Category: Under Construction

Ghee & Cinnamon Girl

| Posted in Under Construction, Openings

The Portland food truck fleet continues to expand:

The Cinnamon Girl (website, facebook, instagram, twitter) food truck launched in mid-October. Owner Melissa Cott serves cinnamon buns and sticky pecan buns. As Cott explains on the Cinnamon Girl website,  her “mission is to provide recognition of and financial support to local Maine non-profit companies and organizations”.

Radhika Shah Patel and Sam Patel launched their fusion Indian street food pop-up Ghee (instagram) earlier this month. They’re regularly in operation at Apres in East Bayside on Fridays and Saturdays. The Patels are now working on a food truck which they hope to launch this spring.

Bread & Friends on Fore

| Posted in Under Construction

The founders of Bread & Friends (website, instagram) have leased nearly 3,000 sq ft of space at 505 Fore Street where they plan to open their bakery and daytime cafe. They’ll be working with Bolt Coffee out of Providence on a coffee program, and had this to share about plans for the cafe menu,

We’re really excited to focus on elevating the traditional bakery/cafe experience for our breakfast and lunch menus. We’ll focus on smaller plates for sharing in addition to some classic breakfast/cafe fare like sandwiches and crossover with our bread program (fresh from the oven baguettes with butter and jam) There will be a big emphasis on seasonal cooking and local ingredients, fresh and simple food. Think more snacks, appetizers, bites than big plates and platters.

Bread & Friends will be milling their own grain and baking in a Llopis wood-fired brick oven. They have hired Carrie Dessertine from Mey & Co. to redesign the former Pizzarino space and hope to open Bread & Friends late this coming summer.

The business is the creation of two couples: Maggie and Tanner Rubin and Jessica Rattey and Jeremy Broucek, who all moved to Portland from California where they worked in the bakeries and restaurants of the Bay Area including Tartine, State Bird Provisions and The Progress. Tanner Rubin will be the head baker for Bread and Friends. He has spent a number of years in the Bay Area baking for Josey Baker Bread, Midwife and the Baker, and Tartine, and prior to moving West got his start at Publican Quality Bread in Chicago. Rattey, Broucek, and Maggie Rubin met when all three worked at the Michelin-starred State Bird Provisions and at its sister restaurant The Progress. Rubin was part of the admin and operations staff, Rattey worked front of house, and Broucek was the chef de cuisine at The Progress.

Dirty Dove

| Posted in Under Construction

A&C Grocery owner Joe Fournier is partnering with Owl & Whale owner and bartender Michael Gatlin to open a new cocktail-focused venue called Dirty Dove (instagram).

Dirty Dove will be located in the space at 229 Congress Street where Fournier had originally been planning to reopen A&C Grocery. Fournier is continuing the search for a new location for A&C Grocery while launching this new venture.

Here’s a look at the near final cocktail menu (click on images to enlarge). Dirty Dove will also offer a food menu “brought to you by the letters A and C”.

The partners hope to launch Dirty Dove on December 1st 11th when they’ll be open Thursday through Monday, noon to 10 pm.

Lenora Taco Bar Coming to the Old Port

| Posted in Under Construction

A new restaurant called Lenora (website, facebook, instagram) is under construction at 2 Portland Square in the space formerly occupied by Walter’s. Lenora will be a taco bar focusing on Mexican-inspired street food.

Rian and Jen Wyllie will be working with former partners Aaron Sanders and Max Toste from Lone Star Taco Bar and Deep Ellum in Boston. The Wyllie’s have been part of the Portland restaurant community since they moved to Maine in 2017. Rian Wylie is currently the chef at Maine Beer Company in Freeport, and was formerly the chef/partner of Lone Star and Deep Ellum.

The team anticipates opening Lenora this coming summer. You can keep track of progress for Lenora by following the restaurant’s instagram account.

An Update on Danforth Street

| Posted in Under Construction

Gin & Luck has applied for a liquor license for the new establishment they have under development at 211 Danforth Street in the building formerly occupied by Little Giant. Details on the name and concept are still forthcoming but the draft menu (click on images below) supplied with the application provides some directional insight into what they’re planning.

Light renovations of the space and furnishings—a large bar, booths and warm tones are part of the plan—are expected to begin late this year with the hopes of opening by March.

Gin & Luck has started recruiting for the Portland restaurant.

Restaurant Real Estate: November 2021

| Posted in Under Construction, Real Estate

Welcome to the November 2021 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.

101 York St – 7,391 sq ft of a 15,000 sq ft sub-dividable space in the new building on the corner of York and High Street is available for $15-20/sq ft (NNN). The space already has a hood vent and grease traps installed.

Arts District

554 Congress St – 1,621 sq ft former Dunkin’ Donuts space with hood for $17.04/sq ft (NNN).

555 Congress St – the former Five Fifty-Five building is for sale for $2,400,000.

Bayside

170 Anderson St – 2,000 – 3,500 sq ft in East Bayside available for $15/sq ft (NNN).

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

360 Cumberland Ave – two spaces (900 sq ft on Cumberland Ave and a 1,000 sq ft space in a building set back from the street) are available for $24-25/sq ft (NNN).

