Old Port Tavern Space in Portland Now Home to Lucky Cheetah

The Old Port district space that housed the Old Port Tavern for about five decades in Portland is now occupied by the restaurant Lucky Cheetah, 94.3 WCYY reported in a look at the city's longest-running and recently shuttered bars and restaurants.

The Old Port Tavern opened in 1972 and operated as a restaurant during the day and a dance club at night before closing on New Year's Eve in 2022.

Other longtime Portland food businesses have also closed in recent years, according to the report. Vivian's, described as the city's oldest drive-in, opened in 1952 and closed in 2016; the building has since housed several different restaurants.

Anania's, a combination deli and convenience store, opened its first location in 1963. The location run by the original owners closed permanently in 2024, though another Anania's continues to operate in Portland under a longtime manager who owns it.

The outlet noted that Portland still has bars and restaurants in business for more than a century.

This story was first reported by 94.3 WCYY.