Insider Notebook: Ishi Ishi Ramen is latest Black Box tenant
Photo / FrannieEatsMaine
The interior of Ishi Ishi Ramen, a nine-stool noodle shop and the latest business at Portland The Black Box retail incubator.
Noodle shop Ishi Ishi Ramen has opened at The Black Box retail incubator in Portland, occupying space that had housed The Cheese Shop.
Ishi Ishi is owned and managed by Matthew De Fio and Andrew Doolittle, both of whom have area restaurant and retail experience.
De Fio has worked at Trattoria Athena and Enoteca Athena in Brunswick and at Hugo’s, Scales, Tipo and Duckfat in Portland. Doolittle is co-owner of Pot & Pan Kitchen in Portland, which makes CBD and THC edibles.
Nine-stool Ishi Ishi offers three types of ramen, along with gluten-free and CBD options, and is the latest addition to a growing eclectic food neighborhood on Washington Avenue.
“The goal of Ishi Ishi is to fill a void in the neighborhood by providing quality ramen in a setting where customers can be present, enjoy a hearty dish and be on their way,” said De Fio. “We’re excited for this opportunity, and we hope to one day expand into more small spaces down the road.”
The Cheese Shop moved to bigger quarters nearby in November. The 1,600-square-foot five-unit Black Box, at 93 Washington Ave., is made out of shipping containers and offers short and flexible leases to tenants with the idea that they'll grow business and move on.
The property is owned by the Dayton Group, which handles its own leasing. The real estate development group, with offices at 75 Washington Ave., bought the property from Jed Harris, of Cotton Street Holdings, who first thought up the container-incubator, owners said when it opened. It was built by SnapSpace Solutions, of Brewer.
Sea Dog opens second SoPo location
Sea Dog Brewing Co. held a ribbon-cutting at its new location at 725 Broadway in South Portland Tuesday.
The 12,440-square-foot building is the former Easy Day Bowling Center, and the Sea Dog has kept the 10-lane bowling area, but added a full brew pub with a small-bites menu.
The new location is Sea Dog's 11th, and the second in South Portland. The other one is at 125 Western Ave.
Sea Dog is leasing the space from Easy Day owner Chris Tyll, who opened the business at the site six years ago.
Geaghan's Pub, Bangor strike land deal
Speaking of pubs, the Bangor City Council last week approved an option on .78 acres of city land for Timka Inc., owners of Geaghan's Pub, 570 Main St. The city would sell the Dutton Street land, which is next to the pub, to Timka for $50,000.
The brewery plans to expand its brewing operation and invest $2 million in the next two years, and in exchange, the city would give it a 50% tax break on increased taxable value to the business over the next 10 years, according to the city council agenda. The plan still has to go through the city planning and permitting process.
"This item addresses the council goal to 'improve economic vitality of the city and promote job growth, economic development, cultural opportunities, and housing opportunities to support job growth and expansion and growth of tax base," the agenda said.
Owner Andrew Geaghan told the Bangor Daily News the brewery hasn't made any final plans, including about what would happen to its brewing operation in Brewer if the expansion went forward.
The land is part of a larger parcel along the Penobscot River downtown that once housed railroad operations.
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