Restaurant Real Estate: May 2026

| Posted in Real Estate

Welcome to the May 2026 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/Libby Town/Parkside

770 Congress St – A 2,602 sq ft building near Bramhall Square is for sale for $850,000.

785 Congress St – A 1,619 sq ft retail space near Bramhall Square is available for $23/sq ft (NNN).

Arts District

11 Brown St – The 5,352 sq ft restaurant space currently occupied by Tokyo Sushi Ramen is for sale for $725,000. It comes with a fully equipped kitchen.

25 Casco St – A 627 sq ft cafe space in the Equality Commons building is available to lease for $20/sq ft (MG).

540 Congress St – The 25,800 sq ft building formerly occupied by Reny’s is for lease for $7.50/sq ft (NNN).

555 Congress St – The 1,908 sq ft former Five Fifty-Five dining room and mezzanine are available to lease for $20/sq ft (NNN). The entire building at 55 Congress St is for sale for $1M.

582-584 Congress St – The 680-1,555 sq ft space formerly occupied by Harmon’s is for lease for $2,500 – $5,850/month (NNN).

649 Congress St – The 3,850 sq ft former Novel is available for $20/sq ft (MG).

Bayside/Inner Washington

239 Congress St – The Tiny Tim’s space is available. Call (207) 450-6610 for more information.

31 Diamond St – The 3,288 sq ft former Freedom’s Edge tasting room is available for $18/sq ft (NNN).

52 Hanover St – 1,500 sq ft of retail space on the first floor of the Armature building is available for $30/sq ft (NNN).

65 Hanover St – The 1,800 sq ft space that had formerly been occupied by the When Pigs Fly retail shop in 2024 is available for $25/sq ft (NNN).

65-67 Portland St – The 2,750 sq ft former Thai Esaan/Back Bay Grill space is available for $16/sq ft (MG).

114 Preble St – The former Coals building is available to lease. The 4,424 sq ft turnkey restaurant is listed at $26/sq ft (NNN) and includes onsite parking and outdoor seating.  For more information on the building and its history see this post on instagram.

Old Port

327 Commercial St – The 6,981 – 7,981 sq ft space currently occupied by Tiqa is available for lease or to buy. The lease rate is $25/sq ft (NNN). The sale price is $2,900,000.

57 Exchange St – The 2,454 sq ft former Gross Confection space is available. For more information contact Peter Harrington (207) 772-2422.

368 Fore St – The 5,458 sq ft former Old Port Billiards space is available for $20/sq ft (NNN).

375 Fore St – The 2,500 sq ft central bar and dining area of the former Henry’s Public House is available to lease for $26.50/sq ft (NNN).

416 Fore St – The 1,100 sq ft former Mark’s Place is available for  $5,500/month (MG).

420 Fore St – The 2,200 sq ft former Old Port Slice Bar space is available for $50/sq ft (MG).

425 Fore St – This 1,548 sq ft space had been built as a restaurant which never opened. It’s now available for $70/sq ft (MG).

127 Middle St –The 3,512 sq ft former Cellardoor tasting room is for lease for $43/sq ft (NNN).

157 Middle St – A 2,039 – 5,155 sq ft retail space is available for $27.95/sq ft (MG).

191 Middle St – The 1,500 sq ft retail space formerly occupied by Crystal Joys is for lease for $60/sq ft (MG).

15 Monument Square – The 1,000 sq ft former Sisters Gourmet Deli space is available to lease for $3,600/month (NNN).

28 Monument Square – The building owner is seeking someone to lease the Public Market House and develop the food hall as an incubator space for new food businesses. The 8,064 sq ft space spans the 1st and 2nd floors and has a commercial kitchen in the basement. The well-loved Jamaican restaurant Yardie Ting already occupies part of the first floor and Bub’s Home Kitchen has moved in on the second floor with the remainder of the building vacant and already built out with kitchen infrastructure needed for new businesses. 28 Monument Square is listed at $12/sq ft (NNN), the market portion of the building is also for sale for $1,699,000. For more information on the building and its history see this post on instagram.

