“Our lease in the Portland Public Market was coming to an end, and we knew we didn’t want to renew, so we had been looking for the perfect space for a while. We’ve wanted a restaurant on Middle Street for a long time— it feels like the restaurants here stay open forever—so when we saw the opportunity to join the neighborhood, we reached out right away to learn more and signed the lease not long after.

“Working with Woodhull on the buildout was an extremely smooth and professional process. Teaming up with contractors can be difficult, but working with their group was a breeze, and we’re thrilled with how everything turned out. The interior was designed by Mey and Company, which we’ve worked with previously at Bar Futo. We wanted to incorporate our updated branding by Family Brothers into the restaurant, so the new fonts and colors guided our design. Carrie Dessertine is so talented, and we love that she’s local and has a team of all women working with her. She helped us bring our vision to life: we wanted something light and bright, and she infused the space with pops of pink and purple that added a touch of femininity to balance the masculine Mr. Tuna name. It’s fun and colorful, and most importantly, it brings our personalities into the space.

“All the millwork was done by Patrick McDonald of Northern Pines, and we picked maple because it’s a light, natural wood that works well with the natural lighting in the space. It gives off a clean, organic, sustainable vibe that pairs nicely with the sustainable fish we source for our dishes, and the bar face tiles are the color of tuna. The space is much smaller than Bar Futo, so it’s a bit more intimate. The counter seats offer an interactive experience because the sushi bar is exposed. Guests sit right in front of the chefs and can have conversations with them, which is really fun. It’s like they’re in on the action.

“When we were in the Public Market, we couldn’t control the feeling of the space because we were operating alongside other businesses. Now we’re able to have full control over the aesthetic and bring our energy and vibe to the space. We’re so happy to be here, and it feels like the evolution of Mr. Tuna has finally come to fruition. All our hard work and everything we’ve done has led us to this moment—it really feels like it was meant to be.”

—Jordan Rubin and Marisa Lewiecki, co-owners of Mr. Tuna, Bar Futo, and Crispy Gai