Portland: a good place for restaurant professionals? (how much, live)

[notreadyfortheshow]

I am a restaurant professional planning on moving out of CA in the next 6-12 months. Portland is on my long list of places under consideration.

Two things I'm wondering about Portland:

1) I'm from the Northeast. Overall, I love the clientele in that region. If the bulk of clientele in a high-end restaurant will be East Coasters, then that is terrific. I do wonder whether cruise ships come into Portland at all. Having spent a year in Hawaii, I can say without reservation that cruise ship clientele by and large, is trashy as can be.

2) I'm wondering about the amount of business. I've heard that Portland gets quite the tourist season in the summer. How about the fall-winter-spring? Is there enough business driven by locals for a service professional to do well?

Thanks Much!

[River Runner]

Originally Posted by notreadyfortheshow

1) I'm from the Northeast. Overall, I love the clientele in that region. If the bulk of clientele in a high-end restaurant will be East Coasters, then that is terrific. I do wonder whether cruise ships come into Portland at all. Having spent a year in Hawaii, I can say without reservation that cruise ship clientele by and large, is trashy as can be.

2) I'm wondering about the amount of business. I've heard that Portland gets quite the tourist season in the summer. How about the fall-winter-spring? Is there enough business driven by locals for a service professional to do well?

Cruise ships do come into Portland docking off the downtown peninsula portion of Portland. When I lived in Portland it was noticeable that a cruise ship had arrived as there was a sudden surge in foot traffic out and about - most carrying shopping bags as the Old Port shops are within walking distance of where the ships dock. Of course the incredible loudness of the ship's horn was enough to tell you they had come in if the influx of touristy looking foot traffic wasn't enough to make you know a ship was in port. Darn horns caught me unexpectedly a couple times while I was working and certainly grabbed my attention. Cruise ship season starts in about May and ends near the end of October.

Edited:
Here's an article that has some numbers relating to number of ships and number of passengers.

http://www.pressherald.com/2016/05/0...g-up-in-maine/

[jeremywolf81]

Originally Posted by notreadyfortheshow

I am a restaurant professional planning on moving out of CA in the next 6-12 months. Portland is on my long list of places under consideration.

Two things I'm wondering about Portland:

1) I'm from the Northeast. Overall, I love the clientele in that region. If the bulk of clientele in a high-end restaurant will be East Coasters, then that is terrific. I do wonder whether cruise ships come into Portland at all. Having spent a year in Hawaii, I can say without reservation that cruise ship clientele by and large, is trashy as can be.

2) I'm wondering about the amount of business. I've heard that Portland gets quite the tourist season in the summer. How about the fall-winter-spring? Is there enough business driven by locals for a service professional to do well?

Thanks Much!

1) Putting the entire Northeast in the same box is a big mistake. Maine is very VERY different from what you probably consider "the East Coast" although Portland will feel a lot more familiar to you than the rest of the state so there's that.

2) Yep tourist season is busy, fortunately Portland doesn't shut down in the winter like a lot of towns here, but there will be a big downswing in business. If you're going to work somewhere make sure it's not something that seems more seasonal and touristy, locals will be your paycheck from late October to April.

[notreadyfortheshow]

Originally Posted by jeremywolf81

1) Putting the entire Northeast in the same box is a big mistake. Maine is very VERY different from what you probably consider "the East Coast" although Portland will feel a lot more familiar to you than the rest of the state so there's that.

2) Yep tourist season is busy, fortunately Portland doesn't shut down in the winter like a lot of towns here, but there will be a big downswing in business. If you're going to work somewhere make sure it's not something that seems more seasonal and touristy, locals will be your paycheck from late October to April.

Definitely, "Northeast" is a broad brush. But I think overall, Northeast restaurant clientele is, with the possible exception of Chicago, the best. We spend well, and generally tip well. I worked in VT for awhile too, where we got clientele from NY and New England.

So, about the details. Better restaurants in Portland. Upscale, how much can one make in season and off season?

[mainegrl2011]

Originally Posted by notreadyfortheshow

Definitely, "Northeast" is a broad brush. But I think overall, Northeast restaurant clientele is, with the possible exception of Chicago, the best. We spend well, and generally tip well. I worked in VT for awhile too, where we got clientele from NY and New England.

So, about the details. Better restaurants in Portland. Upscale, how much can one make in season and off season?

Why would anyone just hand this information over to you? I will say this... There are seasonal restaurants where the owners make enough that they don't work in the off season. I wouldn't exactly call them upscale, but definitely profitable. They spend October-April in another part of the world--one with warmer weather, lounging on the beach or poolside.