The Press Herald has published an update on Petite Jacqueline.
See last week’s announcement from the Corry’s for further information.
Upcoming Events
Saturday – Salt + Pepper is hold a 5-course plant-based dinner in Newcastle.
Sunday – the Maine Cheese Festival is taking place in Pittsfield.
September 15 – The Waldoboro Inn is hosting a wine dinner in collaboration with Devenish Wines and Elbow’s Catering.
September 18 – an all-star line-up of female chefs from Maine are collaborating on multi-course Fabulous Femmes dinner to benefit MOFGA and to highlight Maine women in farming.
September 22-24 – The Common Ground Country Fair is taking place in Unity.
September 24 – the Latino Food Festival is taking place, and The Saltyard is holding a cocktail brunch at Wolfe’s Neck Center in Freeport.
September 24-30 – Maine Lobster Week is taking place.
September 30 – Tender Table is holding their 3rd annual food and art fair in Congress Square Park, and Biddeford is holding an Oktoberfest celebration.
October 5 – Inside Wayside, a fundraising food event for the Wayside Food Programs is taking place.
October 7 – Oxbow is holding their annual Goods from the Woods event in Newcastle.
October 8 – Dandelion Spring Farms is holding a Harvest Dinner, and Maine Open Creamery Day is taking place.
October 15 – Twelve is holding a Harvest Party. Tickets go on sale on September 15th.
October 25-28 – Harvest on the Harbor is taking place.
November 5 – Chaval is holding a late harvest dinner at Wolfe’s Neck Center in Freeport.
4 Star Review of Papi
Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram includes a four star review of Papi.
The first thing you notice when you walk into Papi on Exchange Street is the sensational design of the space, which went from plain white box to ravishing tropical maximalist fantasy, with 42 seats and a craft cocktail menu designed by co-founder LyAnna Sanabria. It’s hard to go wrong with any of her beverage offerings, but if you want something boozy, the Sadie Pop is a tart, East Village-meets-Vieques winner…The true measure of the restaurant’s creativity, though, is the savory-sweet Manchego flan with oil-tossed green olives and a cracker crumb topping. It’s a modern, cocktail-friendly iteration of traditional Puerto Rican flavors. Come to think of it, that’s also a good way to describe Papi itself.
Restaurant Real Estate: September 2023
Welcome to the September 2023 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.
West End
2 Pine St – Part of the former Treasure Chest space in Longfellow Square is for lease. Enterprise Records has moved into the right-hand portion with the remainder (adjacent to Weekend Vintage) still available. Call (207) 773-7100 for more details.
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.
Arts District
549 Congress St – the 1,397 sq ft space formerly occupied by the Portland Downtown offices is available to lease for $2,500/month (NNN).
554 Congress St – 1,621 sq ft former Dunkin’ Donuts space with hood for $2,301/month (NNN).
600 Congress St – for lease signs are in the window of the ground floor space at the corner of High and Congress. The Schwartz Building has been under renovation for a decade. For more info call (207) 773-7100.
44 Oak St – 4,347 sq ft of space in a beautiful historic building at the corner of Oak and Free Streets is for sale for $1,250,000.
Bayside
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 in 2024.
360 Cumberland Ave – an 1,100 sq ft space near Schulte & Herr is available for $22/sq ft (NNN).
46 Elm St – this 385 sq ft corner space in the parking garage at the corner of Elm Street and Cumberland Ave. It’s available for $500/month (MG).
52 Hanover St – On the first floor of a new building will be 1,500 – 4,500 sq ft retail space available for $30/sq ft (NNN).
178 Kennebec St – 2,644 sq ft of space are available in a newly constructed Bayside building for $25/sq ft (NNN).
34 Portland St – the 3,400 sq ft building that was formerly occupied by Candy’s is for sale for $599,000.
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).
1 Commercial St – the original location of Benkay at the corner of Commercial and India Streets is undergoing renovations. The 900-2,950 sq ft is for lease at $35/sq ft (NNN).
100 Commercial St – 1,535 sq ft of retail space at the corner of Commercial and Portland Pier is for lease for $28.75/sq ft (MG)
185 Commercial St – a new building under construction will include 2,229 sq ft of ground floor retail space that will be available in 2024; $55/sq ft (NNN).
