Category: Under Construction

Rabelais Extended Edition

| Posted in Under Construction

Rabelais Books (website, facebook, instagram) opened their new shop in the Black Box on Washington Ave intending to run the bookstore as a pop-up from July through September.  Engagement with the culinary bookstore has been strong enough that owner Don Lindgren has extended his lease through the end of 2025.

Not only have sales been better than we had hoped, but it’s been a pleasure to be back in Portland, reconnecting with old friends and customers and conversing with many new ones. Since the shop is in a shipping container it is tiny, and customers engage with the material we have in ways very different than they did in the big Biddeford store. I love watching people browse and discover something new, and it seems to happen more frequently here. So we’re going to keep this location for a while longer and see how it stokes our imagination further.

Rabelais will be closed this coming Saturday and Sunday (September 28th and 29th) for a quick break. They’ll reopen Wednesday October 2nd with new hours, 11 am to 5 pm most days with an extended close on Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 pm. The store is open 6 days a week and is closed Tuesdays.

Rabelais is stocked with printed books, ephemera and manuscripts from the past six centuries, covering a wide range of culinary subjects from mushrooms and mixology to farming and food photography, And, of course, there are cookbooks from nearly every corner of the globe. For more information on Rabelais and Lindgren see this article from June.

Restaurant Real Estate: September 2024

| Posted in Under Construction, Real Estate

Welcome to the September 2024 edition of the Portland Food Map restaurant real estate listings sponsored by The Boulos Company—a commercial real estate brokerage that has helped Maine’s restauranteurs buy and lease restaurant spaces since 1975.

This resource gathers in one convenient place the spaces available in Portland (and a few in the surrounding area) that could be potential sites for restaurants and food producers and retailers to locate their next business. Finding the right spot is one of the crucial early challenges in launching a new business and hopefully this resource will make that step just a little bit easier.

Arts District

547 Congress St – the 1,582 sq ft space formerly occupied by Broken Arrow is for lease for $3,800/month (NNN).

553 Congress St – the commercial kitchen in the former Five Fifty Five space (now leased by the Core Cannabis Museum) is available to a co-tenant for $2,000/month (MG).

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

594 Congress St – the 2,592 sq ft space in the Upper H. H. Hay Building formerly occupied by Starbucks is available for $28/sq ft (MG).

602 Congress St – The ~1,500 sq ft ground floor space at the corner of High and Congress is available to lease. The Schwartz Building has been under renovation for a decade. For more info contact Joe Atwood at (207) 899-7373.

Bayside/Inner Washington

219 Anderson St – Blue Lobster’s former tasting room in the Rockingham Electric building is available; 2,700 sq ft for $16/sq ft (NNN).

73 Cove St – a 5,519 sq ft industrial space in East Bayside is listed for $35/sq ft; it’s expected to become available later this year.

147 Cumberland Ave – the Union Bagel Co. space is available to lease for $1,750/month (MG). Over all the building has ~600 sq ft of space between the first floor and basement. It also features a fenced in back deck area that can seat 20+ people. Some equipment from the bagel bakery is also for sale. For more information contact unionbagelco@gmail.com. Union Bagel has moved their production facility to Falmouth.

52 Hanover St – On the first floor of the Armature is 1,500 – 3,000 sq ft of retail space available for $30/sq ft (NNN). One spot in the building has earmarked for a coffee shop.

178 Kennebec St – 2,644 sq ft of space are available in a newly constructed Bayside building for $25/sq ft (NNN).

55 Washington Ave – this 7,815 sq ft space is in the Nissen Bakery building right in between Cong Tu Bot and Hardshore Distillery. It’s available for $13,708/month (NNN).

186 Washington Ave – the 7,620 sq ft Am Vets building is for sale for $1,600,000. See the listing for photos of the bar and seating area.

Old Port

1 Canal Plaza – 4,284 – 14,412 sq ft of ground floor retail space will be available as part of upcoming renovations; $30/sq ft (NNN).

15 Chestnut St – the building that was home to Grace restaurant is for sale. It includes the property, business assets and all FF&E. The restaurant seats 175 and features a large circular bar on the first floor of the former church. The building has 14,358 sq ft of space. It’s for sale for $2,985,000.

185 Commercial St – a new building on Commercial Street has a 2,334 sq ft ground floor retail space that is available for $55/sq ft (NNN).

266 Commercial St – a 6,689 sq ft retail space is available in this new construction building for $20-22/sq ft (NNN).

383 Commercial St – 1,193 – 4,805 square feet of space in a newly constructed building on Commercial Street is available for $28/sq ft (NNN).

