Category: Under Construction

A hybrid coffee shop/cafe/knitting shop called the Knitting Nook (website, facebook) is under construction in South Portland. Owner Lillian Rose is converting a space at 124 Sawyer Street in Ferry Village for her new buiness. She plans to “provide an entertaining environment where the fiber artist can obtain supplies, guidance, camaraderie, sustenance and impeccable customer service” along with coffee, food, beer and wine.

I talked with Michael Landgarten, the owner Bob’s Clam Hut (website), yesterday. Landgarten is looking forward to being part of the Washington Ave community and to realizing the full potential of the space he’s taken over at the corner of Washington and Cumberland Aves. If you haven’t driven by there recently you should check it out. It’s quite a transformation from the former Three Buoys.

There isn’t a firm opening date set yet for Bob’s but Landgarten is hoping to open in time for the Fourth of July.

Lewiston sandwich shop Hero’s Subs (website, facebook, instagram, twitter) has leased 885 sq ft at 50 Wharf Street where they plan to open a branch location of their 1-year old business.

A new neighborhood specialty market and and casual restaurant called Monte’s Fine Foods is coming to East Deering.

Co-owners Steve Quattrucci and Neil Rouda are in the process of of buying the Pizza by Angelone at the corner of Washington and Ocean Aves. The plan is to renovate the existing building and also add 2,300 sq ft of new space for the Monte’s kitchen and bakery.

Quattrucci and Rouda hope to open Monte’s early next year.

Tandem Coffee is meeting with the Historic Preservation Board to explore a possible expansion to their coffee shop and bakery in the West End.

The renovations would expand the the indoor space by enclosing the space under the gas station canopy.

A new 23-seat “upscale whiskey bar and pub” called the Independent Ice Company is under development and slated for 52 Wharf Street in the space formerly occupied by Mark’s Sports Bar.

Owners Brian Hanson and Larry Constantin plan to “feature a broad array of premium whiskeys, bourbons and scotches combined with a lunch and dinner menu in a comfortable and intimately designed space”.

Independent Ice has included a draft menu (page 179) in their recent liquor license application. Hanson and Constantin plan to open Independent Ice later this Summer.

The new restaurant under construction in the former Zapoteca space by Paciarino co-owner Enrico Barbiero along with Steffano Zurleni and Nauro Stoppani will be named Pizzarino.

Pizzarino will be an Italian pizzeria and bar with pizzas made “daily with a special wholegrain flour, directly imported from Italy”. Pizzarino will also serve “Risotto, Arancini, Gnocchi, and Fresh Salads” along with “original Italian aperitifs, typical Italian cocktails, beers and wines, from Italy and from Maine”. The owners have provided a draft menu (page 123) as part of their liquor license application.

Pizzarino plans to offer guided wine tastings by their “experienced sommelier from Italy”. The owners hope to open Pizzarino later this summer.

Austin Street Brewing (facebook, instagram, twitter) has announced plans for a 2nd location.

The close to 9,000 sq ft new brewery will be located in East Bayside in the same build as Rising Tide. They “hope to start production there by October”. They report that the new location will have a 2,000 sq ft larger tasting room and  outdoor area.

Austin Street will be retaining their current space on 1 Industrial Way in addition to this new space.

Portland’s on track to get another oyster bar this Summer.

The Maine Oyster Company (website, facebook, instagram) has started construction at 38 Portland Street, just down the street from Isa and Back Bay Grill, of a 30-seat eatery serving oysters, lobster and crab rolls, and clam chowder. You can see the full menu on their website.

Maine Oyster Co. will be open 4 – 9 pm, Thursday through Saturday. They hope to open in July.

A new kobucha producer called Root Wild (website, facebook, instagram) is under construction in the former Sahara Club building at 135 Washington Ave.

Longtime Urban Farm Fermentory kombucha brewer, Reid Emmerich, is leading this new project. Root Wild hopes to open this summer.