Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when it comes to these treasured Portland establishments that have given us great food, good memories, & fun times. Here is the list of recently announced 2021 closings in Portland.
As the pandemic continues & its impact is still unknown, we will continue to update this list, although we hope we don’t have to.
Bill’s Pizza: In what was news that broke the heart’s of many locals, especially those that loved their late-night pizza after a night of revelry, Bill’s Pizza on Commercial Street in the Old Port has decided to close its doors after 72 years, with February 28th being the last day to stop on in & grab one of their 17-inch jumbo pies. In a statement from Bill’s Pizza:
“Bill’s pizza is closing on commercial st. Come down & get your last pizza from Portland. Make sure you come say bye to Jess as she is not going to be going to Old Orchard with us. She is however looking for a new position if you have one to offer! Just about everything is up for sale if you are looking for restaurant equipment. We will miss all of you & hope to see all our regular faces before February 28th.”
In the search for good news during these hard times, Bill’s Pizza will be replaced by the return of the locally loved & nationally known, The Holy Donut, which shocked many back in October of 2020 with their announcement that they would be closing their popular Exchange Street location. Owner Jeff Buckwater had hoped that The Holy Donut could make its return back to the Old Port under the right circumstances. The Holy Donut will be opening their new Old Port location this summer.
Cheevitdee: Announcing this week that they will be permanently closing their doors in the Old Port on February 28th, Cheevitdee did hint at a possible new endeavor by saying, “The spirit of Cheevitdee lives on. Details in the near future”, which turns out that some of the team from Cheevitdee & their sister restaurant, Mi Sen Noodle Bar, will be launching Mitr Ping Yang Thai Kitchen later this year.
According to their Instagram account, ‘Ping Yang’ style typically means grilled or charbroiled. In Thailand, these techniques are very popular for street food & you can find them on just about any corner of the street of every part of Thailand. Sometimes on skewers, sometimes it’s grilled meat as a whole. Marinaded & grilled to perfection presenting you with rich aromas. Oftentimes, the meals will be enjoyed with various sauces you can choose.”
Pop-up event information soon to come & announced via their social media!
MJ’s Wine Bar: Owner Mark Ohlson announced via Facebook that MJ’s Wine Bar located at 1 City Center will be closing this year as he will be working towards launching a new business idea, stating, “See you in May, I hope you like to dance…”
You can read Mark’s full statement below:
“Thank you for all the laughter, memories, music & conversation. MJ’s was a huge success. We fell in love, dressed up, danced & drank some truly incredible wines. Thank you, Portland for attending countless wine talks & crazy-themed parties. We conga-lined barrels of wine at the bar & sabered bottles of celebration on the patio. It was the dream I had always wanted and we made it come true. Voted Best Wine List in Portland all seven years we were open (humbling). Named Top 20 Wine Bars in the USA by Wine Enthusiast (super humbling), & most importantly, I got to meet you & spend time with you. Thank you. I am so thankful for everything. And now, it is time to move on. Not because MJ’s wasn’t a success, but because I have a new idea in my head & it won’t leave me alone unless I bring it to life. See you in May, I hope you like to dance…”
Mount Desserts Pie: Located in the Old Port at the old Holy Donut on Exchange Street, Portland was introduced to Mount Desserts Pie during the Thanksgiving 2020 season. Originally hailing from the Bar Harbor area to test out the Portland waters, Mount Dessert Pies has decided to close up shop & head back north for the summer season, with hopes to one day return to Portland in some capacity.
Their homemade pies will still be available May-October at local Farmers Markets on Mount Desert Island, as well as, these two locations:
- 📍 2 Brookside Road, Mount Desert ME 04660 (Town of Somesville)
- 📍 184 Sand Point Road, Bar Harbor, ME 04609 (Near Salisbury Cove)
