A new food truck called Maine-ly Meatballs (website, facebook) is under development and expected to launch at the end of May, according to a report from Eater Maine.
Category: Under Construction
Under Construction: Ten Ten Pié
Late last summer DiPietro’s closed their neighborhood market on Cumberland Ave after 69 years in operation. Now the new owner, Markos Miller and wife Heather Nichols, are planning to launch a new bakery cafe and market called Ten Ten Pié.
The name is a Spanish expression which refers to a quick snack or bite to eat.
Miller tells me that Ten Ten Pié will serve freshly prepared pastry (with a multi-cultural twist) in the morning, and a take out lunch menu featuring international comfort food. They also expect to have a small retail market that meets some of the light grocery needs for the neighborhood and healthy grab and go foods.
More details should be forthcoming in the next few weeks.
For the details on all upcoming restaurants, bars, bakeries and food trucks check out our Under Construction List.
The Jewel Box Campaign Success
With nearly a full day still to go, the Kickstarter campaign for The Bearded Lady’s Jewel Box has met and is exceeding their $21,000 goal.
The Jewel Box is a craft cocktail bar under development by Nathaniel Meiklejohn. Construction is underway at 644 Congress Street and Meiklejohn hopes to open later this summer.
Summer Restaurant Launches
Meredith Goad’s weekly article in the Press Herald Food & Dining section highlights some of the new restaurants due to launch this summer.
Under Construction: Thurston’s, Dominican, Love Kupcakes
Here are a few more construction updates:
- Eater Maine reports that the former KFC on Forest Ave is going to be a restaurant called Thurston’s Wicked Good Burgers (website).
- Two new vendor spaces are under construction on the 2nd floor of the Public Market House for a Dominican restaurant and Kupcakes/Love Cupcakes
New Food Truck: CN Shawarma
Under Construction: Lolita
Guy Hernandez, chef and co-owner of Lolita, appeared on WCSH where he spoke about the plans for the restaurant and prepared a dish dandelion greens and garlic puree.
Near the end of the interview Hernandez indicates that they’re targeting “right after Memorial Day” for the launch of Lolita (facebook, website).
Under Construction: Old Port Spirits
The Urban Eye has posted an update on Old Port Spirits.
So much so that two weeks ago he purchased Downeast Beverage Co. from Doug Webber. Five blocks away, the store at 79 Commercial is transforming to Old Port Spirits and Cigars by the end of the month. After eight years running a wine shop downtown, he is ready for more.
“My goal is to have the best selection of bourbon, whiskey and craft beer,” said deVillier, who dropped $150,000 to improve the store, which had seen better days.
Under Construction: 211 Danforth & Clark Street
Vespucci’s Market has closed. Owner Keith Hickman as begun renovating the space into a 64-seat restaurant and bar called 211 Danforth.
He plans on opening a new neighborhood market in the coming weeks in the retail on the side of the building (formerly Cordell’s) to be called Clark Street Deli & Market.
Interview with Nathaniel Meiklejohn
Eater Maine has published an interview with Nathaniel Meiklejohn on his upcoming cocktail bar, The Jewel Box (website, kickstarter).
What are you hoping to bring to the crowded Portland bar scene that we’re missing, or that hasn’t been fully fleshed out yet?
There are millions of mixed drink recipes out there and thousands more [created] every day. There are forever new distilleries, hundreds of new mixing products, and constantly evolving techniques for making drinks. What we are going to do is honor the ever-changing landscape of mixed drinks by changing our drink menu every week. We will base the week’s menu on a theme, an ingredient we love, our current mixing fixations, and/or seasonal ingredients.
The Jewel Box will be located at 644 Congress Street. Meiklejohn hopes to have it open by the end of June.