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 – 4 retail spaces (1,800 – 5,314 sq ft) on the first floor of a new building for $30/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).

30 Danforth St – 3 units (1,800, 1,881, 2,900 sq ft) are for lease at $2,900 – $3,950/month (MG).

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).

505 Fore St – The 2,996 sq ft former Pizzarino space is available for $24/sq ft (NNN).

40 Free St – A new building is under construction on Free Street by JB Brown. The first floor will have 4/5 storefronts ranging in size from 1,358 to 3,067 sq ft. The construction is expected to be completed in 2021. The rate is $30/sq ft (NNN).

5 India St – 1,250 – 2,500 sq ft for $30/sq ft (NNN) in a new building under construction near the intersection wiith Commercial St.

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).

111 Middle St – this 1,600 sq ft space has a storied past as the former location of Piccolo and before that Bresca. It’s available for $3,500/month (NNN), the building is also for sale.

157 Middle St –1,071 – 6,356 sq ft for $27.95/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).

1 Pleasant St – 850 sq ft of space adjacent to Hi Bombay for $4,000/month (NNN).

3 Portland Square – This new building will include 2,500 – 20,000 square feet of retail space for$28.50/sq ft.

3 Spring St – the 2,554 – 3,500 sq ft former Lio space is available at $19/sq ft (NNN).

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

100 Fore St – 1,914 sq ft of space that the listing says is “ideally suited for a restaurant use” for $27-30/sq ft (NNN).

22 Hancock St – 978 sq ft for $2,300/month (MG).

Forest Ave

333 Forest Ave – a 2,468 retail space is available for $16/sq ft (MG).

701 Forest Ave – this former Rite Aid building is being converted and has 4 retail spaces available for $16-20/sq ft (NNN).

945 Forest Ave – 500-5,510 sq ft of space in the former Photo Market building for $12/sq ft (NNN).

1190 Forest Ave – located right in the center of Morrill’s Corner. 3,000 – 5,082 sq ft at $12 – 20/sq ft (NNN).

1569 Forest Ave – a 1,400 sq ft “soon to be completed restaurant/retail building” is available on outer Forest Ave.

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.

865 Brighton Ave – a 1,232 sq ft former gas station/quick market is for sale for $400,000.

437 Congress St – 1,000 sq ft for $20/sq ft (MG).

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 3,374 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 – 1,600 – 10,000 sq ft in Union Station Plaza for $12-14/sq ft (NNN)

Westgate Shopping Center – two spaces are for lease at $17-37/sq ft (NNN).

158 Pickett St, South Portland – the former home of 158 Pickett Street Cafe is for lease. Call (207) 615-2858 for more information.

23 Lincoln St, Biddeford – a 12,600 sq ft space divided equally on two floors, each floor has a kitchen with hoods is available for $11/sq ft (NNN). Contact Tony Delois for more information at anthony@uncommongroups.com.

Gather, Yarmouth – Owner Matthew Chappell has put his Yarmouth restaurant, Gather, up for sale.

Biscuits & Co, Biddeford – Biscuits & Co is closing 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.

Dila’s Kitchen at the Market House

| Posted in Under Construction

A new business called Dila’s Kitchen (instagram) is under construction in the Public Market House, located on the second floor in the space formerly occupied by Coco Cones.

Owner Dila Maloney plans to tap into her Turkish heritage and family recipes to produce a kebab-centered menu. Maloney hopes to launch Dila’s Kitchen on December 3rd.

Follow them on instagram to stay up to date on their menu and opening plans.

Forest Ave

| Posted in Under Construction

Today’s Press Herald takes a look at the growing restaurant community on outer Forest Avenue, specifically the stretch from Woodfords to Morrill’s Corner.

On, or just off, the indistinguishable 1.4-mile stretch of outer Forest Avenue that lies between Woodfords Corner and Morrill’s Corner – amid the hair salons and nail salons; the car washes and dog washes; the Asian, Arab and African markets; the storefront churches; the tattoo parlors; and the modest eateries – a small cluster of new food businesses have opened, or are set to open, perhaps signaling a shift for a pocket of Portland that is more often seen as a thruway than as a destination.

Vena’s Fizz House 2.0

| Posted in Under Construction

Vena’s Fizz House has announced plans (facebook, instagram) for their new expanded location at 867 Congress Street across the street from La Bodega Latina in a former church constructed in 1889.

“Our long term goal was to eventually scale and grow into a bigger space but the pandemic definitely forced our hand to make that decision earlier than we had planned.” said Vena’s co-owner, Johanna Corman. “The new Vena’s 2.0 will hold all the nostalgic charm and passion for beverages and flavors that we are known for. Additionally, the venue lends itself to events and we plan to offer a unique space for specialty occasions, and mixology classes.” explained Corman. Plans for the reopening will happen in spring 2022.

The mixology shop and cocktail/mocktail bar was founded in 2013 and until last year had been located on the corner of Silver and Fore Streets in the Old Port.