215 Commercial St – 2,487 sq ft of retail space near the corner of Commercial and Dana Streets is available for $65/sq ft (MG).
327 Commercial St – the former Tiqa restaurant is for lease—7,981 sq ft @ $30/sq ft (NNN)—or for sale for $3,500,000.
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).
441 Congress St – the 2,400 sq ft former Guitar Grave retail space is available for $15/sq ft (MG).
201 Federal St – 2 retail spaces will be available in the new 18-story building under construction at the corner of Temple and Federal Streets. The 527 and 2,300 sq ft spaces are listed at $40/sq ft (MG).
416 Fore St – the former Mark’s Place is available; 1,100 sq ft for $5,500 (NNN).
446 Fore St – a 1,600 sq ft space on the corner of Fore and Union Streets is available for $30-40/sq ft (MG).
40 Free St – the new building constructed by JB Brown has four storefronts ranging in size from 1,473 to 3,024 sq ft for $27.50/sq ft (NNN).
46 Market St – the 2,100 sq ft space currently occupied by Petite Jacqueline is for lease for $45/sq ft (NNN).
55 Market St – this 3,700 sq ft space on Market Street was formerly occupied by the Big Easy. It’s available for $18/sq ft (NNN).
121 Middle St – a 2,482 sq ft retail spot is available for $45/sq ft (MG).
157 Middle St – 1,091 – 5,155 sq ft of retail space is available for $27 – 29.95/sq ft (MG).
1 Monument Square – 1,500 sq ft of first floor space adjacent to Cera is available for $3,125/month (MG).
28 Monument Square – a space on the 2nd floor of the Public Market House is avaialble (143 sq ft with a base rent of $1,185 + utilities and CAM charges—call 413-636-9688 for details).
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).
144 State St – 2 retail spaces will be available in the development in the former Mercy Hospital building on State Street. The 1100 and 2,566 spaces are available for $26/sq ft (MG).
15 Temple St – the 2,086 sq ft space formerly occupied by Bubble Maineia is available for $26/sq ft (MG).
110 Thames St – a 2,700 sq ft space is available in the newly constructed building in the Portland Foreside development, $35/sq ft (NNN).
53 Wharf St –a 1,600 sq ft space on the corner of Wharf and Union Streets is available for $30-40/sq ft (MG).
India Street
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 $24-29/sq ft (NNN).
Forest Ave
301 Forest Ave – the former Higher Concept space is for lease, 4,000 sq ft at $15/sq ft (NNN).
503 – 509 Forest Ave – the exterior of this building is slated to be restored to its historic design. It has 4,500 – 9,500 sq ft of space available for $10/sq ft (NNN).
701 Forest Ave – 3,147 – 6,405 with parking available for $18/sq ft (NNN).
Deering Center
476 Stevens Ave – the Elsmere BBQ building in Deering Center is for sale for $1,450,000; the sale includes all FF&E inventory.
Elsewhere in Portland
1091 Congress St – the former Denny’s building and parking lot are available to lease; 4,901 sq ft at $25.50/sq ft (NNN).
43 York St – this 1,800 sq ft space is tucked around the corner from Yosaku on York Street. It’s available for $3,000/month (MG).
Northgate Shopping Center – 2,200 to 5,700 sq ft of space is available.
Westgate Shopping Center – three spaces are for lease at $18-40/sq ft (NNN).
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
Bath – the former home of Salt Pine Social is available. The 3,535 sq ft building is available for $16/sq ft (NNN).
125 Bucknam Rd – the former Ela’s Market & Grill building in Falmouth is for sale for $850,000.
18 Ocean St, South Portland – the 4,351 sq ft former Snow Squall is for lease for $12/sq ft (NNN).
372 Cottage Rd, South Portland – the former Omi’s Coffee Shop is available for lease. Call Jennifer Davies at (207) 650-9944 for more 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.
Petite Jacqueline
Owners Michelle and Steve Corry have shared a statement on instagram about the future for their Old Port restaurant.
After several months of careful consideration, we have come to the very difficult decision to sell our beloved Petite Jacqueline. As of now we plan to continue to operate through September and hope that someone that is equally as passionate about French food and culture will continue our vision.
