Restaurant Real Estate: March 2022

Welcome to the March 2022 edition of the Portland Food Map restaurant real estate listings sponsored by The Boulos Company. This monthly column gathers in one convenient place the spaces available in Portland that could be potential sites for restaurants and food producers/retailers to locate their next business.

Even during the pandemic many people are pursuing their dreams and opening new food businesses. Finding the right spot is one of the crucial early challenges in launching a new business and hopefully this new resource will make that step just a little bit easier.

West End

235 Vaughan St – the 700 sq ft space most recently occupied by Other Side Deli and which had been the longtime home of Vaughan Street Variety is for lease. Call (207) 650-0846 for more information.

Arts District

554 Congress St – 1,397 – 1,621 sq ft former Dunkin’ Donuts space with hood for $1,518-2,301/month (NNN).

642 Congress St – the former Ada’s space is available to sublet; 2,569 sq ft (MG).

Bayside

15 Chestnut St – the 14,000 sq ft building that was the former home of Grace is for sale for $3,730,000.

31 Diamond St – this 2,800 – 22,034 sq ft industrial space in East Bayside is available for $16/sq ft (NNN).

178 Kennebec St – a 2,644 sq ft space on the first floor of a new building in West Bayside is available for $30/sq ft (NNN).

211 Marginal Way – the 4,052 sq ft space on the corner of Marginal Way and Franklin occupied by Bayside Bark is for lease for $40/sq ft (NNN).

65 Portland Street – the beautiful restaurant space that was home to Back Bay Grill for 34 years is available; 2,750 sq ft for $25/sq ft (MG).

24 Preble St – the former Arcadia space is available; 2,835 sq ft for $20/sq ft (NNN).

Old Port

1 Commercial St – the original location of Benkay at the corner of Commercial and India Streets is available. The 2,494 sq ft is for lease at $35/sq ft (NNN).

383 Commercial St – 1,639 – 3,487 of retail space on Commercial Street for $28/sq ft (NNN).

98 Cross St – 3,803 sq ft in the space formerly occupied by Rhum is available for $20/sq ft (MG). The entrance is on the backside of the Free Street building that Arabica is in and is a couple doors down from the Portland Yoga Collective.

446 Fore St – 1,600 – 3,400 sq ft in the former Pearl space with entrances on Wharf and Fore Streets is available for $30-40/sq ft (MG).

40 Free St – the new building constructed by JB Brown has four storefronts ranging in size from 1,358 to 3,067 sq ft for $30/sq ft (NNN).

38 Market St – a 1,200 subterranean space near the intersection with Milk Street for $1,175/month (MG).

55 Market St – this 3,700 sq ft space on Market Street was formerly occupied by the Big Easy. It’s available for $24/sq ft (NNN).

75 Market St – the 5,474 sq ft space on the corner of Market and Middle Streets occupied by Rambler’s Way is for lease for $37/sq ft (MG).

1 Monument Square – 1,500 sq ft of first floor space for $3,125/month (MG).

25 Pearl St – 1,689 sq ft former Subway space available for $30/sq ft (MG).

66 Pearl St – 5,796 sq ft of space—the former Bull Moose retail shop—is available for $15.75/sq ft (MG).

15 Temple St – the 1,702 sq ft space formerly occupied by Bubble Maineia is available for $26/sq ft (MG).

41 Wharf St – the former Jager space is available; 1,107 sq ft for $43/sq ft (MG).

42 Wharf St – this 3,770 sq ft space in the Old Port includes a 2,000 sq ft patio, $45/sq ft (MG).

India/Washington Ave

251 Congress St – 1,036 sq ft of space is available as of March 1st; $3,250/month (NNN). This listing includes basement access and one parking spot (with option to rent additional parking spaces). Email for more information.

100 Fore St – 3,000 sq ft of space that the listing says is “ideally suited for a restaurant use” for $27-30/sq ft (NNN).

22 Hancock St – this 978 sq ft space across from Benkay is available for $2,300/month (MG).

5 India St – 1,250 – 2,500 sq ft for $35/sq ft (NNN) in a new building under construction near the intersection with Commercial St.

