Category: Under Construction

SoPo Seafood (website, facebook, instagram) has leased the former Uncle Andy’s at 171 Ocean Street in South Portland where they plan to open a retail fish shop and raw bar.

The menu for the raw bar will include Maine oysters, lobster rolls, seafood crudo, chowder as well as wine by the glass and draft beer, and will be open for lunch and into the early evening. In addition to seafood, the shop will also offer a wine selection. Certified Sommelier Jen Lakari is advising SoPo on their wine program.

Sopo specializes in Maine seafood. They sell wholesale and early in the pandemic launched a retail seafood delivery service (order online). The location on Ocean Street will be their first retail storefront.

Co-owners Matt Brown, Lucas Myers and Joshua Edgcombe launched SoPo Seafood in March. They plan to start using the Ocean Street property as a curbside pick-up location in December and to open the retail shop and raw bar in May 2021. Once they open they also plan to use the store to host guest chefs for seafood preparation and cooking demonstrations.

The new Asian fusion restaurant and bar called Jing Yan under construction at 90 Congress Street has applied for their liquor license.

Here’s a look at the draft menu they supplied with the application:

Owners Britt Langford and husband Leo Zhang hope to open Jing Yan in November. Chris Petrillo is coming onboard as the chef for Jing Yan.

Jake Periello has taken over the lease for 123 Commercial Street—the former home of the Silver House Tavern—where he plans to open The Tavern.

Periello is installing a kitchen. The plan is for The Tavern to serve lunch and dinner 7 days a week with a menu that will include chili, chowder, salads, lobster rolls, pizza, lasagna, and chicken pot pies.

Speckled Ax (website, facebook, instagram)  is moving their roastery to a new space that will include a retail shop, coffee bar and outdoor seating during warmer months.

The new roastery will be located at 135 WaltonStreet in the former Izzy’s Cheesecake space.

Josh Amergian is launching a new food truck called Papa (website, instagram). He has bought the former Mami food truck and is renovating it to meet the needs of the new business. Amergian plans to launch in late summer 2021 and his long term plans for Papa include opening a brick and mortar restaurant in Gray where he lived as a child.

Amergian has worked in the restaurant industry for most of the past 12 years including a four year stint with Cara Stadler. The concept for Papa is “neighborhood eats”. You can see some examples of what that might mean by taking a look at the Papa instagram account.

The business name is a reference to Amergian’s own father who’s example he credits as his motivation and inspiration who being in the industry. “I loved cooking with him at the stores as a kid and as a teenager…I would like to think that us boys are his legacy so I’m paying it forward and turning his into my own.”

The Amergian family has owned restaurant and shops in Portland for several generations,

[M]y father bought a pizza/sandwich shop [in Gray]. It was called Dry Mills Store. He owned it for 11 years from 1992-2003. He’s owned a few stores around Portland in the 70’s 80’s and early 90’s. He’s a third generation grocer. He owned Amergian’s Market on Danforth street taking over for my grandfather, owned Amergian’s variety on oxford street and then the old port general store on market street which is now Pats Pizza and he also owned a bar/Laundry mat on Milk St called Bubbles and brew.

Update: while this project has been delayed it is still moving forward. See this instagram post for the latest info.

A new coffee shop called Coveside Coffee (instagram) is under construction in Woodford’s Corner at 28 Vannah Street. The shop is being opened Andy Nesheim and Zara Bohan who live in the neighborhood with their two children. They are planning a shop that is a “welcoming, family-friendly neighborhood gathering spot”.

Coveside will serve 44 North Coffee and light breakfast options including a mix of pastries as well as a limited lunch menu. Coveside will feature a walk-up window with outdoor seating in addition to the interior space.

Andy and Zara have started renovations to the building and hope to open Coveside this spring. They’ll be working with Better Lettered Hand Painted Signs to design a mural for the exterior of the building.

Rover Bagel (website, instagram, facebook)  has leased space at 10 West Point Lane and will be once again operating in Biddeford.

Owners Kim and Alec Rutter will be serving a similar menu to Rover 1.0 with wood-fired bagels, sandwiches, Tandem coffee and some expanded pastry offering.

The Rutters hope to open Rover sometime in early next year. Initially service will be through a takeout window.

The previous version of Rover was located on Elm St, and was in business from November 2017 until December 2019.

A new Asian fusion restaurant and bar called Jing Yan is under construction at 90 Congress Street in the space formerly occupied by Lolita. Owners Britt Langford and husband Leo Zhang hope to open Jing Yan in November.

Portland is Langford’s home town and she met Zhang while living in China where the couple ran the Bar 4 Nine cocktail bar. They moved to Portland 3 years ago and have been working in the hospitality industry since then.

Chris Petrillo is coming onboard as the chef for Jing Yan. Langford and Zhang will be updating the interior design to be in keeping with their new concept, but expect the overall layout will remain the same.

Jing Yan will primarily do takeout to start with some limited indoor dining.

The owners of the Independent Ice Company have announced a project to convert Rigby Yard (instagram), their event space on Wharf Street, into a new beer and wine hall.

Rigby Yard will feature an “expanded bar, large socially distanced tables that can accommodate parties of up to 8 people, a private tasting room and comfortable leather seating around a gas fireplace” serving Maine draft beer, wine and a full cocktail program as well as  casual food menu.

Rigby Yard is expected to open in October.

The SaltBox Cafe food truck is for sale. Owner Matthew Glatz has posted an announcement on instagram seeking “[s]omeone who has what it takes to bring this tiny house food truck to the next level, whatever that may be.”

Over the past five years, The SaltBox Cafe has been my infant. From the idea’s conception while out to brunch one sunny April Morning to today, a perfect late September afternoon on the Eastern Promenade, this business has been my child…I’ve watched it grow into an accomplished business catering multiple weddings per weekend, employing upwards of five individuals throughout Maine’s busiest summer months.…That being said, I do believe it may be time for this Tiny House to enable someone else with hopes and goals and dreams of being there own employer – someone with their own killer menu items which may take the brunch scene by storm. Someone who has what it takes to bring this tiny house food truck to the next level, whatever that may be. This opportunity isn’t just a listing for a trailer for sale, but an entire operating business which turns significant profits annually. Recipes, contacts, events, menu, tips and tricks of the trade are all included in any transaction which may occur.

See the full text of the announcement on instagram.