High Dive

from Portland Monthly Magazine Summerguide 2023

A Sure Bet

BY KEEVA JACQUES

harf Street is the place to be on a Saturday night. And your latest stop? Room for Improvement, Portland’s new elevated dive bar at 41 Wharf.

How do owners Arvid Brown and Nick Co n describe their new endeavor?

“Hot dog restaurant. Fast, loose, wild.”

Creative Reworkings

“We envision this place as an invigorating,

Wwelcoming, casual part of nightlife here in the Old Port,” say Brown and Co n. “Our unique cocktail list is something we’re most excited about. We want this space to be exciting for the younger crowd but with the option for upperclass drinks as well as the occasional Jell-O shot. We’ve only been open a month, but we had the band Houndmouth in. ey raged and asked us for all sorts of illicit things.”

If Walls Could Talk

“Everyone wants to put us in a box and ask what we are. I mean, we’re kinda divey, but it’s more because the space has a ton of history, and we were really bootstrapping the decor.

A lot of the art is from friends. It’s all fun and eclectic and somehow came together.” Formerly the haunt of Rogues Gallery, “this space has been a landmark on Wharf Street for years. We want to honor the rock-and-roll vibe these walls held for over a decade.”

Boogie Town

What three songs would best describe your bar?

“Can’t Hardly Wait” by e Replacements, “Young Hearts Spark Fire” by the Japandroids, and “Kiss the Bottle” by Jawbreaker. Come on down for “creative reworkings of classic cocktails” and a Jawbreaker headbanger.

BITES & BREWS

Oering good food is one of the most important things a late-night bar can do. We want to be a place for happy hour as well as the place that comes to mind for late-night bites. It’s a bar by bartenders for bartenders (and everyone else in the industry).

“Our food is simple and delicious, including so pretzels with dipping sauces, red snapper hot dogs, and tinned sh with crackers. We put a ton of time and e ort into the menu and care a ton.” n

Open Year Round!

The Lodge at Kennebunk is set on a quiet 8 acres of land, and has convenient highway access. It is also minutes away from shopping, dining, and beach options. Our facilities include a 40' outdoor heated pool, a conference room, a game room, a playground, picnic tables, and gas barbecue grills. Our amenities include extended cable television, air conditioning, phones, refrigerators, and microwaves in every room.