The Press Herald reports the very sad news that Francine Bistro in Camden has gone out of business.
The restaurant closed for the winter in November with a sign on the door that indicated it would reopen in May. But chef/owner Brian Hill confirmed Wednesday that he has shuttered the restaurant for good after 15 years, citing a combination of “insurmountable debt” and a desire to spend more time with his young daughter, who lives with her mother in southern California.
Baxter’s Fine Candies is closing their store on Brackett Street and will be moving Westbrook to set-up shop with Black Dinah. They’re holding a moving sale this Friday and Saturday.
I’ve scanned through the records for the past year and here’s a summary of events and trends for 2017:
The most popular articles published on Portland Food Map in the past year.
February – LB Kitchen, Trattoria Fanny, Vieux Port Creole, Jager and A&C Grocery opened, 12 Maine chefs/restaurants were semifinalists for the 2017 James Beard Awards, and the Maine Restaurant Association named Josh Berry their Chef of the Year.
April – Battery Steele Brewing, Mami, Cheevitdee and the Mashed food truck opened and Holy Donut opened a new location in Scarborough, Joe’s opened at their new location on Congress Street, the International Pectinid Workshop took place in Portland, Hugo’s and Miyake were named to the Opinionated About Dining Top 100 list, Milo DeGoosh participated in the US Barista Guild competition, Cara Stadler reverted her restaurants to the standard tipping model, and Aurora Provisions was purchased by Melissa Carr.
June – Hifi Donuts, Yobo, Maiz, Yes Brewing, the Hakka Me and Falafel Mafia food trucks, Blyth & Burrows, Opium and North 43 Bistro opened, 1820 Wines launched, Allagash pledged to buy one million pounds of Maine-grown grain per year by 2021, the 1st Annual Inner Washington Block Party took place, the first issue of Edible Maine was released, Knack Factory produced a video about Rabelais, Fork Food Lab merged with Foodworks in Brooklyn, and Zapoteca closed.
August – Roma Cafe, Island Creek, Nonesuch River Brewing, and the Kind Stack and Mainely Hotdogs food carts opened, Bon Appetit named The Purple House and Nina June to their list of the 50 Best New Restaurants in America, it was the 10th anniversary of Portland Food Map, and Joshua McFadden, chef of Ava Gene’s and Tusk in Portland Oregon served a dinner at the Palace Diner, and Trattoria Fanny closed.
October – Eventide opened their new location in Boston, the Scratch Baking Toast Bar, Belleville, Mainely Wraps, Little Woodfords, Leavitt & Sons and Higher Grounds opened, the 4th Annual Heirloom Apple Tasting took place, Rep. Chellie Pingree received a leadership award from the Beard Foundation, Drifters Wife announced plans to expand, and Falafel Underground closed.The numbers in parentheses indicate their rank last year. The order of the list is determined by the number of times these restaurants were looked up on PFM during the year.
For some other perspectives on the past year see the Portland Press Herald, Portland Phoenix, Portland Magazine, Map & Menu, The Beer Babe, Peter Peter Portland Eater, Maine Sunday Telegram and The 207 Foodie.
Here are links to the Portland Food Map year in review reports for 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010.
Rhum, the tiki cocktail bar and restaurant on Cross Street, closed last night, December 30. Rhum launched February 6, 2016. It was part of the Fifth Food Group led by Jason Loring.
Update: The Press Herald has now also posted a report about Rhum closing.
Falafel Underground aka Peddleman’s Falafel will be closing their service at Union Bagel at the end of this month in preparation for launching a restaurant in their own space this Winter.
It is with heavy, but EXCITED hearts that we share the news that after MONDAY, OCTOBER 30TH falafel service as you know it at Union Bagel Co. will come to a close. We believe that we have found a space of our own to perfectly suit our needs, and hope to have the even better news of telling you where it is by the end of this year!
Now and in the interim period you can find their goods at the Portland Food Co-op, Lois’ Natural Marketplace, New Morning Natural Foods in Biddeford, Royal River Natural Foods in Freeport.
Makers Mug/Dirigo Coffee owner Jacob Perry has announced plans to move out of state and so is shuttering his mobile coffee business here in Portland.
For just under the last two years the Maker’s Mug/Dirigo Coffee cart has been an integral part of my life. A humbling, rewarding, and incredibly personal experience that I will never forget. At the end of summer 2017, my wife and I made a big move out of state and bringing the cart along for the ride wasn’t in the cards.
Perry has put the food cart up for sale and is seeking “someone who has aspirations of opening a food business of their own can keep the dream alive in Maine”.
Trattoria Fanny has gone out of business.
Friends, we will miss serving you. Trattoria Fanny has shut its doors. Thanks for the good memories. For a brief moment, we had something beautiful here. We will miss it dearly.
Eating Portland Alive reports today is the last day in operation for Vieux Port Creole.
The Press Herald reports that Zapoteca has gone out of business,
Cookbook author and chef Shannon Bard announced suddenly Wednesday that the Fore Street restaurant Zapoteca she and her husband, Tom, owned in Portland is closed for good.
and confirmed that Outliers has closed.
Fans of Outliers who may have been hoping the popular York Street restaurant was just on its usual spring hiatus will have to move on to other hot eateries; the restaurant is closed for good and owner Peter Verrill Jr. has listed the building with CBRE | The Boulos Co.
The Griffin Club will be closing on May 31st, owner Scott Parker is hoping to reopen the business as Griffin’s Dugout, according to a report from The Forecaster.
Scott Parker, owner of the iconic watering hole – but not the building at 60 Ocean St. – this week said he received an eviction notice in April requiring him to be out by midnight June 2…Parker, who has owned “The Griff” for 10 years and worked there for 20, said he hopes to resurrect the bar under the new name Griffin’s Dugout at nearby 64 E St. That would keep his seven bartenders employed and give his longtime customers a place to go.