Lobster Restaurant Chain To Build New Portland Location

PORTLAND, Maine - The founder of a lobster restaurant chain is building a new location on Portland's waterfront.The Portland Press Herald reports Luke Holden, founder of the Luke's Lobster, plans to build a 200-seat restaurant at Portland Pier. According to Holden, the restaurant will be the seafood chain's largest location. The Maine native says the restaurant will be linked to an adjacent lobster pound.
 
Luke's will renovate the pier, adding new pilings and fortifying the structure. Holden says the pier was in danger of falling into the water.
 
HopsitalityMaine Present and CEO Steve Hewins says he's concerned about overdevelopment on the waterfront and parking scarcity in the area.
 
Luke's plans to open the location in summer 2019. The chain has 40 other seafood restaurants across the country.