8 Exchange St – 1,800-3,600 sq ft of space formerly occupied by The Bar & Bites on lower Exchange Street is available for $34.99/sq ft (MG).

89 Exchange St – The space that had previously been the home of Dobra Tea is back on the market. The 1,350 sq ft space is available for $45/sq ft (MG).

201 Federal St – a 2,300 sq ft space in the new 18-story Casco building is available for $40/sq ft (MG). The building owners are looking for someone who wants to open a market in that space.

420 Fore St – the space formerly occupied by the Old Port Slice Bar is for lease. The 2,600 sq ft space is available for $40/sq ft (MG).

477 Fore St – the 1,361 sq ft space formerly occupied by B + B Bakery is available for $30/sq ft (MG).

40 Free St – a 1,511 sq ft space in the new building constructed by JB Brown is available for $27.50/sq ft (NNN).

100 Middle St – a 350 sq ft cafe space on first floor of an Old Port office building is available for $850/month (MG).

111 Middle St – the 1,622 sq ft former Cabana building is for lease for $3,500/month (NNN). See this post on instagram for more information about the property and its history.

115 Middle St – the 2,065 sq ft space formerly occupied by Beach Boys Cannabis is for lease for $6,840/month (MG). Back in the 1970s it had been the home of Model Food Importers which retailed wine, cheese and other imported foods.

121 Middle St – a 2,482 sq ft retail spot is available for $45/sq ft (MG).

157 Middle St – 2,039 – 5,155 sq ft of retail space is available for $27.95/sq ft (MG).

184 Middle St – this newly renovated space becomes available in August. It was formerly occupied by Blanche & Mimi. It includes 1,169 sq of first floor retail and 808 sq ft of basement storage space all for $48.43/sq ft (MG).

5 Milk St – this 2,199 sq ft former hair salon is available for $28/sq ft (NNN).

1 Monument Square – 1,500 sq ft of first floor space adjacent to Cera is available for $25/sq ft (MG).

28 Monument Square – a number of spots on the first and second floors of the Public Market House are available.

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).

3 Spring St – the space formerly occupied by Stage Cannabis is for lease; 2,000 sq ft for $15.50/sq ft (NNN).

53 Wharf St –a 1,600 sq ft space on the corner of Wharf and Union Streets is available for $30/sq ft (MG).

Old Port Bar – an undisclosed 1,160/sq ft bar/restaurant in the Old Port is for sale for $195,000.

India Street Area

239 Congress St –the 780 sq ft space formerly occupied by Tiny Tims is available for $2,500/month (Absolute Gross). It’s nearby Cocktail Mary, The End of Portland, Quanto Basta and LB Kitchen.

144 Fore St – the former VA building is near the Portland Foreside development and adjacent to several new office buildings off Thames Street. It has 1,560 – 10,620 sq ft of space available for $22-29/sq ft (NNN).

Outer Forest Ave

503 – 509 Forest Ave – the exterior of this building is slated to be restored to its historic design. It has 1,268 – 6,313 sq ft of space available for $10-15/sq ft (NNN).

Deering

164 Veranda St – the 1,000 sq ft former location of Other Side Deli is available for $2,500/month (Gross).

550 Washington Ave – 2,000 – 2,400 sq ft of the former Botto’s bakery is available to lease for $18/sq ft (NNN).

Elsewhere in Portland

Northgate Shopping Center – 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft of space is available.

Westgate Shopping Center – three spaces are for lease 1,400, 3,800 and 5,000 sq ft. The lease rates are negotiable and the property owner has a strong interest in finding a restaurant tenant for the shopping plaza.

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

Outside of Portland

The Downs – A 2,019 sq ft restaurant space is for sale in The Downs mixed use development.

188 Lincoln St, Lewiston – this 2,371 – 5,554 sq ft former fire station has been renovated for use as a retail/restaurant space. It’s listed at $5-14/sq ft (NNN). See this instagram article for additional information on the building and the neighborhood.

372 Cottage Rd, South Portland – the building that formerly was home to Omi’s Coffee Shop is for sale for $675,000. Contact Gail Bruzgo at 372maine@gmail.com for more information.

60 Mile Rd, Wells – the former Varano’s Restaurant building and a 2 bed room apartment are for sale for $2,095,000.

449 Main St, South Portland – the former Rudy’s Diner and an adjacent home are for sale for $975,000.

Billy’s Chowder House – both the building and business of Billy’s Chowder House in Wells is for sale. The ~200 seat restaurant comes with a 62-car parking lot and sits on Mile Road which connects Route 1 with Wells Beach.

