Portland Phoenix | Ditch the Truck — Locally Sauced finds a home at Thompson's Point

Loyalty goes a long way in a town with as much restaurant turnover as Portland, and the food truck-to-restaurant transition is becoming more common amongst mobile kitchens. Small Axe, a well-loved food truck, started the trend when they took over East Ender. More recently, C.N. Shawarma became Baharat, Mami opened a restaurant on Fore Street, and Highroller Lobster Co. became a brick and mortar space on Exchange.

Now Locally Sauced, a popular fixture at breweries and events around Southern Maine, is set to open in the space previously occupied by Big J’s Chicken Shack on Thompson’s Point. The restaurant will maintain a take-out window in the vestibule entryway to Bissell Brothers, and continue to operate as a BYOB spot, but the food will be a clear departure from the space’s previous inhabitant. Charlie and Aimee Ely, who have been running the cart for several years, will bring their signature burritos and tacos. Charlie recently bought a smoker and started doing his own barbeque, which will also feature heavily on the menu. I chatted with Aimee about what to expect from the new restaurant.