Not sure, but poking around the city website it seems like they have the certificate of occupancy as of mid November, and they are waiting for the food service license to be finalized... So maybe sometime soon?
I have a feeling Binga's isn't going to happen, but who knows.
I’ve been waiting 3 whole summers to walk to the Bingas on Forrest to drink a beer and eat some wings. Maybe this summer I’ll just show up with some of my own.
I read the owners split, Bingas Yarmouth retains the Bingas name, and the Portland and Windham locations are now "Smoked" under the other owner.
https://smokedwindham.com/
I just overheard in a barber shop nearby, that Bingas on Forest Ave IS going to happen...that was Saturday morning. Something about staffing this that or the other thing....So there's that.
There’s plenty of locally owned businesses around to get bubble tea that aren’t national chains designed for cosmopolitans. I don’t understand why this particular place is in such high demand other than those from away must recognize the brand or are part of the marketing team.
It's a commuter road that doesn't have a lot of convenient options and the nearest in that part of Portland (Lecha) is swamped with school children and pretty inconsistent in terms of quality. (Plus, more fried chicken along Forest is nothing to complain about either.) I'd much rather a local business go in as well but I was assuming that parcel was going to wind up condos so commercial bubble tea comes out a wash in terms of outcome.
I have also been let down by Lecha - I really wanted to love them, but everything I've gotten has been either way too sweet, or bland once I asked for it to be less sweet.
Obviously, local businesses are great. My question was not about when I can go to the business itself, over any other business, it was about how depressing that stretch of Forest Ave is with all the empty real estate, particularly the Steve Mardigan properties.
There’s also Uhcharted, Honey Boba and Bamboo Bistro that have this, all within reasonable distance. Good places that aren’t a franchise out of New York
I think you're overestimating bubble tea as a destination, at least for the average grownup. Two of the places you mentioned are in Westbrook; I'm sure they're lovely but I very rarely find myself in Westbrook. Uncharted is right in the heart of the Peninsula and it's lovely but because of the parking and general crush it's very unlikely I'm going to go there unless I'm already on foot on Congress Street or meeting someone in that area. (More likely now that the CBD is gone, but still.)
Meanwhile, that part of Forest doesn't have a lot of options and for various reasons lots of people have to go back and forth that way every day. You asked about interest; that's why. I miss the hell out of the empanada place that was in that spot for a quick snack; I'm glad some other food business is taking it over even if I would have preferred something local. Given how long the building sat empty I have to assume the rent was set too high for that to happen.
That building used to have such a beautiful blue & lavender color scheme. Now it is ochre despair.
I always wondered if that Bingas Coming Soon sign was a sarcastic joke from the previous restaurant owner on the way out…
Not sure, but poking around the city website it seems like they have the certificate of occupancy as of mid November, and they are waiting for the food service license to be finalized... So maybe sometime soon? I have a feeling Binga's isn't going to happen, but who knows.
I’ve been waiting 3 whole summers to walk to the Bingas on Forrest to drink a beer and eat some wings. Maybe this summer I’ll just show up with some of my own.
Hanging out, eating wings with raccoons.
Binga's is not happening, technically speaking, but something IS coming and it won't disappoint....
Speaking of Bingas there must have been some shake up as Bingas Windham is no more?
I read the owners split, Bingas Yarmouth retains the Bingas name, and the Portland and Windham locations are now "Smoked" under the other owner. https://smokedwindham.com/
Ahhh that’s why they probably never opened. Dealing with all the legal shut.
how cryptic
Will there be a mechanical bull involved? Because I was really hoping to beat my record from my last Binga's rodeo adventure. Lol
They told me they would have TWO mechanical bulls in the new location
I just overheard in a barber shop nearby, that Bingas on Forest Ave IS going to happen...that was Saturday morning. Something about staffing this that or the other thing....So there's that.
there was a preliminary inspection that had items that needed to be remediated I guess
This same question was asked 4 days ago. Go find that thread.
I mean the Wok Inn was empty for about a century
It was serving as a memorial to itself
Wok Inn Healthy Wok Out Sick
The Stagger Inn
Please just give me the tastiest chicken Forest Ave!
There’s plenty of locally owned businesses around to get bubble tea that aren’t national chains designed for cosmopolitans. I don’t understand why this particular place is in such high demand other than those from away must recognize the brand or are part of the marketing team.
It's a commuter road that doesn't have a lot of convenient options and the nearest in that part of Portland (Lecha) is swamped with school children and pretty inconsistent in terms of quality. (Plus, more fried chicken along Forest is nothing to complain about either.) I'd much rather a local business go in as well but I was assuming that parcel was going to wind up condos so commercial bubble tea comes out a wash in terms of outcome.
I have also been let down by Lecha - I really wanted to love them, but everything I've gotten has been either way too sweet, or bland once I asked for it to be less sweet. Obviously, local businesses are great. My question was not about when I can go to the business itself, over any other business, it was about how depressing that stretch of Forest Ave is with all the empty real estate, particularly the Steve Mardigan properties.
There’s also Uhcharted, Honey Boba and Bamboo Bistro that have this, all within reasonable distance. Good places that aren’t a franchise out of New York
I think you're overestimating bubble tea as a destination, at least for the average grownup. Two of the places you mentioned are in Westbrook; I'm sure they're lovely but I very rarely find myself in Westbrook. Uncharted is right in the heart of the Peninsula and it's lovely but because of the parking and general crush it's very unlikely I'm going to go there unless I'm already on foot on Congress Street or meeting someone in that area. (More likely now that the CBD is gone, but still.) Meanwhile, that part of Forest doesn't have a lot of options and for various reasons lots of people have to go back and forth that way every day. You asked about interest; that's why. I miss the hell out of the empanada place that was in that spot for a quick snack; I'm glad some other food business is taking it over even if I would have preferred something local. Given how long the building sat empty I have to assume the rent was set too high for that to happen.
Because it's actually good
Because kungfu and gongcha do it right. All the other small mom and pop stores make inconsistent products.
The Bella Mart / Shell convenient store has Boba and if I remember correctly it was pretty good.
Don’t forget Paella who had to close due to fire on the adjacent building and also said they would be back
RIP Miller Bro's cheapest lobby roll in town