Joshua’s in Brunswick – Joshua’s Tavern at 121 Maine Street is closing at the end of this month and the 4,500 sq ft restaurant is available to lease for $20-25/sq ft (NNN).

145 Ocean St, South Portland – the BenReuben’s building in South Portland will become available with the closure of the knishery in September. The ~1,000 sq ft space is for lease for $3,000/month (MG). Contact Josh at (207) 408-3879 for more information.

Trudy Birds, North Yarmouth – The business, land and both building are for sale for $1,450,000.

358 Main St, Yarmouth – the building that had housed a collection of gluten-free baking businesses is for sale for $475,000.

Bayley’s Seafood, Scarborough – This 3,018 sq ft turnkey seafood restaurant is available to lease for $24/sq ft.

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.

Apero in Biddeford

| Posted in Under Construction

Sisters Sophia Normantas and Marie Grasser have leased space at 20 Alfred Street in Biddeford where they plan to open a new bar called Apéro (instagram).

The 40-seat establishment will serve light bites, charcuterie, cocktails, mocktails, and wine. The cocktail list is still under development but is expected to offer a diverse seasonal selection of with all their drinks to be topped off “with a dazzling garnish.”

Renovations are underway with the hope to open Apéro in October. As they shared in an online video they “want it to be moody, sexy, fun” and create a place where customers can “sit with a beautiful cocktail in a gorgeous environment” and enjoy time with friends.

Normantas and Marie Grasser shared that they have always wanted to create a business together. Grasser is also the owner of Charcutemarie (instagram) a business that prepares charcuterie and cheese boards for weddings and events.

Second Rodeo in Ferry Village

| Posted in Under Construction

A new cafe called Second Rodeo Coffee (instagram) is under construction in Ferry Village. Owner Lana Cooney has leased the former Knitting Nook space at 124 Sawyer Street where she hopes to open Second Rodeo this fall.

Cooney shared,

The concept and imagination behind Second Rodeo Coffee comes from my personal experience of finding community in coffee shop environments. There is something special about knowing customers by name and/or order, and having the ability to introduce folks to one another. I find there to be major transformative potential in these interactions! We’ve seen so many of these third spaces disappear for countless reasons over the last few years. I believe they’re the cornerstones of our communities, and I’m excited to be able to foster one in my own community of South Portland.

The counter service cafe will offer a full line-up of brewed coffee and espresso-based drinks prepared with Vivid Coffee and and will also serve a rotating selection of other roasters. Cooney is Canadian and is planning to have some roasters from Montreal in the line up. The menu will include pastries, breakfast sandwiches and lunch sandwiches. The 20-seat cafe will be organized into several casual seating areas decorated with vintage furniture and lighting in different styles. The 1,200 sq ft space will also have a small stage for musical acts or readings.

The name of the cafe is a reference to her own career path which transitioned in 2020 from being a drummer and vocalist with the band Caveboy to working in the hospitality industry. Leading up to launching her own business Cooney has worked at Little Woodfords, Solo Cucina and Ugly Duckling.

Follow the Second Rodeo Coffee instagram account for progress updates. To learn more about other new food and dining businesses under development visit our Under Construction page.

Oddfellahs Sports Bar

| Posted in Under Construction

A sports bar called Oddfellahs is under construction at 55 Market Street in the space that was occupied by The Big Easy which closed in 2013. Oddfellahs is being launched by the owners of the Portland Regency Hotel.

Co-owner Michael Cianchette shared in the cover letter submitted with the Oddfellahs liquor license application,

Right now, there are few locations in the downtown area that truly capture the community and camaraderie that come with watching sports. We look forward to creating a space that can build that for the future.

In addition to operating as a sports bar, the owners plan to operate a betting parlor. Also from Cianchette’s cover letter, “We have been closely coordinating with several of Maine’s Wabanaki tribes to find opportunities to help mutually advance the market in a responsible manner that benefits Mainers.”

LB Kitchen at Rock Row

| Posted in Under Construction

LB Kitchen (website, instagram) has announced plans to open a second location at the Rock Row (website, facebook, instagram) Medical Campus in Westbrook. Owners Bryna Gootkind and chef Lee Farrington hope to launch the new LB Kitchen (instagram) in January.