47 India St – 1,000 sq ft of the former Lois’ Market building is for lease, $40/sq ft (NNN).

68 Washington Ave – the 1,272 sq ft space currently occupied by Silly’s is for lease for $23.58/sq ft (MG.

Forest Ave

500 Forest Ave – this 3,200 sq ft space is currently occupied by Starbird. It’s available for $16/sq ft (MG).

651 Forest Ave – a 2,200 sq ft retail space in the Odd Fellows building in Woodford’s Corner for $2,500/month (MG).

945 Forest Ave – 500- 1,220 sq ft of space in the former Photo Market building for $12/sq ft (NNN).

Other

170 Brighton Ave – a 2,173 sq ft free-standing building which most recently was home to D Ajan’s Market, includes parking; $22/sq ft.

873 Brighton Ave – the 1,334 sq ft building that formerly housed the Redemption Center is for sale for $465,000.

441 Congress St – The 2,400 sq ft former home of Guitar Grave across the street from 1 Monument Square is available for $20/sq ft.

1020 Congress St – a 3,375 service station that is going to be “redeveloped as part a planned mixed use development”. The finished space will be available for $18/sq ft (NNN).

88 Danforth St – a 1,231 sq ft free-standing building on Danforth Street is for sale for $269,000.

155 Riverside St – the Season’s Bar & Grille and Banquet Center is for lease. The 23,750 sq ft facility includes parking and all furniture, fixtures and equipment.

240 Saint John St – 2,400 – 10,000 sq ft in Union Station Plaza for $12-14/sq ft (NNN)

Westgate Shopping Center – four spaces are for lease at $18-40/sq ft (NNN).

Biscuits & Co, Biddeford – Biscuits & Co closed on October 16th and the business and equipment is for sale. Contact Biscuitsandcompany@gmail.com for more information.

Other Spaces – some vacated restaurant spaces haven’t yet been formerly listed for by the owner. Check the closing announcements for the latest information.

Glossary

MG – Modified Gross which indicates that the operating expenses (taxes, insurance, maintenance, etc.) for the property are included in the lease rate. The tenant would pay its own utilities, which sometimes includes heat.

NNN – Triple Net which indicates that operating expenses are not included in the lease rate, and the tenant will pay them separately. They are often referred to as CAM (Common Area Maintenance) charges and taxes, which are expressed as $/sf. The tenant is also responsible for utilities.

Gross – Gross indicates all expenses including utilities are included in the lease rate. The tenant would be responsible for phone and internet access, as well as interior janitorial.

The Photo Kitchen

Mainebiz has published an update on The Photo Kitchen which is under construction in Morrills Corner.

The space can accommodate photographers, influencers, cooking classes, workshop-based businesses, and events. It was designed with the Portland creative community in mind to be a resource for photographers and food professionals. The high-end boutique studio will also be available to rent as an event and workshop venue.

A&C Moving to South Portland

Joe Fournier is moving A&C Grocery to South Portland where it will re-open as the A&C Soda Shop (instagram) sometime this summer.

The menu will carryover some old favorites from Washington Ave such as the cheeseburger and Italian sandwich while adding soups, salads, and dishes like moules frites and crab cakes. True to its new name the A&C Soda Shop will also serve ice cream floats, milkshakes, and herbal tonics. Wine-based slushies as well as beer on draft and in cans are also on the menu.

The A&C Soda Shop will be located in the former Terra Cotta Pasta building at 501 Cottage Road. In 2019 Terra Cotta moved to a new spot nearby and Nosh co-founder Matt Moran leased the property with plans to open a neighborhood restaurant. The new A&C is a collaboration between Fournier, Moran and Michael Gatlin.

A&C Grocery originally opened on Washington Ave in 2017 as a neighborhood grocery store. The concept transitioned into a popular sandwich shop before closing in 2021 with plans to relocate.

LB Kitchen Moving and Expanding

Bryna Gootkind and chef Lee Farrington, the owners of LB Kitchen, have purchased the building on the corner of Congress and Smith Streets. Farrington and Gootkind plan on renovating the two storefronts on the corner and move LB Kitchen into that joined space later this year.

The new LB will feature a 21-seat dining room, sidewalk and patio seating, a dedicated space for takeout pick-up and a retail market with some of the staff’s favorite food and wellness brands.

Dunes (instagram), an artist-run gallery run by Boru O’Brien O’Connell, is slated to takeover the space formerly occupied by Lila East End Yoga.

The new LB Kitchen is expected to launch in September and the current iteration of LB will continue to operate from 249 Congress Street serving takeout until then. Once the move is completed, 249 Congress will be available for lease. The  949 sq ft space, includes a hood, grease trap, walk-in refrigerator, parking and a 200 sq ft patio.

