Valle’s Steak House began as a humble 12-seat café in 1933, founded by Donald Valle, an Italian immigrant who arrived in the United States in 1912. Initially located at 551 Congress Street, the restaurant later moved to Woodford’s Corner. Thanks to its early success, Valle was able to expand, opening several other locations across Maine, including a second Portland location on Brighton Avenue.
In the mid-1960s, Valle took the business beyond Maine, opening three steakhouses around Boston. The company went public in 1968, with its shares listed on the American Stock Exchange. By 1969, Valle’s was serving over 200,000 customers weekly, employing 1,300 people, and issuing over 6,000 of its own credit cards. By the 1970s, Valle’s Steak House had become a Northeast staple, with locations spanning from Maine to New York.
Following Donald’s passing in 1977, the family struggled to pay the estate taxes, leading to the gradual liquidation of the business. The last of the restaurants closed in 1991. However, Donald’s daughter Judith purchased the former Portland location on Brighton Avenue and operated it independently as Valle’s Steak House until it closed in August 2000.
