Category: Under Construction

A new restaurant and bar named Roustabout is under development on Washington Ave in the old Nissen Bakery building. According to the press release, the 75-seat restaurant will be open 6 days a week serving a “well crafted, imaginative takes on Italian-American fare, and the full bar will serve from daylight to candlelight, featuring a small but respectable beer list; an attainable, mostly natural wine list; and a concise list of well executed cocktails.” Roustabout will be oppen for lunch, dinner and late night food as well as weekend brunch.

Owners Kit Paschal (Row 34, Hunt & Alpine, Eastern Standard) and Anders Tallberg (Hugo’s, Hungry Mother)

have a long history in the food and beverage industry, and look forward to bringing their considerable experience to a new concept together. Balancing care and thoughtfulness with a hearty, rugged New England sensibility, Roustabout will feature excellence in hospitality and a well considered bar program in a relaxed atmosphere. Culture comes first for Paschal and Tallberg, and they look forward to being a fun and vibrant hub in the community.

For those of you keeping count this makes 3 different restaurants currently under development on inner Washington Ave: Terlingua, A Lively Palate and now Roustabout. Maine & Loire opened on Washington Ave earlier this year.

In the release, Paschal and Tallberg share that they are “very excited to be a part of the growing neighborhoods of Munjoy Hill and East Bayside…[and] want to offer all the comforts of a place where you’re going to want to become a regular.”

The Forecaster has published an  article about the new Lois’ Natural Market on India Street which is scheduled to open on May 19.

The new space, at the corner of India and Middle streets, sandwiched between Two Fat Cats Bakery and Micucci’s Grocery Co., is approximately 2,300 square feet and is scheduled to open May 19.

It will boast the same offerings as the couple’s Route 1 store in Scarborough: grocery items, homemade soups and salads daily, lunch and breakfast sandwiches, baked goods, and dinners to go. The new space will also eventually incorporate an organic juice bar. 

African Super Market(facebook) has moved from outer Forest Ave to 44 Washington Ave, the space formerly occupied by Discount Halal.

The Press Herald reports that chefs Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier are no longer involved in the project to launch M.C. Union, the new restaurant in The Press Hotel which is opening later this month.

For months, The Press Hotel and two of Maine’s best-known chefs have been trumpeting their partnership in a new venture – M.C. Union, the restaurant in the boutique hotel on Congress Street in Portland that’s expected to open in May.

Suddenly, in what a spokeswoman said was a mutual decision between the chefs and the hotel, that union is dissolving.

James Beard award-winning chefs Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier have taken their initials off the restaurant and will not be involved in running it…

Molly Ritzo has leased the Wicked Good Street Kitchen food truck on Peaks Island to launch Milly’s Skillet(website, facebook) next month. Ritzo has made some improvements to the truck and plans to serve a menu of “small breakfast menu and gourmet picnic-style sandwiches”.

Ritzo is blogging about her experience in launching the business on her website millysskillet.com. She plans to hold a grand opening for the truck on May 15th and 16th.

Visit the PFM Under Construction page for the most complete list of food businesses under development.

Eating Portland Alive reports that chef Austin Miller plans on launching his Japanese food truck, Mami, by the end of May. The izakaya truck will be located in Congress Square Park.

Natural popsicle maker Pure Pops is launching a food cart this year.

A new “small cafe & retail chocolate shop” called Lively is under construction at 54 Washington Ave; the space is adjacent to Terlingua and was formerly occupied by Falmouth Flowers and Gifts.

For the past 5 years owner Paul Olaf Lively has been the chef/owner of Chef Paul’s Truffles & Catering in Brewster, MA. He won the Best Truffle award earlier this month at the 29th Annual Chocolate Lovers’ Fling.

Lively plans to serve soups, salads and sandwiches for lunch (draft menu on page 178) in the evening they also plan to serve “desserts and lighter fare”. The 31-seat cafe will also be selling truffles and prepared food to go. They hopes to open the cafe sometime in early June.

Visit the PFM Under Construction page for the most complete list of food businesses under development.