Sacred Profane Brewing in Biddeford

A new Czech-style lager-exclusive brewery and ‘tankpub’ called Sacred Profane Brewing (website, instagram) is under construction at 50 Washington Street in Biddeford. Brewer Brienne Allan, formerly with Notch Brewing and a co-founder of Brave Noise, is launching the new brewery.

The restaurant will offer a menu of classic beer hall fare and a state-of-the-art beer service system engineered by Czech firms Lukr and GS Technik. The system will be the first of its kind in North America, enabling the team to provide a unique beer drinking experience.

“Our friends in the Czech Republic say that the brewer brews the beer, but the tapster makes the beer,” says Allan. “And we agree 100% that how you maintain and serve the finished beer is just as important as how you brew it.”

Working along with Allan will be a team that includes Michael Fava, the former head brewer at Oxbow Brewing, as the director of operations at Sacred Profane, as well as Carson James and Erin Sheehan, the co-founders of Lorne Wine in Biddeford, who will be heading up the food, hospitality and marketing programs. The team hope to open Sacred Profane by early July.

For more information on the beer program listen to the latest episode of the Good Beer Hunting podcast—the section on Sacred Profane runs from minute 34 to minute 38 in the recording.

Here’s a look at the draft food menu:

House Smoked Oyster – $18
saltines/mustard/onion

Pickled Curds – $8
Pilot bread crackers

Cretons – $12
Toast/mustard/sweet pickles

Chowder – $14
Smoked haddock/cream/potato/bacon

Ham Plate – $12
Country ham/pickle/garlic Mayo

Pult Tartare – $14
Dry aged beef/mustard seed/yolk/bacon/toast

North Haven Oysters – 6 for $16, 12 for $28
Mignonette classique’/lemon

Crab Louie – $18
Toast

Salad – $10
Little gem/ranch/pulverized dorito

Chicken Sorta Montreal Style – $18
Mashed potato/gravy/freezer peas

Schnitzel – $20
Pork steak/potato salad/maple mustard

Poutine – $16
Previously frozen French fries/curds/gravy

Curry Wurst – $18
House curry sausage/fries/mayo/ketchup

“Meat” Loaf Sandwich – $16
Bunch of veg in the shape of a loaf/Fish & Whistle milk bun/mayo/giardeniera/cucumber salad

Lobster Themidor – MP
Lobster/bernaise/fries

Maple Calvados Ice Cream – $8
A Parlor ice cream exclusive

The Danforth in the West End

The new bar and restaurant under construction in the former Little Giant space in the West End will be called The Danforth. The Danforth is scheduled to open by the end of April as a neighborhood restaurant and bar with a strong classic cocktail program.

Renovations are well underway, and the general manager Lucy Comaskey shared that they are “aiming to create a space where the room and service are welcoming and intentional, and the food and drink are there to match in quality and comfort.”

The Danforth is being launched by Gin & Luck, the parent company of Death & Co. which operates cocktail bars in Los Angeles, Denver and New York. They are now hiring for an executive chef, front of house manager, and head bartender, and will soon be looking to fill a number of other positions. For full details see The Danforth job board.

The Photo Kitchen in Morrill’s Corner

The Photo Kitchen (website, facebook, instagram) is a new membership-based food photography studio and event space  under construction in Morrill’s Corner.

When completed The Photo Kitchen will be the home of Lauren Lear Photography (instagram) and The Messy Cookie (instagram). The photo studio and kitchen will also be available for food photographers and other members  of the creative community to use on a membership basis or for daily rental.

Owners Lauren Lear and Krystina Benedetti hope to open The Photo Kitchen by April.

Casita El Corazon

El Corazon has leased the former 158 Pickett Street Cafe building where they plan to open a South Portland outpost of their Longfellow Square restaurant. Renovations are underway. When it opens the South Portland location is expected to be open Tuesday through Saturday.

El Corazon initially launched as a food truck in 2013 before taking over the former Petite Jacqueline space in Longfellow Square in 2017. The 158 Pickett Street Cafe closed last August after 20 years in business.

Moonday Coffee on Washington Ave

David Kessel from Moonday (instagram) and his partner Rebecca Perea-Kane who is the founder of Thicket (instagram) have leased the former Ishi Ishi space on Washington Ave where they plan to jointly operate their coffee bar and jewelry businesses.

Kessel launched Moonday this past summer as a food cart serving espresso-based coffee drinks prepared with beans from Speckled Ax. Moonday will be expanding their menu with a selection of teas at the new shop.

Renovations are well underway and they expect to open within a few weeks. Hours for the business are still TBD.