New Downtown Restaurant Gets Final Approval

The owners of Fresh Local and STREET received final approval this week to open a seasonal restaurant in the old gas station building opposite the former on State Street.

Michelle Lozuaway, co-owner of Fresh Local and STREET, said the Planning Board approved the project on Thursday. Construction is expected to get underway on Monday, with the goal of opening in early June.

Portsmouth Patch first wrote about the new restaurant, , when it went before the city's Technical Advisory Committee earlier this month.

The building, located at 80 Wright Avenue behind the , has been vacant in recent years. In the past, it served as the Rosa's takeout site and before that, a gas station.

Lozuaway said she hopes the new restaurant will become "a communal, community hangout," and anyone who wants to help with the renovations and cleanup at the site can email her at freshlocalnh@gmail.com

She said she plans to hold a "beer bash" prior to opening as a thank you to everyone who helps out.