Nosh co-owner Matt Moran will be taking over the Terra Cotta Pasta building at 501 Cottage Road as of the new year where he plans to open a new restaurant.

Moran sees an opportunity to expand the options in that part of South Portland for casual family-friendly dining with a neighborhood restaurant. He hopes to open the as yet unnamed business this spring.

Terra Cotta Pasta itself is moving to a new location just down the street next to Thai Taste.

Brewery and distillery Batson River (website, facebook, instagram) has leased an 8,154 sq ft space at 82 Hanover Street where they plan to open the Batson River Social Club. They’ll be situated in the same building as the The Whiskey Barrel and nearby Bayside Bowl.

Tim Harrington, co-founder of Batson River stated in the press release,

Coming off the heels of our first successful year in Kennebunk, we’re thrilled to be expanding into Portland for 2020. This new space – with thoughtful and remarkable design by Barrett Made – will be double in size from ourcurrent tasting room. It’s an exciting time to be joining the thriving food and beverage industry in Portland, and particularly in 2020 when all eyes are on Maine for the Bicentennial year celebration.

The West Bayside location will be modeled in concept after their popular original tasting room in Kennebunk with “full bar and tasting room with a more robust food menu, plus additional space for indoor games and activities, retail store”.

They hope to be open in time for summer 2020.

Chris Wilcox, the former Chef de Cuisine at Eventide, has leased 171 Ocean Street in Knightsville, the space formerly occupied by the Teriyaki Exchange, where he plans to open a new restaurant called Judy Gibson (instagram). The restaurant will seat 35 over all including a 10-seat bar.

Judy Gibson—a concatenation of the names of Wilcox’s two grandmothers—will serve a menu of contemporary American cuisine. Wilcox has begun an extensive renovation of the space and hopes to be ready to open in time for Valentine’s Day.

When Wilcox first came to Maine he was the chef at the now closed Velveteen Habit on Ogunquit. While working to launch Judy Gibson he’s on staff at Scratch Baking Co.