Restaurant Real Estate: July 2026

| Posted in Real Estate

Welcome to the July 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).

251 Danforth St – A 1,143 sq ft retail space across the street from Ugly Duckling is available for $2,500/month (MG).

Arts District

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).

East End

1 North St – The 1,200 sq ft space formerly occupied by Belleville is available for $45/sq ft.

Bayside/Inner Washington

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

251 Congress St – LB Kitchen is making this space adjacent to their restaurant available for pop-ups.

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).

127 Marginal Way – The 8,170 sq ft space formerly occupied by West Marine is available for $32/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 2,754 sq ft former Gross Confection space is available for $45/sq ft (MG).

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 $9,500/month (MG).

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 1,381 sq ft space had been built as a restaurant which never opened. It’s located between Barkada and Gelato Fiasco, and is 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).

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).

634 Forest Ave – the 1,364 former Abbiocco space is available. The property includes 13 parking spots and a fully built out kitchen and cafe space.

683 Forest Ave – a space in Woodford’s Corner most recently occupied by a restaurant called Merveille is for lease. Call (207) 766-8845 for more information.

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 $550,000.

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 – 3,200 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

323 Broadway – The Ferry Village Market and th building/land it occupies is for sale for $1,300,000.

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

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 6,350 sq ft restaurant building formerly occupied by Chili’s is available for $35/sq ft.

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 are for sale for $695,000. Fat Boy has been in business since 1955.

200 US Route One, Scarborough – The 1,421 sq ft space formerly occupied by The Cheese Iron is available for $32/sq ft (NNN).

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.

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.

Portland Schools Summer Meals Program

| Posted in General News

The Portland public school district is starting up their free Summer Meals program on Monday. It provides free meals to children and teens under 18 years old at a dozen location around the City. Some of the venues are serving both breakfast and lunch. Information on hours and locations can be found on the Portland Public Schools website.

The USDA has a directory of summer meal programs from around the country that list dozens of communities in Maine that offer free meals during the summer.

2026 Maine Apple Camp

| Posted in Events

Tickets are now on sale for Maine Apple Camp. This is a biennial event organized by MOFGA and the Maine Heritage Orchard where apple and cider professionals and enthusiasts gather and learn about “innovative orcharding methods, identifying and preserving heritage varieties, foraging wild fruit, cider making and lots more.”

The 2026 programminng will include panel discussions covering  a range of topics from apple genetics to cider co-ferments to growing wild and seedling trees. There will also be apple pie baking class and a cider tasting.

Aple Camp is taking place in late August at Camp Bishopswood on Megunticook Lake in Hope, Maine.

The Velvet Dog Has Opened

| Posted in Openings

The Velvet Dog (facebook, instagram) has opened for business. The 70-seat restaurant and bar is located at 24 Preble Street next to Dutch’s and across the street from Za Pizza. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday, 3 – 9 pm, and until 10 pm on Friday and Saturday.

Chef Matt Burns and his family are serving a menu (see below) of small plates like fried sardines and corn ribs, entrees like the grilled white fish with butter bean and sausage ragu shown above. The bar menu includes wines by the glass ($9) and bottle ($32), beer, seltzer, cider, non-alcoholic drinks and a selection of classic cocktails. Shown here are the Paper Plane and Almond Sour.

Burns has has worked at a number of Portland area restaurants including Nonesuch River Brewing in Scarborough, and most recently Paper City Barbecue and Legends Rest in Westbrook. He envisions The Velvet Dog as a restaurant for local residents. “We are here for the people of Portland. Tourists are nice but I care about the people in the apartments next door, the industry workers and the people that commute in and out of this town a lot more. I want those people to always feel welcome and to get to know us as we know them.”

Maine Food & Dining News: Belfast, Lewiston, Thomaston, Ellsworth, South Paris, Kittery, Westbrook, Scarborough, South Portland, Biddeford, Northeast Harbor, Solon, South Berwick, Freedom, Brunswick

| 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:

