Long Vacant Bar in Portland, Maine, Becoming Something New

Despite droves of people coming and going through Portland, Maine, over the last several years, there has been something noticeable about the Old Port district.

That would be the amount of long-term vacancies. Spaces that were formerly home to bars and restaurants that sit empty for multiple years.

One of those noticeably empty spaces has been at 8 Exchange Street. That address was most recently home to The Bar and Bites, which closed permanently nearly three years ago.

Now a new cocktail bar is going to try their hand at revitalizing the space.

The Teal Duck Cocktail Bar is Set to Open in Portland, Maine

According to Portland Food Map, the new space will be called The Teal Duck.

The Teal Duck plans to offer guests a 'dimly-lit sanctuary' that serves various riffs on well-known cocktails while also serving New England craft beer and wine.

The Teal Duck will offer charcuterie boards on their menu that will focus on different meats, cheeses and locally-sourced vegetables.

The Teal Duck hopes to complete some renovation work on the space at 8 Exchange Street and have a grand opening in May.

Cocktail Row is Forming Along Exchange Street in Portland, Maine

When The Teal Duck opens their doors in Portland, Maine, they'll join a couple of other cocktail bars just a few feet away.

Exchange Street is already home to the very popular Blyth & Burrows as well as Papi. It will be interesting to see if more cocktail bars view Exchange Street as a potential home as a 'cocktail row' begins to form in the Old Port.