Category: Under Construction

The Blueberry Files has published a round-up of the restaurants under development in South Portland: Big Babe’s Tavern (which reportedly opened last night), Judy Gibson, Solo Cucina, and Matt Moran’s project on Cottage Road.

The Waterville Sentinel has published an article about Verna’s All Day (website, instagram), the “casual, classic American chop house” that the owners of the Portland Hunt and Alpine Club have under construction in Waterville.

Verna’s All Day, a casual, classic American chop house, will offer steak and other entrees, as well as locally sourced food and classic cocktails in the restaurant part of the business. A range of prepared foods, convenience items, wine, local beer and other items will be featured in the small market and cafe-deli, where patrons will be encouraged to eat, socialize and study.

The Portland Phoenix has published an article about Big Babe’s Tavern, a music and food venue under construction in the Knightville neighborhood of South Portland.

But the vision goes beyond just a performance space. It’s a tavern in the traditional sense of the word, like the Irish and English pubs many touring musicians covet for the meals they offer and the sleeping arrangements upstairs. Big Babe’s has five themed rooms you can stay in on the second floor, with odes to Stax and Sun Records, Bonnie and Clyde’s Barrow Gang, even Stephen King.

Andrew and Briana Volk, owners of the Portland Hunt and Alpine Club, have leased space at 150 Main St in Waterville where they plan to open Verna’s All Day (website, instagram), a “casual, classic American chop house”.

The Volks are planing to bring ” locally-sourced food from farmers, classic cocktails and friendly service” to a town that’s undergoing a significant change as Colby College brings investment and attention to developing the downtown of the city where it’s been located for 207 years.

The restaurant is named for Briana’s grandmother. Verna’s is scheduled to open in late 2020.

Andrew Volk is a Colby alum from the class of 2005.

As reported back in October, Chad Conley and Josh Sobel have leased the former Flying Fox Juice Bar at 98 Washington Ave.

Conley and Sobel are working with Carrie Dessertine from Mey & Co. on the redesign of the space which they plan to reopen in early spring as a Philly-inspired breakfast and lunch hoagie shop called Ramona’s (instagram). The menu is still under wraps but Conley and Sobel shared one item it will include: a roast pork/broccoli rabe/sharp provolone sandwich.

Chad Conley is well known as the co-owner of Palace Diner and founder of Rose Foods. Josh Sobel hails from Philadelphia. He is a member of the Rose Foods staff, and has worked in NYC at Mile End, Diner, Marlow & Sons, and Court Street Grocers; he was also a co-owner of Southside Coffee. Grub Street put Southside at the top of their list of NYC’s best breakfast sandwiches back in 2016.

Flying Fox closed October 19, 2019.

Jake and Raquel Stevens, owners of Leeward (website, instagram) the Italian restaurant under construction on Free Street, have launched a Kickstarter campaign. The Stevens are looking to raise $12k to “help us purchase some of our opening inventory, and to address a few unexpected construction costs”.

The Stevens are hoping to open Leeward sometime in February.

As reported back in December, a Mexican/Salvadoran restaurant called Dos Naciones is under construction at 649 Congress Street in the former Local Sprouts space.

Dos Naciones owner Virginia Abarca has now applied for a liquor license and supplied a draft copy of their menu (page 41).

A new tavern serving lunch and dinner is under development at 51 Wharf Street by Tom Minervino, his sister Meg Minervino and their business partner Mike Barton.

The tentative name for the tavern is the Wharf Street Rathskeller. It will seat 44 including a 20-seat horseshoe bar.

The Minervinos and Barton also own and operate Legends Rest in Westbrook.

Flores (facebook), the Salvadoran restaurant located at 863 Congress Street, has leased the 1,800 sq ft former Mainely Wraps space at 431 Congress Street.

photograph added December 28, 2020.

Owners of The Farm Stand in South Portland and Solo Italiano are collaborating to launch Solo Cucina and Market.

The new venture will takeover the space currently occupied by The Farm Stand and open sometime in February. The remade market will incorporate up to 10 seats and a small bar featuring bakery and espresso drinks. Solo Cucina will sell prepared food to go in addition to the meats and produce that The Farm Stand is known for.

The Farm Stand in its current form will close on January 15 to begin renovations.

For more reporting on the project read today’s article from The Forecaster.