As most of you know, this restaurant has always been special to us as it was created in homage to my grandmother Jacqueline Derasse. Thanks to the skill and dedication of our staff we weathered COVID, however, this last year has been extremely difficult with rising costs and equipment issues.
Steve and I attempted to remain open as long as possible but have realized that we can no longer focus on the business as much as we once did. We want to put our family first. We are extremely grateful to our loyal customers who have been incredibly supportive over the past 12 years. We will miss the daily interaction with our friends of Bistro PJ and, especially, our team – some of whom have been with us for many years.
Our staff has been EXTREMELY dedicated to this special place and it is the thought of not seeing them and our guests on a regular basis that will be the most difficult part of this decision.
Again, we cannot thank the community enough for the past 12 years, it has been a truly special experience.
Petite Jacqueline opened in Longfellow Square in 2011 to rave reviews. The Corry’s moved the restaurant to its present location in 2016. They opened a new rendition of their restaurant Five Fifty-Five in Brunswick in 2022.
Maine Heirloom Apple Guide
September has arrived and with it the leading edge of the Maine apple season. Take a look at the updated Maine Heirloom Apple Guide for detailed information on where and when to find dozens of heirloom apple varieties grown at fifteen outstanding Maine orchards.
The orchard guide is a co-production of Portland Food Map and the intrepid apple expert Sean Turley at The Righteous Russet (instagram). We hope this provides you with all the information you need to go out for a self-directed exploration of Maine orchards and the many heirloom apples they offer. Use it throughout the fall to go exploring so you can take advantage of the entire season.
For those of you who like to consume Maine apples in liquid form also check out our Guide to Maine Cider Producers—a list of the 20+ cideries in Maine. Many have a tasting room that you might visit after a day of apple picking.
When Pigs Fly in Bayside
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When Pigs Fly (website, facebook, instagram) has leased space at 65 Hanover Street where they plan to open a new bakery retail shop. The shop will carry the full range of the 25+ breads they produce at their central bakery in York. The shop will also offer baked goods like cookies, muffins, and scones, and will stock oils, jams, butter, and other pantry items that pair well with their breads.
The bakery was founded by Ron Siegel in 1993. When Pigs Fly has retail shops in Kittery and Freeport, as well as Somerville, Jamaica Plain, Lexington and Brookline in Massachusetts.
When Pigs Fly hopes to open the retail shop sometime this fall. They’ll be located in the same building as Barrett Made, Acorn Engineering and KCMF.
Bon Vivant in Lewiston
Mainebiz has published an article about Bon Vivant, the new restaurant that the owners of Sonder & Dram and chef Michael Gosselin opened in July.
2023 Best New Bartender Semifinalists
Congratulations to Lyanna Sanabria on being named a semifinalist Best New Bartender by Punch. Sanabria is the beverage director at Papi (website, facebook, instagram), the new Puerto Rican cocktail bar that launched earlier this year on Exchange Street.
The bartenders below have been selected as 2023 Best New Bartenders semifinalists—each possessing a distinctive point of view on drink-making, a genuine passion for the hospitality industry and a desire to push it forward.
Punch will be releasing a list of the top 10 Best New Bartenders of 2023 on October 10.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday – Famed apple expert John Bunker will be delivering a talk at Oyster River Wine Growers on the apple history of the Oyster River Road area—tickets. SOS Tiki Bar will be taking over the bar at Crown Jewel.
September 10 – the Maine Cheese Festival is taking place.
September 18 – an all-star line-up of female chefs from Maine are collaborating on multi-course Fabulous Femmes dinner to benefit MOFGA and to highlight Maine women in farming.
September 24 – The Saltyard is holding a cocktail brunch at Wolfe’s Neck Center in Freeport.
September 24-30 – Maine Lobster Week is taking place.
September 30 – Tender Table is holding their 3rd annual food and art fair in Congress Square Park.
October 7 – Oxbow is holding their annual Goods from the Woods event in Newcastle, Maine.
October 8 – Dandelion Spring Farms is holding a Harvest Dinner, and Maine Open Creamery Day is taking place.
October 25-28 – Harvest on the Harbor is taking place.
November 5 – Chaval is holding a late harvest dinner at Wolfe’s Neck Center in Freeport.