66 Pearl St – The 5,796 sq ft space that was the former home of Bull Moose is available for $15.75/sq ft (MG).

110 Thames St – Two spaces in the Sun Life building are available: a 5,772 sq ft space for $35/sq ft (NNN) and 2,575 sq ft space for $35/sq ft (NNN).

Outer Forest Ave Area

332 Forest Ave – A 2,309 sq ft space in a building at the corner of Bedford Street and Forest Ave is available for $16/sq ft (NNN).

1569 Forest Ave – The Riverton Station Pizza, Bar & Grill and the property it is on are for sale for $1,700,000.

1871 Forest Ave – The former Tortilla Flats is for sale. The 8,771 sq ft building is on 3.43 acres of property and is listed for $1,750,000.

1435 Forest Ave – The 2,910 sq ft former Fortune Garden building is for sale for $599,000.

Elsewhere in Portland

144 Fore St – several retail space in the same building as Madrid’s are available. They run from 1,527 to 3,544 sq ft and are listed at $17.50 – $19/sq ft.

375 Riverside St – several retail spots ranging from 3,050 – 26,285 sq ft are available to lease for $16-19/sq ft (NNN).

123 Washington Ave – The space formerly occupied by Maine Craft Distilling is being subdivided into 4 retail spaces and 2 earmarked for bars or restaurants. They range in size from 1,005 to 2,542 sq ft and are available for $18 – $33 (NNN). For more information contact Brice O’Connor at (207) 553-1725 or boconnor@boulos.com.

Westgate Shopping Center – 1,340-4,921 sq ft of space are available. The lease rates are negotiable.

Other Spaces – Some vacated restaurant spaces haven’t yet been formerly listed for by the owner. Check the closing announcements for insights on where those opportunities may be.

South Portland

725 Broadway – The 15,524 sq ft former Broadway Bowl building is for sale for $3,200,000, and also available to lease.

1422 Broadway – This 1,440 sq ft restaurant building in Cash Corner is for lease for $27/sq ft (NNN).

185 Cottage Rd – The 2,647 sq ft former Mast Landing tasting room is for lease for $15.30/sq ft (NNN). It includes 20 parking spaces.

465 Maine Mall Rd – a 6,250 sq ft restaurant building formerly occupied by Chili’s is available for $35/sq ft.

60 Ocean St – The restaurant space had been occupied by Taco Trio is for lease. The 6,006 sq ft space is available for $9.99/sq ft (NNN). Taco Trio has returned to their original location at 119 Ocean Street.

Elsewhere in Maine

Bandaloop, Arundel – After 20 years in business the owners of Bandaloop have shared plans to sell the restaurant property.

186 Main St, Auburn – A new building under construction along the Androscoggin River will include a 4,776 sq ft space that the owners hope to lease to a brewery or restaurant. It’s available for $18.50/sq ft (NNN). An additional 1,340 sq ft space will also be available when construction is completed.

111 Bath Rd, Brunswick – The Fat Boy Drive-In business and property is for sale for $695,000. Fat Boy has been in business since 1955.

137 Longwood Rd, Cumberland – A 2,110 sq ft building that’s been partially converted for use as a restaurant is for sale for $497,000. See photos in the listing for a look at the current state of construction.

267 Scarborough Downs Rd, Scarborough – Six retail spaces in a new building at The Downs are available. They range in size from 1,091 – 5,248 sq ft. They’ll be available to occupy in the spring of 2027.

4 & 7 Dana St, Westbrook – A 5,085 sq ft restaurant space is available in a new building that is under construction with plans to open in 2027.

1335 Route 1, Yarmouth – The 6,884 sq ft former Muddy Rudder building is for lease.

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.

