Category: Under Construction

According to a report in The Forecaster the Red’s Dairy Freeze building is going to be demolished and owner hopes to eventually rebuild. Red’s was seriously damaged by fire earlier this year.

Code Enforcement Officer Patricia Doucette said the owner of Red’s has obtained a city permit to demolish the popular, soft-serve ice cream shop that was scorched by an early morning electrical fire on May 16.

Doucette said owner Chris Bolling indicated he would raze all but two ground layers of concrete and rebuild on the existing foundation. The permit, issued last week, is good for six months, she said.

For more information see the Portland Press Herald article published 7/24/2010.

A sign in the window at 7 Exchange Street is announcing a new Italian restaurant called Canelli’s “Fantastic Food at Fantastic Prices!” that’s under construction. If that address sounds familiar it may be because last Spring it was the site a construction site for Wasabi, a sushi restaurant that never launched. A source tells me that Canelli’s is being opened by a Boston area couple who ran a similar restaurant in Massachusetts for many years.
Just up the street from Canelli’s is the construction site for another Italian restaurant, G’Vanni’s which is going in at the old Walter’s space.

A sign in the window at 7 Exchange Street is announcing a new Italian restaurant called Canelli’s “Fantastic Food at Fantastic Prices!” that’s under construction. If that address sounds familiar it may be because last Spring it was the site a construction site for Wasabi, a sushi restaurant that never launched. A source tells me that Canelli’s is being opened by a Boston area couple who ran a similar restaurant in Massachusetts for many years.

Just up the street from Canelli’s is the construction site for another Italian restaurant, G’Vanni’s which is going in at the old Walter’s space.

There’s been a new restaurant under construction for a few weeks over at 437 Congress Street at the former location of GRO Cafe. Signage is now up and it look’s like it will be a sandwich shop called Mike’s – “We make Rock ‘N Roll Sandwiches”. Info on the Guitar Grave (Mike’s neighbor and owner) website promises “a small menu of fast, inexpensive and delicious items as well as luncheon and drink specials”.

There’s been a new restaurant under construction for a few weeks over at 437 Congress Street at the former location of GRO Cafe. Signage is now up and it look’s like it will be a sandwich shop called Mike’s – “We make Rock ‘N Roll Sandwiches”. Info on the Guitar Grave (Mike’s neighbor and owner) website promises “a small menu of fast, inexpensive and delicious items as well as luncheon and drink specials”.

Back last September word got out of two new restaurants in the works, Sonny’s and Your Grandma’s. Sonny’s opened in early January but Your Grandma’s (slated for the old Chef et al. space) has yet to launch.
Now there’s a sign up at 408 Forest Ave promoting a new venture to be called WhaddaPita – Taste it, Love It. According to Trademarkia, a Constantine Casvikes from Saco owns the trademarks for both Your Grandma’s and WhaddaPita so it seems like it’s more a re-alignment of concept than a completely new venture.

The FTC has approved Trader Joe’s purchase of the old Wild Oats store on Marginal Way. (PPH)

Trader Joe’s hasn’t commented formally on its plans for Portland, but it did apply last month for food service and wine and liquor licenses from the city.

The approval of the sale and the actual transaction were expected to be the last barriers before the company renovates the building and announces details of its plans.

For additional reporting read the articles in the Forecaster and Mainebiz.

The FTC has approved Trader Joe’s purchase of the old Wild Oats store on Marginal Way. (PPH)

Trader Joe’s hasn’t commented formally on its plans for Portland, but it did apply last month for food service and wine and liquor licenses from the city.

The approval of the sale and the actual transaction were expected to be the last barriers before the company renovates the building and announces details of its plans.

For additional reporting read the articles in the Forecaster and Mainebiz.