A new eatery plans to open in a downtown Ellsworth space formerly occupied by Mexican cuisine restaurants.
The new business will be called Acadia 876, according to a banner posted on the porch at 191 Main St. The banner simply says “coming soon” and that it will offer American and Jamaican dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Clive Tyrell, a partner in the restaurant, said Saturday that it will focus on American cuisine but that items on the menu will have a “Jamaican flair.”
Tyrell, who said he has prior experience working for restaurants in Bar Harbor, said that he and his partners have not yet set a date for when Acadia 876 will open.
For decades, the restaurant space has been home to Mexican cuisine restaurants.
The Mex operated there for 40 years, from 1979 until 2019, when the owners decided to close the business down.
The next year, a Margarita’s franchise opened in the building, but it abruptly closed this past spring after it ran into what state officials have described as “noncompliance” with Maine tax laws. A spokesperson for the state Department of Labor said last summer that the liens were tied to unemployment insurance tax debt, but declined to provide additional details due to confidentiality.
In July, the city threatened to cut off water to the shuttered property unless Margarita’s paid its overdue water bill.
Acadia 876 would not be the first restaurant in Ellsworth to offer Jamaican dishes on its menu. Taste Jamaica has been in business in the city for several years, first from a takeout-only location on High Street and more recently from a bigger space with seating at the intersection of State and Oak streets.
Clarification: This article has been updated to clarify the extent to which the restaurant will feature Jamaican cuisine.