Veranda Kitchen & Bar to Open in Old Port Square
The restaurant chain has secured a seven-year lease for a new space at 425 Fore St. in Portland.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Dining Out
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Veranda Kitchen & Bar has signed a lease for a 1,381-square-foot location at the Old Port Square Garage in Portland. The restaurant is scheduled to open in the fall of 2026.
Why it matters
The expansion brings the established culinary brand into a prominent space in the Old Port neighborhood. The location will utilize existing fast-casual infrastructure and outdoor patio space along Fore St.
The new restaurant occupies a 1,381-square-foot footprint secured through a 7-year lease. The site is situated within the Old Port Square complex, which spans 4 acres total.
The players
Veranda Kitchen & Bar
This culinary brand operates multiple restaurant locations across Portland, Westbrook, and Coral Springs.
Peter Harrington
He is a representative of Malone Commercial Brokers who facilitated the lease agreement for the new site.
Hai Pham
He is a co-founder of the culinary brand that launched its operations in 2009.
Sonka Nguyen
She is a co-founder who helped launch the restaurant group fifteen years ago.
The details
Brokered by Peter Harrington of Malone Commercial Brokers, the project will repurpose an existing fast-casual restaurant space at Suite 103. Patrons will have access to outdoor seating along Fore St. as part of the new facility.
Timeline
The culinary brand was founded by Hai Pham and Sonka Nguyen in 2009.
Veranda Kitchen & Bar is expected to open in fall 2026.
Culture Shift
This move highlights the ongoing redevelopment of Portland's Old Port district as commercial interests continue to adapt historic spaces for modern dining. It reflects a broader trend of expanding established regional culinary brands into high-traffic urban hubs.
Residents and visitors can expect the arrival of a new dining option in the Old Port area by late 2026. The inclusion of outdoor patio space along Fore St. will provide additional capacity for seasonal street-level dining.
The takeaway
The addition of this established brand to the Old Port Square Garage contributes to the area's densifying culinary landscape. Local patrons should keep an eye on the site's transformation as construction begins ahead of the 2026 launch.
Further reading
For more updates on the city's food scene, visit the Portland Dining Out section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nerej.
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