In 1924, Roma Cafe had its beginnings, thanks to Italian immigrant Dominic Marino. Initially, it found its home in Monument Square, but times got tough during the Great Depression. To adapt, Dominic switched gears and opened a coffee shop on Middle Street. It wasn’t until 1935 that he returned to Congress Street, giving the Roma Cafe a fresh start. A significant move came in 1936 when the restaurant relocated to the former Rines mansion, where it thrived for around six decades.
Dominic Marino’s commitment to authenticity shone through. He imported olives and olive oil directly from Italy, and he often shopped for restaurant supplies in Portland’s Little Italy neighborhood around India Street.
After Dominic’s retirement in the early 1970s, his sons, Richard and Michael, took over. But in 1985, a year after Dominic’s passing at age 87, they sold the Roma Cafe to local businessman Peter Landrigan and his wife. They managed it until they eventually sold the building in 2008.
In 2010, Roxanne Quimby, the founder of Burt’s Bees, purchased the property with the goal of creating a space for local artists after a thorough renovation. Simultaneously, Mike Fraser reopened the Bramhall Pub in the building’s basement, which had originally been opened as a pub by the Marino family and had previously served as a storage area.
A significant moment occurred in 2014 when Roxanne Quimby’s son informed Mike Fraser about the availability of the old restaurant space. Fraser jumped at the chance to reopen the Roma Cafe, and in 2017, he and his team successfully relaunched it with hopes of reestablishing its presence in Portland for another several decades to come, all while keeping the historic Rines mansion as part of its story.