🔒New South Portland restaurant welcomes dogs (and humans)

A casual eatery has just opened in South Portland’s Mill Creek Plaza that not only welcomes furry friends, but offers an indoor play arena for them to romp while owners dine nearby. The Barkery Dog Bar is the brainchild of dog lovers Nate Viens, his wife Haley Michaud and business partner Susan Bowie. They saw a need for a year-round place where dog owners could gather with their pets. “Maine’s winters make outdoor dog parks difficult to use, and most restaurants only allow dogs on patios,” Viens told Mainebiz. “We wanted to create a welcoming indoor space where dogs can safely play while their owners enjoy great food and drinks." The team’s inspiration came from visiting similar concept restaurants around the country: Dog Bar in St. Petersburg, Fla.; Bar K in Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Paws & Pints in Des Moines, Iowa. “Seeing how successful those were at building community made us realize Maine didn’t have anything quite like it yet,” Viens said. He added, “We have two dogs, and they were definitely part of the inspiration for creating The Barkery. We get to bring them to work every day, and they put as much work in as we do, playing with the dogs.” Another dog park restaurant recently opened in Portland’s North Deering neighborhood, Woof. Play.Eat. “Concepts that combine a restaurant, bar, and supervised indoor dog park are definitely growing and it's only making the community around us stronger,” Viens noted.

Diners without dogs welcome, too

The 7,000-square-foot Barkery offers options for diners, and not just those who bring their dogs. The building is divided into a fenced-in play area with picnic tables nearby, and a separate dining room with a full bar; no dogs allowed.

There is also an outdoor patio with tables, and the team plans to develop an outdoor dog park space in the future. “We’re not just a dog park. People sometimes come in expecting a novelty concept, but they’re surprised to find a full restaurant with smash burgers, seafood, craft cocktails and a full kitchen,” Viens explained.

The space was fully renovated

The Barkery space in Mill Creek Plaza combines two former units which were occupied by a Dollar General and a U.S. Cellular store. Both spaces had been vacant for several years before the Barkery team renovated them. The renovation took close to five months. Portland Builders handled the majority of the renovation and construction, but Viens cut expenses by doing the painting and some of the wiring himself. He built the bar with help from family and friends, while some of his 20 staff members assembled picnic tables. Financing could have been a challenge for such a non-traditional business — Viens’s first — but the partners found financial and startup support from Brunswick-based Coastal Enterprises Inc., the Small Business Administration and Greater Portland Council of Governments. Norway Savings Bank jumped on board after Viens provided extensive plans and cash-flow projections, based on his eight years of experience in the restaurant business and his degree in economics.

Several membership levels

Diners can visit without being members of the Barkery but to take advantage of the doggy play area or the self-service washing station, users can purchase daily passes, or monthly or annual memberships, which come with perks. Dogs must be fully vaccinated, at least four months old and well-socialized. After a month of being open, Viens said, “We currently have about 35 monthly members, and over 500 dog owners on our app. That number continues to grow as more people discover the concept.” There are frequent events including Monday evening Puppy Play Dates, and the Barkery hosts adoption events with local rescue organizations and each month selects a nonprofit to support. “Last month we raised over $400 for the Animal Refuge League, and next month we are hosting a veterinary clinic fundraiser to support Maine Dog Rescue," Viens said.