Restaurant Real Estate: September 2026

| Posted in Real Estate

Welcome to the September 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

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). The building is also for sale for $2,975,000.

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).

15 Free St – The 1,000 sq ft former Maine Surfer’s Union space is available for $29.50/sq ft (NNN).

18 Free St – The 1,960sq ft former Wigon Office Supply space is available for $35/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 – Two 1,500 sq ft retail spaces (Suite 1, suite 2) on the first floor of the Armature building is available for $30/sq ft (NNN). They’re adjacent to the Aomori restaurant and market.

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.

375 Riverside St – two retail spots ranging from 3,102 – 7,311 sq ft are available to lease for $16-19/sq ft (NNN).

123 Washington Ave – The space formerly occupied by Maine Craft Distilling has been subdivided into a set of six retail and restaurant spaces with five remaining available. They range in size from 939 to 2,020 sq ft and are available for $18 – $30 (NNN). For more information contact Brice O’Connor at (207) 553-1725 or boconnor@boulos.com. See this instagram post for some history of the building and neighborhood.

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 4,334 sq ft former Gross Confection space is available for $45/sq ft (MG).

201 Federal St – The 2,300 sq ft space with a patio in the Casco building formerly occupied by Milly’s Market is available for $25/sq ft (MG). The building owners are seeking a business to open a market in that space.

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

433 Fore St – A 930 sq ft lounge space on the first floor of the Hyatt is for lease for $60/sq ft (MG).

46 Market St – The 2,100 sq ft former Blind Pig basement space is available for $35/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).

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 8,537 sq ft of space that had formerly been home to Bull Moose and Anthony’s are available for $18.50/sq ft (MG).

Outer Forest Ave Area

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.

1435 Forest Ave – The 2,910 sq ft former Fortune Garden building is for sale for $505,000.

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.

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 – $25/sq ft.

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 the 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 $2,500,000, 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.

Elsewhere in Maine

Bandaloop, Arundel – After 20 years in business the owners of Bandaloop have shared plans to sell the restaurant property. The Portsmouth Herald reports that Bandaloop property is under contract and the sale expected to close later this year.

311 Main St, Biddeford – The 3,045 sq ft space that was the original home of the Rift Arcade is available for $16/sq ft (NNN).

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.

53 Pleasant St, Lubec – The 400 sq ft former Morano’s Authentic Pizza building is for sale for $349,900.

200 US Route One, Scarborough – The 1,421 sq ft space formerly occupied by The Cheese Iron is available.

276 Scarborough Downs Rd, Scarborough – Six retail spaces in a new building at The Downs are available. They include two designated as restaurant spaces that are 2,498 and 5,148 sq ft. They’ll be available to occupy in the spring of 2027.

1574 Post Rd, Wells – The building formerly occupied by the North Star Lounge is for sale for $1,399,000.

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.

Accolades for Magnus on Water

| Posted in Reviews

Magnus on Water has earned a second pin from The Pinnacle Guide. The Biddeford bar and restaurant is one of just 61 establishments worldwide in the Outstanding double pin category along with peers in London, Paris, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Athens, Los Angeles, New York and other cities.

Pinnacle is a rigorous international program that evaluates and rates cocktails bars. They send anonymous reviewers to bars to recertify and rate bars each year. The program evaluates them on hospitality, drinks program, interior design, staff management, back office operations and engagement with community. For more information see the About the Pinnacle Guide page on their website.

The Pinnacle Guide…recognition system that is based on a thorough self-application process, rigorous assessment modules, followed by a series of spot check interviews and anonymous in-bar reviews. Fair and visible processes lie at the core of The Pinnacle Guide, which promises every deserving establishment, regardless of size or location, a clear path to recognition. As well as recognising excellence in drinks, ambience and hospitality, The Pinnacle Guide will be rewarding operators that make a positive social impact.

Bar Publica to Close

| Posted in Closings

The owners of Bar Publica have announced the closure of their West Bayside bar and restaurant. September 5th will be their last day in business.

It is with incredibly heavy hearts that we share that Bar Publica will be closing its doors for good this Saturday, September 5.

This has been an extremely difficult decision. Chef Ron’s health has become a serious concern, and for his health and safety, we have made the decision to close so he can take the time he needs to take care of himself.

Bar Publica initially opened in June 2024. They closed over last winter and reopened this spring.

An Anniversary for the Date Night Raffle

| Posted in PFM

The June edition of the Date Night raffle (featuring Finestkind in Saco) was the 90th one since the series launched in late 2018. Since the beginning the program has been sponsored by Evergreen Credit Union, and right from the start it’s been a really popular feature for readers and a fun one for us to produce.

Over the years the raffle posts have collectively been viewed more than 3 million times, and there have been tens of thousands of entries by readers hoping to win. Each month’s lucky winner now receives a $150 Visa gift card for use at the restaurant and a choice of two tickets to the Portland Museum of Art or two tickets to a home game (depending on the season) of the Sea Dogs or the Maine Mariners. In total Evergreen has distributed more than $13k in cash prizes.

The raffle has provided a great way to shine light on Maine’s restaurant scene. We’ve featured a wide range of businesses from seafood shacks to fine dining restaurants–both high flyers and hidden gems ready for a moment in the limelight. Thanks to Evergreen’s support, the restaurants don’t pay to participate or underwrite the gift cards the raffle winners receive. In fact, the restaurants themselves don’t know they’re being featured until they get the pleasant surprise of seeing pictures from their business in their feed the morning of the launch.

