Under Construction: Higher Grounds Cafe

A new coffee shop has leased 1,400 sq ft on Wharf Street. Higher Grounds Cafe will be located at 51 Wharf Street and be taking over a portion of the space formally occupied by 51 Wharf.

In conjunction with Fore Street Partners, NAI The Dunham Group is reaching out to the market in search of restaurants, arts or retail users to fill the remaining space and complete the goal of transforming this block of Wharf St. The owner is flexible and welcomes creative ideas to help turn this area into a destination for food, coffee, retail and pubs. The remaining 3,500 s/f is available for lease. It can be subdivided into two smaller spaces and features a fully built-out kitchen for food users.

Bagels at Scratch

Kitchn has posted an article about the bagels at Scratch Baking Co.

Growing up in Fairfield County — New York City just a quick train ride away — I was sure I was eating some of the best (if not the best) bagels in the world. Ess-a-Bagel, Russ & Daughters, Absolute Bagels, Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee, Murray’s, Tompkins Square Bagels — these are the bagel shops that had my love and allegiance for most of my life.

But that all changed when I visited a small bakery in South Portland, Maine.

Under Construction: Little Woodfords

A new coffee shop called Little Woodfords (website, instagram, twitter, facebook) is under construction in Woodfords Corner at 643 Forest Ave in the IOOF Building.

The 1,000 sq ft LW is self described as “a tiny shop serving up coffee, snacks and community”.

Owners Andrew Zarro and TJ Quinn live in the neighborhood. They signed the lease for the space just a few days ago and hope to make quick work of the renovations to open by the end of August.

Zarro and Quinn have been in touch with a number of roasters and are narrowing down for a final selection. The finalists are coffee roasters that aren’t currently served in Portland and so would bring something new to the broader coffee loving community of Portland.