Portland Flea-for-All, an antiques and vintage goods store, is set to reopen next month in the space that was occupied for decades by a landmark grocery store near Congress Square.

Co-owner Erin Kiley confirmed Tuesday that Portland Flea-for-All, at 585 Congress St., will hold a soft opening on Oct. 6 that will “ease us into” Portland’s First Friday celebration the next night and into the long Columbus Day weekend.

PORTLAND, ME - SEPTEMBER 27: Josh Duball, a worker for Class Acts Property Management, demolishes the last remnant of the sign at the former site of Paul's Food Center, 585 Congress St. Flea-for-All, a purveyor of antiques and vintage good, is slated to open at the location on Oct. 6, according to store owner Erin Kiley. The store is currently located on Kennebec Street in Bayside (Photo by Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer)

Kiley said that she and her husband, Nathaniel Baldwin, have spent a considerable amount of time and money renovating the space that was home to Paul’s Food Center, which operated in downtown Portland for 40 years.

The family of Paul Trusiani, which opened the grocery store in 1975, approached Kiley and her husband about buying it this year. It was sold in March.

“I think the community really misses having a grocery store downtown,” Kiley said Tuesday evening. “But I can’t think of anyone who would be better stewards of this property than us.”

Kiley and her husband were in the store late Tuesday night doing restoration work. She said they have been working an average of 16 hours a day to get the space ready.

Kiley said Portland Flea-for-All vacated its building at 125 Kennebec St. on July 3. That building in Bayside has been sold. Kiley and Baldwin have spent the last three months renovating the former grocery store.

The couple received their certificate of occupancy from the city on Friday. “Bring on the stuff,” Kiley and Baldwin posted on their Facebook page.

Loyal customers have been patiently waiting for the reopening. Several people responded to a recent Facebook post that announced the Oct. 6 opening.

“Thank God. My life and house has been empty,” one follower wrote on Facebook.

“I’ve been standing outside for months, just waiting to be let in,” another fan wrote.

Kiley said the Congress Street location will serve as a business incubator space for about 50 vendors, who will sell their goods through Flea-for-All.

“We try to keep the caliber of our goods really high and affordable enough to fit all budgets,” Kiley said.

Kiley said the space on Congress Street is 10,500 square feet, about 1,700 square feet more than on Kennebec Street.

The building’s other tenants will not be affected by Portland Free-for-All’s renovation. Yes Books store, Vinland restaurant and the residents of 14 apartments will remain in the building.

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