Category: Under Construction

Mainebiz has published a report on the new location of Otto Pizza under construction at the old North Star in the East end.

The new Otto Pizza at 225 Congress St. will have a bar and a sit-down dining room with 95 to 100 seats. Allen says they’ll hire up to eight additional staff. They already have a crew of 17 employees at the other Otto location.

The menu will also expand, slightly, with a salad and a dessert, and they’ll serve beer and wine. “It’s a little more of a grown-up place,” Allen says. “There’s more elbow room.”

A few under construction updates:

• Shanghai Tokyo provided a draft menu (see page 59) as part of their liquor license application. The Portland City Council will be voting on the application on Monday.
• The restaurant moving in to the old Norm’s space on Middle Street was originally slated to be called The East End Grill, but the owners have rebaptized it as the EastEnder. The sign in the window promises “Bold New England Flavor”.
• Work on the future site of Gorgeous Gelato is underway at 434 Fore Street.
  
• The Press Herald reported earlier this week that Otto Pizza is scheduled to open their new East End location on the day after Thanksgiving.

Sign(s) in the window at 511 Congress Street where Soju is/was located indicates that a new restaurant named Shanghai-Tokyo will be opening there soon under a new owner.

MaineBiz has published an update on Gingko Blue, a new jazz/blues bar that’s being opened by the owners of Walter’s.

Renovation work is under way on the 1,800-square-foot lounge, in space formerly occupied by clothing retailer Betsy’s, and Gingko Blue will likely open in mid-November. [PR Manager Ann] Ewing would not divulge the cost of the renovation work or the Buerhaus’ lease for the space.

According to a report from the Munjoy Hill News, Otto Pizza’s liquor license application for the former North Star space on Congress Street was approved by the Portland City Council last night.

The new pizza house will have 75 seats indoors and 20 seats outside, weather permitting. The menu at the new Otto’s will duplicate the other location, 576 Congress Street. In addition to beer and wine, Otto’s will offer a salad and desert. The new Otto’s will be family-friendly said Allen.

Also on the agenda last night was a liquor license application by Megan Schroeter and Mitchel Gerow for The East End Grill. They are planning to open the new restaurant in the former Norm’s space on Middle Street. See page 35 of the agenda for a sample menu.
For additional reporting, read this article in the Portland Daily Sun.

According to a report from the Munjoy Hill News, Otto Pizza’s liquor license application for the former North Star space on Congress Street was approved by the Portland City Council last night.

The new pizza house will have 75 seats indoors and 20 seats outside, weather permitting. The menu at the new Otto’s will duplicate the other location, 576 Congress Street. In addition to beer and wine, Otto’s will offer a salad and desert. The new Otto’s will be family-friendly said Allen.

Also on the agenda last night was a liquor license application by Megan Schroeter and Mitchel Gerow for The East End Grill. They are planning to open the new restaurant in the former Norm’s space on Middle Street. See page 35 of the agenda for a sample menu.

For additional reporting, read this article in the Portland Daily Sun.

According to a report in the Press Herald, Trader Joe’s plans to open their new Portland store on Friday, October 29.

Trader Joe’s spokeswoman Alison Mochizuki said the Portland store will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. She said more information will be released sometime next week about the grand opening, which will feature a lei-cutting ceremony and other festivities.

According to a report in the Press Herald, Trader Joe’s plans to open their new Portland store on Friday, October 29.

Trader Joe’s spokeswoman Alison Mochizuki said the Portland store will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. She said more information will be released sometime next week about the grand opening, which will feature a lei-cutting ceremony and other festivities.

Otto Pizza is in the process of starting up a second location in Harvard Square to serve their excellent pizza to a wider audience in Cambridge, Mass.

Today’s Press Herald includes a report about a donation to the Portland Food Cooperative.

The Portland Food Cooperative announced Monday that S. Donald Sussman, who leads Connecticut-based Paloma Partners, will donate a rent-free, five-year lease and $40,000 in cash to the nonprofit organization.

Under the agreement, the co-op will renovate a 4,700-square-foot warehouse at 60 Hampshire St. in Portland for use as a distribution point for its members/owners and eventually as a retail storefront.