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Updated: October 8, 2025

Former Portland restaurant transformed into catering, events space

PHOTO / COURTESY BIG TREE HOSPITALITY The main dining area in the new events space in the former Local 188 restaurant.
By Tina Fischer

Fans of Portland’s Local 188 restaurant, which closed after a 25-year run in October 2024, can still enjoy the vibe at 685 Congress St. with the reopening this summer of the 3,300-square-foot spot as an events space.

Big Tree Hospitality hosts events there and uses the kitchen as home base for catering. Big Tree owns the Honey Paw and Eventide Oyster Co. restaurants on Middle Street in Portland, along with Eventide Fenway in Boston and specialty food shops in Falmouth (Town Landing Market), South Freeport (Village Market) and Scarborough (Higgins Beach Market). 

The Big Tree team is led by Arlin Smith and James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Taylor. Adrian Arvizu Rico is head events chef for the catering operation, which is called Big Tree at Local 188.

“Portland has a bit of a hole in the market when it comes to spaces that can host groups of all sizes ranging from 10 to 130 that provide the full package — venue, equipment, food and beverage. Since Big Tree Catering was born in 2019 we have never had a space of our own so this is a huge step for our team," Chris Geannelis, director of events, told Mainebiz. 

photo of a seating area in an events restaurant
PHOTO / COURTESY BIG TREE HOPSITALITY
One of the seating areas in Big Tree Hospitality's events space in Portland's Longfellow Square.

“We're excited to build this space out to be able to accommodate everything from business meetings or dinners, baby showers or brunches to rehearsal dinners or welcome parties for our wedding industry. 

“The space really came to us organically,” Geannelis said, through our owners' relationships with Jay Villiani, the owner of Local 188. [Bill Black owns the building at 685 Congress St.] We'd been looking for a place for a while but had to find a venue that has both a ready-to-go-dining room and a fully built-out kitchen.” 

Amy Caramante, who heads up communications for Big Tree added, “Arlin worked at Local 188 with Jay when he first moved to Portland many years ago. Part of the decision to become stewards of the space was knowing we could preserve its history while also creating something new.”

Geannelis said renovations were minor, mainly painting. “We also did a full refresh of the bar with a brand new draft system. We have a few more small projects in mind but our vision was to just brighten up the space while still paying homage to the great bones and ambiance that Local had established.”

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