Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

10 hours ago

Friday Food Insider: A Portland neighborhood cafe will close after 3 months

Photo / Alexis Wells Sissle & Daughters is located at 634 Forest Avenue in Portland.
By Alexis Wells

Sissle & Daughters — an all-day cafe, wine bar and market in Portland's Woodfords Corner —  said it will close after just three months in business.

Mary Chapman-Sissle, co-owner, told Mainebiz in an email on Thursday that the venue's last day will be Saturday, Feb. 22.

She didn't give a reason for the closure. The 23-seat cafe opened in November at 634 Forest Ave.

"With big decisions like this, I don't believe that it is ever one thing," said Chapman-Sissle. "A number of factors came into play, and some of them were just completely out of our hands.

"We believe that sometimes you need to read the tea leaves and understand when it is time to make a change," she continued. "For us, our family always has to come above ambition and ego."

By morning, the cafe serves coffee and espresso drinks and fresh baked goods. In the afternoons and evenings, it transitions to a wine bar. It also has grocery items. 

As the landlord seeks a new tenant, Chapman-Sissle hopes someone will want to purchase the equipment and fixtures.

What's next

Chapman-Sissle will refocus efforts on a related business, Cheesemongers & Grocers, at 107 Washington Ave. in Portland. 

"When we rebranded, we wanted to communicate to our customers that we are, first and foremost, a family business," said Chapman-Sissle. "Now, I get to work with my husband again and deepen our commitment to sharing the foods we love in a warm and welcoming atmosphere."

Even though the production space is more limited at the Cheesemongers & Grocers, Chapman-Sissle says they plan to continue offering sandwiches and limited house-made items. 

"We are truly excited for the future of Sissle & Daughters," said Chapman-Sissle. "A renewed focus on a single location will allow us more time for travel, finding new products, reaffirming our relationships with the people who make the foods that we sell, and deepening our expertise."

What new restaurants are you looking forward to trying out this year? Contact Alexis Wells at awells@mainebiz.biz.

Sign up for Enews

Mainebiz web partners

Most Recent

Most Recent

0 Comments

Order a PDF