The Portland Food Map launched in August 2007 and the archive of posts provides a chronicle of the past 16+ years of the Portland restaurant scene. While a lot of the reporting here is about what’s happening now and coming next, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at what the hot topics were from 5, 10 and 15 years ago.
Here’s are highlights from January 2009, 2014 and 2019:
- The grand opening of Paciarino took place on January 5, 2009
- A “new food blog” called The Blueberry Files published a review of Bresca in January 2009. Fifteen years later author Kate McCarty has published two books and has vibrant career as a food writer for Maine newspapers and magazines.
- Word broke in early 2009 that a new coffee shop was under construction on Middle Street. Scant info was available on the business that we all now know as Bard Coffee.
- In early 2014 Small Axe food truck owners Karl Deuben and Bill Leavy began looking for a brick and mortar location. That search eventually landed them the East Ender which Deuben continues to operate to this day. (January 2014)
- The Portland Food Co-op announced plans to move into their current space at 290 Congress Street, and Nathaniel Meiklejohn shared plans to open The Jewel Box at 644 Congress Street. (January 2014)
- Miyake Diner launched on January 20, 2014. The 16-seat izakaya restaurant was located at 129 Spring Street where the Miyake restaurant group got its start.
- The event line-up for the 6th Maine Restaurant Week was announced. (January 2014)
- Developer Tom Landry bought the former Aurora Provisions building at auction. The well-loved West End eatery had closed in August of the prior year. (January 2019)
- 2019 got off to a strong start as we learned that Coals Pizza, Maiz, Little Giant, Crooked Mile on Brighton Ave, Kuno, Quinn’s Bardega, Royal Lunch Bar and the Island Lobster Company were under construction.
- Gross Confection Bar opened on January 4, 2019.
- A 6-day Maine Chef’s Summit took place at O’Maine Studios in Portland and at Sunday River. The Portland segment included a varied program on business, industry trends and leadership. (January 2019)
Check back next month for a look back at the hot news from the Februarys of 2009, 2014 and 2019.