Maine Food & Dining News: New Gloucester, Freeport, Bath, Jonesboro, Rockport, Newcastle, Stonington, Harpswell

| Posted in Maine

New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine. Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know:

  • The New Gloucester Village Store (website, facebook) is undergoing renovations and the owner Sam Coggeshall hopes to relaunch this local institution in May. It’s located at 405 Intervale Rd in New Gloucester. According to a statement on their website, “We are reviving New Gloucester’s longstanding community hub and marketplace, much as it was 2008-2022, only better. An expanded array of Ready-Made meals, salads, sides, soups, and such will make dinner easy, delicious, and economical. Pizza from the wood-fired brick will be available made-to-order, as slices, and as precooked, heat-at-home pizzas out of the cooler. The kitchen will also serve sandwiches, salads, breakfast and more, as before: 3 meals a day, 7 days a week. The biggest change is that in the dining room and on the deck, you’ll be able to have beer and wine. And in the market you’ll again be able to get meats, cheeses, produce, beer, wine, gourmet groceries, as well as basic sundries. Hopefully you’ll run into a neighbor you haven’t seen lately while you’re here.”
  • The Portland-based Nordic candy shop Sodt (website, facebook, instagram) has announced plans to open a second location. The Freeport store will be located at 58 Main Street and they hope to launch it in June. Sodt opened their Portland store on Cumberland Ave in May.
  • Lady Oyster (website, instagram) owner Virginia Shaffer is launching her 4-seat raw bar called The Parlor (instagram) today (photos above). It’s located at 1 Shaw Street in Bath. Shaffer envisions it as an oyster tasting room and market where customers can try oyster flights along with a glass of wine and homemade bread, and can also pick-up some oysters and wine to enjoy at home. Each week The Parlor will feature oysters from three of Maine’s 150 oyster farms and a set of three new wines. You can read more about the development of the business on the Lady Oyster website. The Parlor will be open Thursday through Saturday, noon – 7:30 pm. Reservations are strongly recommended.
  • The Bangor Daily News has published an article about La Laiterie in Jonesboro. “The cafe offers homemade breads, pastries and classic French dishes — from almond croissants, pain au chocolates and kouign-amanns, which is a type of caramelized butter cake, to buckwheat crepes with ham and cheese and escargot made with local whelks, a type of sea snail native to Maine.”
  • The Rockport Donut Festival (website, facebook, instagram) is scheduled to take place June 12th and 13th. According to a report from the Pen Bay Pilot, Ruckus Donuts, Old Time Donuts, The Only Doughnut, Eighty 8 Donut Cafe, Graffiti Donuts, The Donut Grove, and The Holy Donut will be taking place in the event.
  • Mainebiz has published an interview with Briana Warner, the president of Oxbow Brewing.
  • The Penobscot Bay Press has published an article on Stonecutters Kitchen in Stonington which is celebrating their 5th anniversary.
  • The Harpswell Anchor reports that the Harpswell Schoolhouse restaurant will be closing “indefinitely”.
  • The Times Record reports that Morning Glory Natural Foods has opened a second location on Brunswick Landing.

For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, plus other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties.

Mourning Cloak Now Open

| Posted in Openings

Mourning Cloak (instagram) is holding their grand opening today. The counter service bakery is located at 122 Washington Ave and will be open daily 7 am – 4 pm selling a variety of baked goods and breakfast and lunch items.

The Mourning Cloak menu (today’s menu below) includes breakfast baked goods like cardamon buns, vegan cinnamon rolls (shown above) and blueberry muffins as well a variety of breakfast sandwiches and biscuits like a dulse biscuit with radishes and ramp butter (a Maine Seaweed Week special). Fans of Aurora Provisions will be happy to know that the former cafe’s raspberry scones are on the daily menu at being prepared by baker Bob Cameron. Lunch options will include focaccia pizzas, a daily special grain bowls (today’s omnivore bowl features kimchi, chicken thighs and parsnip) and a salad of the day. Mourning Cloak has brewed coffee and a full line-up of espresso-based drinks made with beans from Karma Coffee. The seasonal signature drink is a cherry blossom latte (shown above). Treats like cookies, brownies and a carrot parsnip cake (shown above) are also available.

