A Portland, Maine, Restaurant is Reopening Following a 7-Year Absence

Summer tourism season is in full bloom throughout Portland, Maine, with the streets of the Old Port packed with people looking for places to shop and places to eat.

2025 has brought some turnover for the restaurant scene in Maine's largest city. Some longtime standards have closed and in their place, some new restaurants have emerged.

But for repeat visitors to Portland, an old, familiar place is set to make a comeback with a new way of doing things.

Dry Dock Restaurant in Portland, Maine, Sets Grand Opening Date

Last year, it was announced that the group behind Luke's Lobster in Portland, Maine, had decided it was time to expand and try to reimagine a longtime favorite. That favorite was the Dry Dock Restaurant.

After some extensive renovations, the new Dry Dock restaurant has set a grand opening date. According to Portland Food Map, Dry Dock will officially open on Saturday, July 26.

Visitors will notice extended outdoor decks for premium outdoor dining on the waterfront. Dry Dock was also fitted with a new kitchen during the renovation process.

What Happened to the Original Dry Dock Restaurant in Portland, Maine?

The curious case of Dry Dock's closure in 2018 has remained a gossip point in Portland for quite some time. Initially, reports promised the restaurant would close for a massive renovation with plans to reopen the following summer to enthusiastic summer crowds that the restaurant had hosted for decades.

But that never happened. Instead, the restaurant remained closed as rumors persisted that it reopen again and again. In reality, the restaurant sat vacant and languished year after year as an eyesore on the waterfront.

The new Dry Dock will be a welcome addition to a busy stretch of restaurants and bars along Commercial Street.