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Friday Food Insider: From restaurant closures to new openings, summer has been active

Paper Tiger restaurant exterior Photo / Peter Van Allen The Paper Tiger restaurant at 425 Fore St. in Portland.
By Alexis Wells

Portland’s ever-evolving restaurant and grocery scene saw movement this week: a new market opened its doors, a longtime restaurant shut down and plans were announced for what’s next in that prime location.

Milly's Market, owned by Matt and Samantha Manson, opened in late July. It’s located on the first floor of the Casco Building at the corner of Federal and Temple streets. 

The 2,300 square foot market is "a mix of old school grocer, a little bit of everything," said Matt Manson. 

It has a small bakery, a grab-and-go section offering a variety of salads, wraps and lunch options. It will also have Maine brands like Fox Family Potato Chips, Maine Grains and seasonal products from its own 30-acre vegetable farm.

Milly's Market store interior
Photo / Courtesy of Milly's Market
Milly's Market is located at 201 Federal St. in Portland and offers everything from Maine brands to local produce.

"Our focus in the product department is a little all over, but the real focus is on local," he said. "We also feel that a big focus of ours is customer experience and service."

This is the Mansons' second location. They also own a store in Auburn, called Blackie's Farm Fresh Produce, which they have operated since 2019. The store itself has been at that location since 1986. Matt Manson worked for Blackie's for 17 years before purchasing the store and farm.

"I am passionate about farming and the stores," he said. "I love what I do. I had a great mentor in Blackie and feel called to give young people the same opportunity that I got. Selling great brands and products is just a small piece of what we actually do."

The Portland market is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

A Fresh Start

After three years in business, the owners of Paper Tiger, at 425 Fore St. in Portland, announced on social media that the restaurant will be closing.

The last day of business will be Aug. 31. 

"We wrote an incredibly heartfelt (and way too long) essay about this moment … and then deleted the whole thing. Instead, we’ll leave you with this: Senioritis doesn’t mean phoning it in; it means going out exactly how you want, loud, weird and unapologetic," the owners said in a social media post. "So come get weird with us one last time. We love you. We’ll always love you. And we’ll miss you more than words can say."

Moving into the space is Barkada, a Filipino restaurant led by Chef Nicole Bowers and her husband Ben Bowers. The owners announced the move on social media. The restaurant is slated to open in 2026. 

The couple launched their food truck in May, and it can now be found throughout Portland. Follow them on social media for updates on their location.

Closings

With the closing of Paper Tiger, at least eight Portland restaurants or food spots have closed this year, according to research by the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce and Mainebiz:

"We’re deeply concerned that last year’s wave of restaurant closures wasn’t an anomaly but part of a troubling trend, with more likely as summer ends and owners face tough choices about making it through the winter," Quincy Hentzel, CEO and president of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, told Mainebiz. 

"Every closure means an entrepreneur loses their dream, workers lose their livelihood and Portland becomes a little less vibrant," she continued. "While many forces are beyond our local control, it’s essential that city and state leaders do everything possible to keep Portland a place that welcomes and sustains a thriving hospitality sector."

Reader Feedback

The Friday Food Insider is taking a brief pause to enjoy the last weekend of the summer. If you have any foodie tips, please contact Alexis Wells at awells@mainebiz.biz. I will see you all on Sept. 5. I hope you all enjoy some lobster, BBQ and fun Labor Day snacks. 

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