Category: Under Construction

Cong Tu Bot (facebook, tumblr, instagram, twitter) is gearing up in time to participate the Inner Washington Block Party. They’ll be serving “cà phê sữa đá and a tiny-we’re-not-sure-if-we’re-ready-but-hey-let’s-ride-menu of snacks“. The initial snack menu will not include Phô.

They’ll open with a full(er) menu and regular schedule of hours at a too be determined later date.

Maine Juice Company has leased the former Home Catering Co. spot at 129 Spring Street where they plan to open their first direct retail establishment.

Speckled Ax is working on launching a coffee truck.

So, there’s a Speckled Ax Truck in the works. Phases one and two–drive train and outside cosmetics–took a lot longer than expected, but are pretty much done. On to phase three. Here’s the “before” of the inside, after we pulled out lots of horrible vinyl and fake wood. More details to come.

Painter Tessa Greene O’Brien hard at work on the signage for the new Island Creek Oyster market and bar at Washington Ave. Island Creek will be located at 123 Washington Ave in the same building that Maine Craft Distilling.

I had the chance to talk with ICO founder Skip Bennett back in February. His plans for the space are three-fold: as a retail market for the Maine oyster brands they sell, cold storage for their distribution network and there will be a casual oyster and beer bar.

Bennett plans to hold events at the bar that connect oyster lovers with producers. All told the space is around 2,000 sq ft, in addition they’ve added a deck to the front of the building.

A new restaurant called Jack’s Thai is under construction on Main Street in Westbrook. It’s a few doors down from Big Fin Poke and about a half mile away from where Veranda Thai has their own Westbrook outpost in development.

Mainebiz has a report on a $500,000 fund to help new food start-ups.

Hall said of the total $500,000, the average loan size will be $25,000 to $150,000, which would cover six to eight companies a year. But those wanting a larger amount should still approach the group, Hall said, as they might be able to make introductions to other groups with deeper pockets to participate.

Boston Magazine has published an article about Little Giant, the new restaurant the owners of Hunt & Alpine are opening on Danforth Street.

To achieve that balance at Little Giant, the Volks brought on a Boston ex-pat to lead the kitchen. Rian Wyllie, opening chef at Deep Ellum and both Lone Star Taco Bars, left that group after 10 years to relocate to Maine. Wyllie, an Arlington native, and his wife were considering a move when mutual friends introduced them to the Volks. It’s a perfect fit, both parties agree.

Hallowell-based casual dining spot, Juiced (website), plans to open a second location in Portland at 561 Forest Ave. Juiced plans to serve “healthy alternatives to fast casual dining options” of soups, salads, and sandwiches along with juice, smoothies, komucha, prosecco and rotating selection of local beer. A draft menu (pages 147-150) was supplied with their liquor license application.

After more than two years since the project began, Old Port Lobster Shack on Fore Street has applied for a liquor license. In the application, owner Michael Michalski indicates a target opening date of July 30th. A draft menu (pages 90-91) was supplied with other supporting paperwork.

Update: The owners have changed the name of the business to Maine Lobster Shack.