The 600 sq ft cafe kiosk will be offering pre-packaged versions of the grain, salad and breakfast bowls, sandwiches, and wraps that LB Kitchen in known for. The new location will also serve tea, functional beverages and have a full brewed coffee and espresso bar. Notably, the new LB Kitchen will also be offering new dishes that align with nutritional recommendations from the New England Cancer Specialists and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

LB Kitchen co-owner Bryna Gootkind shared this statement about the new venture,

LB Kitchen’s focus on functional food means looking at ingredients and what they do in our bodies. This lens is helpful in detaching any preconceived value systems from food and ideas that often originate from diet culture and trends. Instead we keep it simple by asking: what can the power of food do for us and how can we make that experience nourishing, delicious and fun…For us, this location is a natural extension of our brand, continuing our focus on how our food is part of a well-being regimen and now more specifically part of a healing process for patients inside this innovative medical center.

Rock Row (website, facebook, instagram) is being developed by the Waterstone Properties Group. The Medical Campus is part of a 26-acre mixed use development located off Brighton Ave near the Portland/Westbrook line. The Medical Campus will be anchored by New England Cancer Specialists. RAYUS Radiology, Saco Bay Physical Therapy, Plastic & Hand Surgical Associates, The Dempsey Center and other organizations will also be located at the new campus along with LB Kitchen. It is expected to launch in early 2025.

Farrington and Gootkind launched LB Kitchen at 249 Congress Street in 2017 and moved into the cafe and market space at the corner of Smith and Congress Streets in early 2023.

To learn more about other new food and dining businesses under development visit our Under Construction page.

Winona’s in Camden

| Posted in Under Construction, Maine

A new restaurant called Winona’s (instagram) is under construction on Elm Street in Camden located in between Mosaic and First Fig.

Owners Devin Dearden and Hannah Adams envision Winona’s having “small wine bar vibes” and offering an ever changing seasonally-driven food menu. Dearden and Adams plan to serve a selection of small plates such as Cod en Papillote with tomato butter, mushrooms and daikon as well as Roasted Beets and Apples with smoked cheddar vinaigrette and pistachio. The bar program will include wine, beer, sake and sherry with both low intervention and more traditional wines represented in the list.

Dearden has been the chef at The Alna Store since the acclaimed restaurant launched in late 2022. He’s previously worked in Cambridge, New York, and in Portland where he was on the staff at Scales and Evo. Adams also works at The Alna Store and previously worked front of house in Portland at Little Giant, The Honey Paw, and Evo. Their time at The Alna Store saw the restaurant awarded 4½ stars by the Maine Sunday Telegram and honored as a James Beard Award semifinalist in the Best New Restaurant category.

Adams and Dearden have started renovations and hope to open the 24-seat restaurant this fall. The restaurant will be located at 31 Elm Street in the space that was formerly occupied by Goods which closed at the end of May.

Photo Credit: photo courtesy of Winona’s

Yardie Ting Moving

| Posted in Under Construction

Yardie Ting (website, facebook, instagram) is moving to the first floor of the Public Market House where they’re taking over the space formerly occupied by Mr. Tuna.

The move will enable owner Shanna-Kay Wright and her team to serve an expanded menu. She expects to add additional seafood options and salads to the menu. Between the front window seating area and the counter that runs along the kitchen, Yardie Ting will initially have 20+ seats. Wright is also working on adding a table seating area and a small market.

Renovations to the 1,734 sq ft space is currently underway (above right) and Wright expects to launch the new Yardie Ting on Tuesday August 27th. Check the Yardie Ting instagram account to follow along with the renovations and relaunch.

Yardie Ting first moved into the Public Market House in 2019 (see below left). Shown below is a 2020 takeout meal of jerk chicken with mac and cheese, festivals and other sides.

To learn more about other new food and dining businesses under development visit our Under Construction page.

 

BenReuben’s Closing…2.0 To Come

| Posted in Under Construction, Closings

Graeme Miller announced this morning that he’ll be closing down BenReuben’s Knishery in September.

When we opened the Knishery in 2021, our goal was to nourish and build a community and to share our family recipes and inspiration with those who were willing to enjoy. We are so proud of what BenReuben’s Knishery has been able to accomplish with your help; what an epic community we’ve built together and what beautiful memories we’ve created and shared with each other and our families.

This journey has also confirmed for us that what our community (and we!) really want and need is a full Jewish delicatessen. So we will come back even stronger once again, when it’s the right time and place.

Miller shared that the business has been a great success. He’s now taking the lessons of running the knishery and redirecting his time and energy to launching a full Jewish delicatessen and market. The BenReuben’s catering business will remain in operation during this gap time.

Anyone interested in updates on the delicatessen or on opportunities to provide perspective on what the community needs are of the new enterprise should stay tuned to the BenReuben’s instagram account, or email hello@benreubensknishery.com.

Miller and his wife Caitlin leased the knishery’s current South Portland location at 145 Ocean Street in March 2021 and launched BenReuben’s in May of that year.