Owner Will Justice is also renovating the main dining room at 122 Washington Ave where he plans to launch a restaurant called Sweetfern Geometer (instagram) this summer.

Justice began his career in hospitality running an underground catering operation in California as an offshoot of his work in the publishing industry. The side venture to provide food for book events eventually became center stage in his career. He went on to launch a farm-to-table restaurant and bookstore/coffee shop in Kansas, before moving to NYC where he was the chef and co-owner Tannat Wine & Cheese.

Upcoming Food & Dining Events

| Posted in Events

All Week – Maine Seaweed Week is taking place.

Monday – The Native Maine food show is taking place.

Tuesday – Old Port Wine Merchants is holding a wine tasting featuring Saint Innocent Winery.

Thursday – Ed Szymanski from Dame, Lords and Crevette in New York City will be the guest chef at a Tuna & Friends dinner.

Saturday – SeaFest is taking place.

Sunday – CiderFeast is taking place.

May 4 – Chaval is holding the annual May the Fourth Star Wars themed dinner.

May 6 – Evo is holding an Austrian wine dinner.

May 9 – The premiere screening of the movie Lunchroom Revolution is taking place.

May 9-10 – The 2026 A Taste of Nations Food Festival is taking place at Mayo Street Arts.

May 10 – It’s Mother’s Day. Check with your favorite local restaurants for whatever special holiday menus they may be offering.

May 13 – Ladyfish is scheduled to open. Reservations are now available on Open Table.

May 16 – The Maine Wine Wine Fest (tickets) is taking place in Freeport.

May 17 – Cafe Mugen is holding a pop-up at at Izakaya Minato.

June 15 – The James Beard Foundation will be announcing the 2026 award winners. Thomas Takashi Cooke from Izakaya Minato and Dana Street from Fore Street, Scales, Standard Baking, and Street & Company are this year’s nominees from Maine.

July 24-26 – The Kneading Conference is taking place in Skowhegan.

September 25-27 – The Common Ground Fair is taking place in Unity.

Planning a wedding, holding a business event, or hosting visitors from away? Our printed guides are a great resource to help your guests explore the Maine restaurant scene.

The Portland and Midcoast pocket guides are now for sale in packs of 25 on our online store.

Ugly Duckling at Rising Tide

| Posted in Under Construction

Ilma Lopez and Damian Sansonetti , the owners of Chaval and Ugly Duckling, are partnering with Rising Tide to launch a new food program at the Fox Street brewery.

The menu under development for Ugly Duckling at Rising Tide is expected to blend the spirit of Ugly Duckling with the context of a coastal Maine brewery. It will include options like a house made pork sausage sandwich, a maple-brined fried chicken sandwich, and a Korean-inspired Cubano made with pork braised in Coke and topped with a gochujang mustard. The menu will also include salads and some vegetable dishes. For dessert you’ll be able to get Spanish fruit popsicles that can be paired with a beer for a shandy-like finish to the meal.

Oxbow Brewing acquired Rising Tide from its founders, Nathan and Heather Sanborn, in December 2024. Sansonetti and Lopez are working with Greg Jasgur from Oxbow on launch the new operation. Jasgur shared,

We’re incredibly excited to partner with Damian and Ilma from Ugly Duckling. Beyond their thoughtful, ingredient-driven cooking, what really stands out is a shared commitment to community, creating spaces where people feel welcome, connected, and taken care of. That alignment means a lot to us at Rising Tide and makes this collaboration feel like a natural fit. We’re especially excited to see their take on coastal street food, it pairs perfectly with our beers, and they are so unbelievably creative. Their food will truly elevate the experience we’re hoping to provide at Rising Tide. We can’t wait to bring great food, great beer, and great people together in a way that reflects that spirit.

They hope to launch the new food program in early May and expect to be in operation seven days a week by July.

Just last weekend Sansonetti and Lopez launched a food truck called Ugly Duckling on Wheels.