Maine restaurants continue to create great spaces and dining experiences for us all to enjoy. With such a robust food and dining community, there will be plenty to showcase in the months and years to come.

Visit the Portland Food Map Instagram account to see the raffle that live this morning and enter for a chance to win!

Evergreen Credit Union is Maine’s 4th largest credit union ($658 million in assets). They serve over 33,000 members throughout southern Maine with innovative products, services, and community partnerships. Evergreen has locations in Portland, South Portland, Windham, Naples, and Scarborough. Individuals, families, and businesses can connect with Evergreen at egcu.org.

Maine Food & Dining News: Wiscasset, Coopers Mills, Rockland, Yarmouth, Castine, Stonington, Biddeford, Freeport, Lewiston, Boothbay, Bristol

| 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:

  • Brill’s Bakery (instagram) in Wiscasset is set to open on Saturday. It is located at 27 Summer Street. On opening day the father and daughter team of Emily Clark and Steve Brill  plan to sell sourdough breads (Khorasan, molasses oat porridge, ancient grains, and rye/wheat), Japanese milk bread, whoopie pies, sticky buns, cinnamon buns, checkerboard shortbread, chocolate chip cookies, coffee cake, and cream-filled chocolate cupcakes. They’ll be open 8 am – 2 pm on opening day, and moving forward will be open Friday through Sunday 8 am – 2 pm.
  • Sean Patrick Harrington, the owner of Swallowtail Farm & Creamery, is launching a coffee shop called Snug (instagram) in the village of Coopers Mills. Their opening day will be September 13th. Snug is serving espresso-based drinks and percolated coffee using house-roasted beans as well as tea from Tern, baked goods from Solo Pane, a Maine eggs and potatoes breakfast and other options made with house made Swallowtail yogurt. The space will also include a market selling Swalltail products, pantry provisions like fermented vegetables and tinned fish, packaged beverages Maine-made housewares, Icelandic wool blankets and sheepskins, and household goods from Sweden and France. It’s located at 98 Main Street in Whitefield and will be open daily 6:30 am – 1 pm.
  • Primo and Your Maine Concierge are collaborating on MeatBrawl. The competition will bring together chefs from 14 restaurants and food trucks to decide who has the best meat balls in Maine. Taking part are Salvatore’s, Crooked Spoon, Porcelli’s, Biergarten/Maine Grains, David’s, Ada’s, Beef Haus 207, Provender, Fusillo, The Laughing Loon, Cushnoc Cantina, Maillard Kitchen, Chaval and Young Nonna. The event will take place October 3rd at Primo in Rockland.
  • Magno Terra Cafe is pausing operations indefinitely while they search for a new location. WMTW reported “The cafe’s last day in the Yarmouth location was July 17, and owner Toni Magno-Fish had plans to relocate the business to Portland…But on Wednesday, Magno-Fish revealed that she did not end up getting the new space in Portland and that the cafe would be indefinitely pausing operations until she figures out what comes next.”
  • Mainebiz shared news of Plant Shoppe, a new wine bar and cafe opened by the owners of the Auxford Market (instagram) in Castine. “The Plant Shoppe, a collaboration between Charlotte Legg and Ashleigh McKenzie, combines a wine bar and cafe with a plant nursery, artisan gift shop and antiques. The venue opened in July at the corner of Sea Street and Main Street, in a space next to Auxford Market.Legg told Mainebiz that the idea was sparked by a concern about the dwindling number of places in Castine where people can gather over food and drinks.”
  • The Bangor Daily News has published an article about the School Street Market (facebook, instagram) in Stonington. “An established Stonington baker has opened a new cafe-market with her adult children, bringing Eastern European and Middle Eastern flavors and a new gathering place to the island town.”
  • September is the start of apple and cider season. See our Maine Apple & Cider Guide to find great orchards and heirloom apple varieties, Maine’s cider tasting rooms, apple events, and other pomological resources to help you plan a fall road-trip and enjoy all that the season has to offer.
  • The BiddoFoodies have published a field report from Edelweiss Pastry Shop (website, facebook, instagram) and from a dinner by chef Jose Garces at his Biddeford media kitchen and event space Shokutsu North (website).
  • In collaboration with Presente Maine, Goodfire Brewing in Freeport will be serving a Peruvian menu prepared by guest chef Maria Sanchez and Goodfire chef Ben Christie on September 18th and 19th.
  • The Holy Trinity Church in Lewiston is holding their Greek Festival on September 29th.
  • Four more entries have been added to the Maine Food Map: Color Field Coffee in East Boothbay (above left), Fish & Whistle in Biddeford, Bet’s Fish Fry in Boothbay (above right), The Rooting Pig in Bristol. The statewide dining guide now includes 124 restaurants, bars, bakeries, cafes and and other food and dining establishments from across all of Maine’s 16 counties.

Food Editor Peggy Grodinsky Retiring

| Posted in People

The Press Herald food editor, Peggy Grodinsky has announced her retirement.

It has been a privilege to edit, and work with, my talented colleagues. I also feel lucky to have come to know some of Maine’s cooks, chefs, bakers, restaurateurs, producers, farmers, cookbook writers and eaters, and I am deeply grateful for their willingness to share their time, experience, stories and “dilishes” food. Even now, I pinch myself sometimes, amazed I am paid to write about food.

Grodinsky started working for the newspaper in 2014.