Ogawa”.

Over the last few years with the opening of Bard, Speckled Ax and Tandem, Mainers have seen a diversification of the choices we have for coffee. The selection of Ogawa for The Purple House adds another great option to the mix. I had the chance to visit Ogawa’s cafe in Boston last month and am looking forward to having a local destination to get a cup of their coffee.

Restaurateur Phelps Craig (linkedin) has leased the first floor of the old Margarita’s at 11 Brown Street where she plans to open the Portland location of BRGR Bar (instagram, website, facebook).

Choose from one of their house specialty burgers or get creative with the build your own option. The menu also features some “adult” alcoholic milkshake options like the Apple Pie a la Mode made with house infused apple cinnamon bourbon.

Craig opened Brazo in 2007 which she sold to Friendly Toast owner Eric Goodwin earlier this year. The original BRGR Bar in Portsmouth is located at 34 Portwalk Place directly across the street from the Portsmouth branch of Green Elephant.