Built in 1913 by the Burnham & Morrill Company, the B&M Baked Beans factory replaced their original Franklin Street facility. Initially, the company canned vegetables, meat, and fish, but shifted to baked beans in 1927. The factory used a traditional open-pot method, where 200-pound iron cauldrons were filled with beans, molasses, and other ingredients on the top floor, then baked for hours. Afterward, the beans were dumped into a chute for canning.
In 2021, B&G Foods Inc. announced the closure of the B&M Baked Beans factory, moving production to the Midwest. The 13.5-acre site was sold to Northeastern University for the development of the Roux Institute. In 2022, Portland designated the factory a landmark, and in 2023, the City Council rezoned the property for mixed use. Plans for the next five years include establishing a hub for advanced technology education and research, along with up to 250 housing units, with a total of 650 units anticipated over the next 20 years.
To learn more about the Roux Institute’s plans, be sure to check out our Future Friday article detailing the future site developments.