BRUNSWICK

The Portland Pie Co. officially opened its doors Monday to a mild lunch crowd only to be mobbed at dinner time. Owners Mike Jerome and Joe O’Neil renovated the 92 Maine St. location to accommodate a large dining area, kitchen and bar.

Finally, the last ladders and tools came out of the space late last week with a hand-printed sign on the door announcing a “private party” and grand opening at 11 a.m. Monday.

Jerome said they held a soft opening on Saturday for 250 of their closest friends, family and business associates. Jerome said it was also a good practice run for the 60 full and part-time staff working there. The staff were all initially trained at the other four Maine locations before being brought to Brunswick to become familiar with the layout here.

“They did well last night for as busy as it was there. I’ve worked a lot worse shifts with a lot more experienced crew, so it worked out well,” Jerome said while busily prepping for the dinner rush on Tuesday afternoon.

Jerome said on their second day of service, they had a much busier lunch time and expected a full house again for dinner.

Brunswick is the eighth location for the company that began back in 1997 as a takeout location in Portland’s Old Port. Portland Pie Co. also owns restaurants in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

It’s been a lot of long hours for Jerome and O’Neil since they began the process of opening the Brunswick location — which will continue now that they have become fully operational. But Jerome laughed it off as part of the business.

“You have to be a little crazy to do what we’re doing. So between my little crazy and Joe’s little crazy, we’re both slightly crazy,” Jerome said.

dmcintire@timesrecord.com

Location number 8

• BRUNSWICK IS THE eighth location for the Portland Pie Co. that began back in 1997 as a takeout location in Portland’s Old Port. Portland Pie Co. also owns restaurants in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

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