What’s taking over the Big Easy space in Portland, Maine?

It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than a decade since Portland, Maine’s Big Easy nightclub and concert venue closed for good. The cozy, underground spot on Market Street was a haven for local musicians, smaller tours or theme nights.

When the Big Easy closed in 2013, real estate experts assumed the space wouldn’t stay vacant for long. Despite its limited size, it was a prime location for both professionals and those simply strolling through the city of Portland.

But that’s never been the case. The Big Easy has sat empty, almost like a fossil of the past that needed to be preserved. That’s about to change, because something new is moving into the vacated space, and if the owners have their way, it will be something Portland has never seen before.

According to Portland Food Map, a new sports bar will take over Big Easy’s space on Market Street. It will be called Oddfellahs, and the owners hope to fill some of the sports fan void left by the closure of Binga’s Stadium and Rivalries in recent years.

But that will have a twist. Oddfellahs hopes to also become a sports salon that makes life better. It would be the first of its kind in Portland, Maine. That is not set in stone at the moment. The sports bar will have to apply to the state of Maine and negotiate with the Wabanaki tribe before it gets the green light.

The Portland City Council has granted OddFellahs a liquor license, meaning the sports bar can open in the not-too-distant future. Stay tuned to hear if live betting is coming.