  • Joshua and Dakota’s Cantina (website, facebook) recently opened for business in Belfast Park.  Joshua Kumrits and Dakota Danner are serving a menu of empanadas, sopas, bacalaitos and more. They plan to be open Tuesday through Saturday 11 am – 3 pm.
  • The Fifth Pillar Tea House (instagram) has opened for business. It’s located in a 2,000 sq ft space at 191 Lisbon Street in downtown Lewiston. Owner Meg Giossi and her team are serving a menu of herbal and traditional teas as well as tea lattes and a selection of light snacks. Shown above is a pot of Gut Instinct herbal tea (anise, fennel, licorice, dandelion root, ginger) and a lemon basil cookie from Cozy Fox Bakery. Giossi’s goal is to create a place for people who want to get into tea that “feels accessible and natural” and also be a space for members of the community to meet and connect. Fifth Pillar has a variety of comfy lounge and table seating as well as a space with a low table and floor cushions. They will be open Wednesday through Saturday 11 am – 7 pm.
  • The Picnic Basket (instagram) held their grand opening this past Saturday in Thomaston. The specialty food and gifts market is located at 185 Main Street on the same side of the road as Crooked Spoon and Flipside Coffee. They’re open Tuesday through Saturday 10 am – 6 pm, and Sunday 10 am – 3 pm.
  • Acadia Flatbread Brazilian Soul (facebook, instagram) recently opened in Ellsworth.  They’re located just off Route One at 56 Washington Street. The Bangor Daily News reports that Raquel de Assis and Jesrael Melo will be serving ‘the Brazilian rendition of the traditional Middle Eastern esfiha. Introduced to Brazil by Lebanese and Syrian immigrants in the late 19th century, and colloquially termed the “Arab empanada,” the dish has become a staple in Brazilian bakeries.’
  • The Midcoast Villager reports that Tender Nettle Herb Company (instagram), a “herb shop and tea counter” has opened in Belfast in the space formerly occupied by Daily Soup at 118 High Street. They’re open Wednesday through Saturday 11 am – 7 pm, and Sunday 11 am – 4 pm. “[Gabrielle] Aydnwylde, an herbalist, will make custom blends of herbs and preparations for customers and sell brewed teas and a range of salts. Some of the herbs the store stocks have culinary uses, such as grains of paradise and chunks of turmeric root.”
  • Former X Vault Pub and Provisions chef Alex White along with Anastasia Creaser have announced the launch of Pine + Plate (facebook, instagram) which will be a “multi faceted project for everyone” that will providing catering, private chef services, hold dinners, and operate a mobile bar called The Draught Horse. X Vault closed in South Paris earlier this month.
  • A new ice cream and candy shop called Wilsun’s (instagram) is under construction at 23 Walker St in Kittery. Owners Molly and Chris Jacobson hope to open in August serving locally made ice cream and a variety of candy options.
  • A new food truck called Kassa Cafe (instagram) will be launching on Friday July 3rd in Westbrook. Owner Iman Enan aims to bring “Middle Eastern inspired flavors and drinks into the menu”.
  • Mainebiz reports that Cafe Luna will be moving their Scarborough location to The Downs. The new location is expected to open in Spring 2027.
  • The Barkery, an indoor dog park and eatery in South Portland, has gone out of business. Their last day was June 22nd. The statement from owners Nate and Haley Viens reads in part “This is not the ending we hoped for, and it is not a decision we made lightly. It took nearly two years to bring The Barkery to life, and saying goodbye to this dream is deeply painful. Thank you to every guest who came through our doors, brought your dogs to play, shared a meal with us, joined us for trivia, attended a fundraiser, celebrated with us, told a friend about us, or simply believed in what we were trying to build.”
  • The Saco Bay News reports that New Morning Natural Foods in Biddeford is under new ownership and is being renamed to Cousin’s Natural Foods. The article includes the history of the market which has been in business since 1976.
  • Eating Through the Seacoast has published a field report from Good Wolf in Northeast Harbor on MDI.
  • The USM Free Press has published an article about Vertical Harvest in Westbrook.
  • Elise Schloff (instagram) and Meera Chauhan held their event Refectory (see photos below) on the 20th. The “monastic-inspired artist’s meal” featuring a multi-course vegetarian menu served in the church yard of the South Solon Meeting House in Somerset County.
  • Down East magazine has published an article about Lee Frank’s in South Berwick. “The menu divides into burgers, chili burgers, hot dogs, sides, and drinks, categories Frank borrowed from Carney’s, another of his favorite LA haunts. A note at the bottom of the board invites customers to make any dish “dirty” with the addition of grilled onions and a house-made Thousand Island–style sauce, a twist on In-N-Out’s “animal-style” offerings. I opted for the chili cheeseburger, which seemed dirty enough with its standard mustard, tomato, raw onion, dill pickle, and chili toppings.”
  • As previously reported, The Lost Kitchen has begun serving their summertime counter service lunch, Little Lost Kitchen.
  • As previously reported, Sai Guntaka has launched Cobblestone Coffee & Company in South Portland.
  • As previously reported, Jeremy and Marina Kratzer have launched their new Italian restaurant Paolo’s in Brunswick.

 

Upcoming Food & Dining Events

| Posted in Events

Wednesday – Madonna Rosa will be holding a pizza pop-up at Anoche.

Saturday – It’s the 4th of July. Go see the fireworks on the Eastern Prom. The Casco Bay Wind Symphony will began playing at 7 pm, and the fireworks will start at 9:15 pm.

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

August 22 – The Maine State Cake Decorating Championship is taking place in South Paris.

August 28-30 – Maine Apple Camp is taking place in Hope. The biennial event covers a wide range of topics including “innovative orcharding methods, identifying and preserving heritage varieties, foraging wild fruit, cider making and lots more.”

August 29 – Dinner x Friends is holding their next event.

September 19 – PoutineFest is taking place.

September 25-27 – The 50th Annual Common Ground Fair is taking place in Unity.

Octoberr 8 – The Maine Food Producers Showcase & Golden Fork Awards is taking place in Portland.

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 2026 Portland and Midcoast pocket guides are now for sale in packs of 25 on our online store.

Paolo’s Now Open in Brunswick

| Posted in Openings, Maine

Jeremy and Marina Kratzer have launched their new Italian restaurant Paolo’s (instagram). It’s located in the former Frontier/Nomad space in the Fort Andross Mill building in Brunswick.

The menu (see below) reflects a New Jersey take on Italian American cuisine and utilizes the wood-fired oven for their pizza and other dishes on the menu. Shown above are Jersey Shore pizza (pickled peppers, clams, pecorino, salmoriglio, oregano), Bucatini pasta (preserved lemon, anchovy, Calabrian chili, breaddcrumbs), charred brocolini, Caesar salad, and Chicken Pamessan. The dessert menu includes a chocolate mousse, tiramisu, the wonderful lemon pie shown above and an affagato martini made with espresso martini and housemade gelato.

The drink menu includes wines by the glass and bottle, beer, NA beverages and a cocktail menu designed by general manager Matt Im. Making a cameo appearance in the photos above are the Salvatore Marino orange wine and the Paltrinieri sparking Lambrusco.

The Kratzers also own and operate Dutchman’s, a wood-fired bagel company that’s co-located with the restaurant. Paolo’s is open Thursday thorugh Sunday 5 – 9 pm, with drinks and snacks available starting at 4 pm.