Parker’s Restaurant in Portland, Maine, to Close Permanently

As the food scene in Portland, Maine, has blown up in recent years, locals have tried to keep a handful of places all to their own. For restaurants that aren't located in Portland's downtown area, there's good business to be had by catering to the neighborhoods they're located in. But a qualified labor shortage is challenging many longstanding neighborhood establishments. That includes Parker's Restaurant, who announced their permanent closure date of June 25 through Facebook.

Parker's Restaurant, a longtime favorite for people who lived in the outer Washington Avenue corridor, sounded almost apologetic in their goodbye on social media. Parker's dubbed itself "Portland's best kept secret", as a place folks could gather for a good meal and great drinks, all at a reasonable price. Their decision to close the restaurant after 33 years in business was bittersweet but also necessary, as the ability to keep a full kitchen staff and provide the same quality service Parker's was known for was becoming too challenging.

While June 25 is the date set for Parker's closure by the current owners, they remain hopeful that the restaurant may be purchased by a new, enthusiastic entrepreneur that can keep the Parker's tradition alive or bring their own ideas to the space. The restaurant and property lot is currently listed by Landing Real Estate, but it comes with a price tag that may seem a little steep to some buyers. But given the price of any real estate in Portland these days, there's likely a buyer out there somewhere.

For the frequent visitors to Parker's, they'll miss the regular faces, the free parking, and the delicious prime rib on the weekends.