A new wine and cocktail bar called Marquis Lounge (instagram) is under development in the Arts District at 150 Park Street.
Meg Bartos and bartender Jacob Coombs are taking over Sagamore Hill from owner Ryan Deskins who founded the bar in 2018. Following Sagamore’s last day in business on New Year’s Eve, Coombs and Bartos will begin renovations and hope to fully launch Marquis in time for Mardi Gras on February 18th.
Bartos and Coombs are looking to French American history, New Orleans speakeasies and contemporary French bistros as touchpoints for the concept and design of Marquis. Their vision for the business is as a a welcoming and inclusive neighborhood bar that has a “vibe [that] is sophisticated, elegant, and a touch eclectic”.
Coombs will be developing a cocktail list includes New Orleans classics like the Sazerac and Vieux Carre, and Absinthe Frappe, along with a rotating menu of house designed cocktails and after dinner drinks like an Underberg Grasshopper. Marquis will also offer formal absinthe service with the option of three different labels of the spirit. The beverage program will also include a set of non-alcoholic cocktails, as well as a set of beer and spirit pairings.
The wine program will include a list of 12 still wines by the glass and bottle as well as a selection of champagnes. A food menu of desserts and New Orleans-inspired bar snacks, flatbread pizzas, will be available along with caviar and champagne.
Coombs is originally from Skowhegan and the couple met while he was bartending in Saint Croix. Since moving back to Maine he’s worked at a number of local establishments and is on staff at Sagamore Hill. Bartos has lived in France. She is a serial entrepreneur; this will be her fourth company and the first in the hospitality industry.
The name of the business is a reference to the Marquis de Lafayette whom the Lafayette Building was named for. On his tour of America in 1825, Lafayette visited Portland and stayed at the Mussey Boarding House which was located near the corner of Park and Congress Streets. The motto for the bar will be “Cur non?” which translates as “Why Not?” and was used by Lafayette on his coat of arms.