Category: Under Construction

The business under construction at 3 Deering Ave is a ethnic market called Tawakal Store. Tawakal is currently located at 646 Congress Street.

Evan Daigle is launching a new business called Daigle Baked Goods. The bakery will specialize in producing sweet (apple, blueberry, black and blue, and mixed berry) and savory hand pies for wholesale. Daigle has leased commercial kitchen space at 154 Saint John Street, which coincidentally is also the base station for Wicked Good Street Kitchen.

For more information, you can reach Evan Daigle at daiglebakedgoods@gmail.com or 207-331-0167.

Nosh’s Jason Loring, former Rosemont butcher Jarrod Spangler and others are working on a project to launch a new butcher shop in Portland.

Loring tells me he’s still in the funding stage for the venture and is looking for the ideal spot to locate the business on the peninsula. He and his partners “really want to change the landscape of local, all natural meats” in Portland.

In a separate project Loring is collaborating with Stephen Lanzalotta to launch a bakery/pizza shop called Slab.

Carson Lynch, owner of the Gorham Grind, is working on a food truck called Anywhere Coffee Bar. Lynch plans on launching ABC in Portland on May 1. He’ll be offering a full espresso menu from the truck as well as his trademark Rocket Fuel coffee beverage.

A small market is moving to Bramhall Square to the space formerly occupied by Mr. Sandwich & Mrs. Muffin.

211 Danforth Street, the current home of Vespucci’s Market, is under contract for sale and hopeful new owner, Keith Hickman has submitted a zoning variance request for a change of use to a restaurant. If approved, Hickman intends on opening a 64-seat restaurant and bar called 211 Danforth. Josh Kaplan will be serving as the chef at 211 Danforth.

Here’s an excerpt from Hickman’s application:

We firmly believe that there is a need and a market available for a quality and affordable neighborhood dining option in this area. Furthermore, we are confident that 211 Danforth Restaurant will be welcome addition to the West End and surrounding neighborhoods.

211 Danforth would add to the growing cluster of restaurants currently anchored by Ruski’s (1982), Ohno Cafe (2004), Outliers (2013) and Omi’s (2013). There are other spaces in the neighborhood that would also lend themselves well to further additions to the food and dining options in the area.

Update: For additional reporting see Maine a la Carte.

Maine a la Carte reports that the owners of Zapoteca, Tom and Shannon Bard, are planning to open a Spanish restaurant in Portland next year.

Tom Bard confirmed today that he is working on a location and hoping to open in early summer, 2014. Depending on the space, he said the atmosphere could either be quite casual (he mentioned Boston’s super-hot Toro as a reference), or somewhat more upscale than Zapoteca, the Bards successful Mexican restaurant in Portland.

Chef/owner David Levi has submitted his liquor license application for his restaurant Vinland (website, facebook, twitter) to the Portland City Council. A sample menu includes some interesting choices like the “potato risotto with daylily pollen and black trumpet mushrooms” and “grilled aged beef with roasted marrow, seared cauliflower, currant and yarrow” entrees.

According to the cover letter (page 221) Levi plans to open sometime in November. The restaurant is currently under construction at 593 Congress Street immediately adjacent to Congress Square Park.

Jason Loring, chef/owner of Nosh, is partnering up with Stephen Lanzalotta to launch a new bakery. Loring tells me that the plan for the new business is to “set Stephen free” and to “let him do what he does which is amazing”.

They’ve picked out a really great spot for this new venture. I’ll share more on that once they sign a lease.