HOULTON, Maine — A new restaurant will soon be opening in historic downtown Houlton.
Fred Grant, owner of Northern Maine Media/WHOU radio, is branching out into the restaurant business as he prepares to open Market Pizza.
Located at 23 Market Square, in the former Wired Cafe, Market Pizza will offer pizza, buffalo wings and salads, as well as beer and wine for dine-in, takeout and delivery. The Houlton Town Council approved liquor and food licenses for Grant at a July 12 council meeting.
“I’ve wanted to open a restaurant ever since I was in high school,” Grant said Wednesday morning. “Growing up, meals were more than just food, they were opportunities to spend quality time with friends and family. With Market Pizza, we are expanding that idea to the community. Take our pizza and wings home, or to the office, to share with friends and family as you make new memories or choose to dine-in with our crew at the restaurant.”
On Tuesday evening, Grant spoke before the town’s Planning Board on a couple of proposed changes he would like to make to the storefront. Those include replacing the door and windows to make the building more energy efficient; removing the old air conditioner above the front door; installing heat pumps; and erecting an awning along the storefront.
The inclusion of an awning required a public hearing and planning board approval. The board unanimously approved Grant’s proposal with no questions asked by the public.
The new restaurant is slated to open in the coming weeks, serving food seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“Market Pizza feels like home to us and we’ve intentionally made it that way,” Grant said. “We’re excited to invite people into our home so that we can make new friends and celebrate what makes this community so special.”
For information, visit the restaurant’s Facebook page.
