SACO – A new top-tier restaurant and chef have agreed to come to Saco Island, as part of a development proposed for the east side of the island called The Waters.
The city’s Director of Planning and Economic Development Denise Clavette met earlier this week with the owners of Nonesuch River Brewing in Scarborough. During a cruise on the Saco River, the restaurant owners outlined their plans plan to build a new restaurant on the 6-acre site that sits right on the Saco River in downtown Saco, according to a press release from Mark Robinson, spokesman for The Waters.
“The larger project still needs permits from our Planning Board and the Saco River Corridor Commission, but assuming that happens, this is spectacular news for the City of Saco,” Clavette said in a written statement. “These folks already have a thriving success story under their belts, and in addition to the hotel that has already agreed to come to Saco Island, this catapults our city forward dramatically. This is a quantum leap.”
Clavette said she is particularly excited by the professional background of Chef Jeff Gambardella, who came to Maine from San Francisco after owning successful restaurants there. Gambardella will be spearheading the culinary offerings at the new restaurant, which is unnamed as of yet.
Tim Boardman, one of three co-owners at Nonesuch River Brewing, said the decision by his partners to come to Saco came together quickly, but with conviction.
“After meeting the developer, we quickly shared his enthusiasm for the potential of this project,” Boardman said in a written statement. “It is remarkable that this unique property has sat neglected and under utilized for so long. This will truly be a fantastic addition to the recent development in the Saco/Biddeford area.”
As proposed, The Waters will include 92 condominiums, 10,000 square feet of retail space, a small boutique hotel, a restaurant and two small marinas. The project will presented to the Saco Planning Board on Aug. 21, and in front of the Saco River Corridor Commission on Aug. 22.
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