August 7th, 2017 marks the 10-year anniversary for Portland Food Map. It’s more than a little surreal for me to type those words.
When the site launched, I didn’t give much thought to how long it would be around. I just was enjoying learning more about Portland restaurants and having fun building a site where I tried to organize all the information about the industry. I certainly had no idea that I was taking the first steps in building something that would last a for a decade or which would have develop such a committed readership.
The few of you who remember Portland Food Map in August 2007 will recall it was just the map and list views of the directory. For a few weeks there wasn’t event a homepage much less a daily chronicling of food news. The event calendar, search feature, under construction list, homepage news blog, and several now deprecated features like the unreviewed list, came along later as the site evolved.
Similarly, I’m not sure anyone in 2007—certainly not me—could have imagined the transformation we’ve seen in the restaurant community over the last 10 years. To put things in perspective, when the Under Construction page went line September 4, 2007, I think there were a total of 7 businesses listed (remember Loco Pollo?). At the time, Cafe Uffa still occupied 190 State Street, Novare Res was about a year away from opening, Bresca had just launched in the spring, Emilitsa was still under construction, I don’t think a new brewery in several years, food trucks were still illegal and Jason Loring hadn’t launched a single restaurant. The big news from that fall was that the Village Cafe was closing.
While a lot has changed since those early days, the pleasure I get from playing a role in the food community has not. Indeed as the readership and my ability to make an impact has grown so has the satisfaction I get and my commitment to keep it going. I look forward to seeing what the next few years bring and sharing it with you along the way.
ty for this great website
Congratulations! We bought on the West End 10 years ago this month and we have ready it daily ever since. You have a great site that is extremely helpful as we follow the ups (and downs) of Portland’s restaurant campaign.
Congratulations and thanks for your continued commitment – my daily first stop for news and events. I appreciate your hard work. Happy 10th!!
Thank you for all you have done Anestes! I still check out your site every morning and I appreciate how much work goes into this!
Adding to the chorus of thank you notes from a regular reader. This is also the direction that I send to those from away who are considering a visit to Portland and who want tips on the restaurant scene. Keep on keeping on
I use your map view ALL the time, especially whenever I’m talking with an out-of-town guest to see where they’d like to go. I truly appreciate the wisdom and excitement that you share about our little city’s big food scene!
Thank you so much for all the work you continually put into this site. I visit it daily and in no other way could I stay so informed about the local goings on. Thank you thank you thank you!
Time flies! & What a decade for Portland! When your site launched I was living behind a defunct gas station that became El Rayo weeks after I moved an hour north. At that time I was very grateful for the map/list breakdown and shared the link far and wide. My appreciation has only grown since, wouldn’t even know where to start without your help. Many sincere thanks-
10 years? I’ve been reading every day for at least 7 and I can’t imagine a day without it…keeps me fresh and informed. I am grateful for your disciplined work that so many of us enjoy….Salut!
Let me add my thanks! I check the site almost every day, and I greatly appreciate your thoughtful, concise and objective coverage of Portland’s food scene!
A big Thank You from this daily reader! Discovered you 7 years ago after our move here and share it with everyone new to Portland. A true gift to our community.
Happy Anniversary! This site continues to be a wealth of knowledge. People think I know a lot about what’s happening with the food scene here, but it’s primarily because of what you share. Cheers!
10 Years?! Wow, I remember when you launched and can’t believe it was a decade ago. PFM is an invaluable resource, thank you for all you do.
Congratulations and thank you. Portland Food Map is an invaluable resource and I eagerly check it to see what is happening. We are so lucky to share in your timely labor of love!
Thank you for inspiring those of us who passed through the world of food blogging… and for, basically, being the end all and be all of PTL food…
Happy 10 years, Anestes! Thank you for all your hard work!
Anestes,
Your work has given Portland a true gift, not just as a resource for what’s current, but by archiving an incredibly fascinating aspect of history that doesn’t typically get the attention It deserves. Thank you an congratulations.
Thank you for your vast contrubtions. So thankful for this site!!
Keeping up with all the food news is great, but I also love browsing the list for ideas whenever I want to go out for a bite. Cheers!
Congratulations on 10 wonderful years!
Thank you very much for your hard work on this website! This is an incredible source of information that I enjoy getting on a weekly basis as well as recommending it to tourists and people who have just moved to Maine.
All the pictures on your instagram feed are stunning and i am your big follower there as well.
Thank You very much!
Thank you so much for keeping us afloat on the restaurant news. I read it everyday and appreciate all you do for us poor beggers who are looking for the latest news.
Thank you! I love that it is just a straight-forward info/insight site. You keep me current and connected even though I can’t eat out as much as I use to.
Here’s to 10 more years! Cheers to you!
Congratulations. Hard to imagine what it would be like if I had to go to multiple sites to get the info I can get by going to Portland Food Map. Thank you for all your hard work.
Thank you for running this site, I no longer live in Portland, but love catching up on all the new openings when I am back in town. This is the one site that makes me wish I still lived in Portland.
Truly, thank you, Anestes. I’ve relied on PFM for many, many years (I think I started paying attention a few months after you began), both for news and ideas for where to eat. This is an extraordinary community of food people, but I wouldn’t really know very much about it if it weren’t for your work.
What did we ever do without you, Anestis? Thank you for the wonderful PFM!
I just want to echo the thanks and congratulations of many others! Your website is such a great resource and one that I use all the time and share with others. Thanks so much for creating it!
Congrats on 10 years! Thank you for all the hard work – and for keeping our household in the know – making it so much easier to chose one of the many fantastic places to go in Portland!
Kudos! Great job! What a “simple” website, but informative and clearly made with care. Don’t need more than that!
Thank you for your labor of love!