Category: Under Construction

Interview with Small Axe

| Posted in Under Construction, People

Eater Maine has published an interview with Bill Leavy and Karl Deuben. They spoke about Small Axe’s food truck and the plans they have to launch a brick and mortar restaurant.

You’ve talked about plans to open a brick and mortar establishment. How is that progressing?
BL: We’ve been getting a lot of interest from folks who would like to help us out. We’re always looking for properties. We haven’t found one yet, but we will. It’s an ongoing search.

KD: We’re looking to create a neighborhood feel in a restaurant. We’re looking in the Deering area, in town as well. But we want it to be a neighborhood spot with a nice bar and have it be focused on comfort, food served in a comfortable environment.

Under Construction: Coffee by Design

| Posted in Under Construction

Coffee by Design is delaying the opening of their new East Bayside cafe until March according to a report from the Bangor Daily News.

Coffee pilgrims will have to wait a few more months to see what a futuristic java joint looks like. Portland roaster Coffee By Design has delayed the opening of its new Diamond Street cafe until March.

“We have fixtures still being built, product selections to finalize, folks traveling to coffee farms for harvest,” said owner Mary Allen Lindemann.

Under Construction: The Jewel Box

| Posted in Under Construction

A new cocktail bar called The Jewel Box is under construction at 644 Congress Street, the former home of the Meg Perry Center. Nathaniel Meiklejohn, aka The Bearded Lady, is heading up the project. Meikeljohn is a freelance batender, and worked with Bread and Butter Catering helped coordinate the Pocket Brunch series.

Meiklejohn tells me that his ideal customer is someone who “let go their expectations and be adventurous”. He’s planning a seasonally driven drinks menu that will change on a near daily basis. Meiklejohn just signed the lease for the space last Thursday and so it will probably be a while before the bar is up and running. In the meantime you can occasionally find him behind the bar at SPACE Gallery.

nathanielandcaroline

Food Co-op Announces New Location (Updated)

| Posted in Under Construction

The Portland Food Co-op (website, facebook, twitter) held a press conference today and announced the location of a “storefront location for a full-service grocery store”. The new store will be located at 290 Congress Street. They hope to open this Fall in September.

According to a press release from the co-op,

The Portland Food Co-op will be a grocery store, owned by members and open to the public, that will offer a wide selection of high quality and fairly priced local, organic, and natural foods and household products. PFC is dedicated to supporting local farmers and producers, serving the community and building the local economy.

Update: See these articles from the Press Herald and Bangor Daily News for more info.

Small Axe Phase 2

| Posted in Under Construction

smallaxe_truck

After a very successful first year running their food truck, owners Karl Deuben and Bill Leavy looking to take the next step in the evolution of Small Axe (website, facebook, twitter) and open a restaurant. A brick and mortar business will provide them with the opportunity to serve a larger and more diverse menu year-round, as well as provide a base of operations for Small Axe Truck.

Deuben and Leavy are currently looking for the right space and neighborhood to locate.They’re also looking for investors to help fund the new venture. To learn more or to contact them about investing or a potential location, you can reach them at info@smallaxetruck.com.

Small Axe launched June 15, 2013. A Small Axe restaurant opening in 2014 would demonstrate the role food trucks can play as business incubators for more traditional brick and mortar food businesses.

Deuben has worked at Alinea, Hugo’s and Miyake, and Leavy’s resume includes time in the kitchen at Back Bay Grill, Hugo’s and Miyake. Deuben was the guest chef for the October 2012 Pocket Brunch at Broadturn Farm.

Pricey and Scarce: Restaurant Real Estate

| Posted in Under Construction

forleaseMeredith Goad has written a feature article for today’s Press Herald about how the scarcity and high cost of restaurant spaces in Portland is impacting young chefs who are seeking to open a restaurant.

The city’s food reputation was built on the backs of young, independent chefs opening their own places where they could serve local, seasonal foods and let creativity and originality reign. But as space shrinks and rents rise, some chefs are worried that soon the only people able to open a restaurant in the Old Port and its outskirts will be big names with much deeper pockets than a 28-year-old just out of culinary school.

Maine Craft Brewing & Annual Food Calendar

| Posted in Under Construction, Events, Beer

The new issue of Portland Magazine reports on the growth of Maine’s beer industry that features 3 new breweries: Bissell Brothers, Foundation Brewing and Banded Horn.

Also in the new issue is the magazine’s annual Maine food calendar. The article includes an interview with chef Cara Stadler about the new dumpling restaurant she has under development on Spring Street in the building that’s been the longtime home of the West End Deli.

And what becomes of West End Deli and its tasty takeout sandwiches? “Look for us to open in the former Gleason Fine Art Gallery at 545 Congress by the end of January,” says owner Nancy Arnold. “It’s a great spot. We’ll have more room for specialty foods–cheese, meats, pastries.”