Portland Pie a family restaurant in Biddeford

Gerard Murphy, general manager of a family restaurant in Biddeford called Portland Pie, prepares for another evening where local residents often find themselves at on a regular basis, photographed by Portland Headshot.

One of Biddeford’s local family restaurants

When we first heard that Portland Pie, now a family restaurant in Biddeford, was coming to the Pepperell Mill Campus, we were more than thrilled. Not only do they have great pizza, but their dough is where the magic is. Check out this interview with Gerard Murphy, their general manager

Who are you and where are you from?

I’m Gerard Murphy, the general manager here at Portland Pie. I was born in Cork, Ireland, moved to the United States when I was four years old, grew up in Wiscasset, Maine and graduated from UMaine Orono in 2012. I started with Portland Pie four years ago, and I haven’t looked back.

Tell me a little about your business?

Portland Pie started as a small takeout/delivery pizza spot in the Portland community, and quickly expanded into a true, full service restaurant. Since then, Portland Pie has added locations in Scarborough, Westbrook, Brunswick, and Biddeford, as well as two locations in New Hampshire. Though we remain a traditional pizzeria, our menu has expanded to include salads, sandwiches, pasta, local beer and wine.

What made you choose the mill for your business?

We loved the location. Downtowns have long been the backbone of Maine’s communities and that is where we like to do business. Being a part of a community is very important to us. We also thought the Mill was a perfect fit for what we look for in a space with its natural light, wood floors and exposed brick. It just felt right.

How long have you been doing this?

Portland Pie Co. was founded in 1997 on the east end of Portland, Maine, and our Biddeford location in the Pepperell Mill opened in January 2015.

What makes your business interesting to you?

When you really get down to it what we do is pizza and beer and who doesn’t love those two things. The passion people have for our pizza still amazes me. When someone finds out I work for Portland Pie they proceed to tell me “my favorite pizza is the Nor’easter… or Harbormaster,” etc. It always cracks me up they know them by name.

What makes you stand out from others in the same industry?

Looking for a way to stand out in a crowded pizza landscape, owners Nat and Steve crafted their signature dough flavors; Basil, Wheat, Garlic, and Beer. From the beginning, only the highest quality ingredients have been used for every small batch of dough.