One Fifty Ate Permanently Closing

| Posted in Closings

One Fifty Ate (aka 158 Pickett Street Cafe) announced today that they’re permanently closing their South Portland cafe.

WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU to all our our incredible customers & employees over the past 20 amazing years of our beloved shop.
Unfortunately, we have made the difficult decision to PERMANENTLY CLOSE our doors. 😢
Much of this is a result of the combined effect that COVID-19 has had on our industry, the labor shortage, increased cost of goods, and our need to refocus our efforts on our other endeavors.
We are HONORED to have served the community, and shared many great times with each and every one of you.
Thank you all. So very much.
Stay tuned for updates on “Ashley’s Going Away” & our “Farewell Friends” party. We would love a chance to see you again.
Much ❤️love❤️ from,
Josh, Ashley, Katie & the many years of the pirate crew

To read more about 158 see this recent article in Mainer News.

Buzz Coffee on Exchange

| Posted in Under Construction

Buzz Coffee (instagram), a new coffee food cart that launched this year in mid-May, has leased space at 19 Exchange Street where they plan to open a brick and mortar cafe in the subterranean space formerly occupied by Blake Orchard.

The new space will enable an expanded menu that includes espresso drinks, drip coffee, cold brew, teas, and locally made bagels and cream cheese spreads as well as “a small curated selection of local art and Maine made goods”.

The cafe is expected to open in October. The coffee cart will continue to be in operation throughout the fall and be back on the streets next spring.

$7k Hi-Fidelity Beer Kickstarter

| Posted in Under Construction, Beer

Hi-Fidelity Beer (website, facebook, instagram) has launched a $7k crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. to help open the doors at their East Bayside low/mid ABV brewery.

Owners PD Wappler and Dante Maderal have leased Unit 6 at 200 Anderson Street where they are planning to launch with a 3 barrel system. The Hi-Fidelity Beer tasting room they will serve their own house beers as well as a variety of liquid refreshment with non-alcoholic options such as coffee, tea, and house-flavored seltzer.

The tagline for Hi-Fidelity is  “our beer, your space”. They envision operating a tasting room that melds a traditional brewery tasting room and a public space that will appeal to the members of the Portland arts community.

Maderal was formerly a brewer at Atlantic Brewing in Bar Harbor, and Wappler is a musician. They hope to open Hi-Fidelity Beer by the end of this summer.

Zephyr Ice Opens Thursday

| Posted in Openings

Zephyr Ice (instagram) will be opening their new shaved ice shop this Thursday. Zephyr Ice is located at 129 Spring Street. Owners Julie and Don Martin launched Zephyr as a food cart last summer. This will be their first brick and mortar location.

Zephyr Ice will be open Thursday and Friday, 4 – 8 pm.

The Lobstering Centenarian

| Posted in People

The Boston Globe has published an article about 101 year old Maine lobsterwoman Virginia Oliver.

In the world of Maine lobstering, it’s a scene that is repeated countless times up and down the state’s rugged coast. But here’s the difference: No other boat has a 101-year-old lobsterwoman aboard, and a fully working one at that.

“I grew up with this,” said Virginia Oliver, a Rockland woman who began lobstering when she was 8, just before the Great Depression. “It’s not hard work for me. It might be for somebody else, but not me.”

Gather For Sale

| Posted in General News

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

After nearly a decade of owning and operating Gather, I have begun the process to find a new buyer that will lead Gather for the next 10 years. I’m excited about new challenges ahead for me personally, and equally committed to finding a new owner who will carry the restaurant forward.

Rest assured, Gather will continue to operate as it has during this transition -bringing you Maine ingredients from all those amazing farmers, brewers, oyster growers, tortilla makers, and more.

Interested parties should contact Kirk Butterfield at kbutterfield@kw.com.

New Brewery Differentiation

| Posted in Beer

MaineBiz has published an article on a new crop of Maine breweries and the approaches they’re taking to differentiate themselves.

With the count now up to 150 breweries in Maine, new craft beer makers are seeking to differentiate themselves from the pack in creative ways, with a focus on niche styles and offering more than just beer.

Playing off a sense of nostalgia for favorite childhood treats, Odd by Nature Brewing, which opened recently in Cape Neddick, focuses on ice cream IPAs, candy beers and pastry stouts. The brewpub also offers beer cocktails.

One of the businesses mentioned in the article, Lucky Pigeon Brewing Company, has announced they plan to open on August 20th. Lucky Pigeon will be Maine’s first dedicated gluten-free brewery. They are located in Biddeford.

Coco Cones Closing

| Posted in Closings

Chef/owner Muhammad ‘Casey’ Jabrawi has decided to close Coco Cones, his chicken and waffle eatery located on the second floor of the Public Market House. Jabrawi will be directing his full energies to his other business Paella Seafood on  Forest Ave.

Anyone interested in taking over the Coco Cones space can reach Jabrawi at (813) 998-4433 or M_jabrawi@hotmail.com, or contact the Market manager at (207) 939-0980.

Cong Tu Bot Opens Saturday

| Posted in Openings

 

Cong Tu Bot (website, instagram) will officially reopen Saturday morning at 8 am. The highly regarded Vietnamese restaurant is transitioning into a counter service daytime cafe serving breakfast and lunch.

On Saturday Cong Tu Bot will be serving a limited breakfast menu (see below) that includes a breakfast sandwich, coconut yogurt parfait, and pandan cake, along with coffee, tea and other drinks. Over the next few weeks perennial favorites such as the phở gà and bún chả as well as a range of new breakfast and lunch items will make it onto the menu.

Cong Tu Bot has a new outdoor seating area—indoor seating is not available at this time. Hours will be: Thursday and Friday 7 am – 1 pm, Saturday and Sunday 8 am – 2 pm.