The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many Maine business owners to think outside the box and adapt in order to survive.At Thompson’s Point in Portland, Rosemont Café and Rwanda Bean will fill the space once occupied by Cellardoor Winery.The expansive space used to be home to large wine tasting events in private parties. Cellardoor Winery closed that in September of last year when pandemic restrictions made it impossible to host large gatherings.After making the difficult decision to close, the winery is opening a new, smaller location in the Old Port.The space at 127 Middle St. is a work in progress. General Manager Abby Warren said the new vision will be better, with smaller groups and more intimate offerings. “Extremely excited. Happy to be in the Old Port in the heart of Portland. Hands-on guest experience and we’re ready to open our doors with open hearts and sips of wine as soon as we can,” Warren said.On the other end of the spectrum, the Children’s Museum of Maine is building a new $14 million museum in the middle of the pandemic.”We worked hard. We stuck to our timelines as much as possible,” Children’s Museum of Maine Executive Director Julie Butcher Pezzino said.Butcher said it has been a challenge but was able to clear every hurdle in front of them.”We were a great big team and we were all committed to doing this for children and families in Maine. We knew we’d come out of this eventually, right? We wanted this place to be ready when we did and low and behold we’re coming out of it and this place is about to be ready,” Pezzino said.The Children’s Museum and the new Cellardoor Winery are shooting for soft openings in June, catering to smaller crowds.
PORTLAND, Maine —
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many Maine business owners to think outside the box and adapt in order to survive.
At Thompson’s Point in Portland, Rosemont Café and Rwanda Bean will fill the space once occupied by Cellardoor Winery.
The expansive space used to be home to large wine tasting events in private parties. Cellardoor Winery closed that in September of last year when pandemic restrictions made it impossible to host large gatherings.
After making the difficult decision to close, the winery is opening a new, smaller location in the Old Port.
The space at 127 Middle St. is a work in progress. General Manager Abby Warren said the new vision will be better, with smaller groups and more intimate offerings.
“Extremely excited. Happy to be in the Old Port in the heart of Portland. Hands-on guest experience and we’re ready to open our doors with open hearts and sips of wine as soon as we can,” Warren said.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Children’s Museum of Maine is building a new $14 million museum in the middle of the pandemic.
“We worked hard. We stuck to our timelines as much as possible,” Children’s Museum of Maine Executive Director Julie Butcher Pezzino said.
Butcher said it has been a challenge but was able to clear every hurdle in front of them.
“We were a great big team and we were all committed to doing this for children and families in Maine. We knew we’d come out of this eventually, right? We wanted this place to be ready when we did and low and behold we’re coming out of it and this place is about to be ready,” Pezzino said.
The Children’s Museum and the new Cellardoor Winery are shooting for soft openings in June, catering to smaller crowds.