After over two years in business, Novel Book Bar & Cafe in Portland will close its doors on April 17. But a business disagreement between the two partners could mean its closure will also end up in court.
“The major reason that we’re closing is primarily because of money,” co-owner Joshua Ames said. “Money, stress and pressure.”
Ames, who runs Novel’s day-to-day operations and also holds a full-time job outside the business, said he has been putting more than $1,000 of his own money into Novel each month, which he said is not sustainable. A health scare in March persuaded him it was time to pull the plug. “I’ve done as much as I can to make it functional,” he said.
Attempts to sell the business, a combination cocktail bar, coffee shop, book store and events venue at 643 Congress St., have failed, he said.
His partner, Nate Donovan, said Ames shut down his own attempts to sell the business.
“If we can’t keep it operational,” Donovan said, “it needs to be sold at a reasonable price to someone who can.”
Novel opened in December 2023. “It’s been a struggle since Day 1,” said Donovan, who added that onerous requirements from the city made opening the venue “a nightmare.”
Business, however, has worsened in the last four months, according to Ames, who attributed that to the joint impacts of ICE’s Operation Catch of the Day raids in Maine, tariffs, and general economic uncertainty leading people to go out and spend money less frequently. Green coffee beans, for instance, have doubled in price because of import tariffs, he said.
Novel’s closure was first reported in a local music blog, which was picked up by Portland Reddit. The business had not yet announced the news itself, nor had Ames discussed closing Novel with Donovan, who was surprised when a reporter phoned Monday morning to ask about the closure.
Ames said that Donovan had been removed as a managing member for “conduct” in April 2024, but declined to give further details. Donovan vigorously denied that characterization.
“I wake one morning to an email, out of the blue, no warning,” Donovan said. “I’ve been removed as a manager. No explanation. If he has proof of something, I would love for him to show it to me.”
Donovan owns 49% of the venue, while Ames owns 51%. The partnership was structured that way, Donovan said, because Ames is a veteran and it allowed them to take advantage of loans offered to veterans. Both men, he said, put hundreds of thousands of dollars into the business. Donovan said he expects the dispute will end up in court.
Novel employs eight part-time, front-of-house staff, one full-time events manager and three contract events staff, Ames said. The venue’s final event, on April 17, will be a show from Maine Improv Studios. Otherwise, the schedule posted on the venue’s social media accounts is unchanged.
Novel never tried to be the best coffee roaster, the best cocktail bar, the best bookstore, or the best events venue, Ames said. “We were trying to be the intersection of all those things.”
“We started this to build community in our local area, and I’ve been so grateful and appreciative of the community that has come out, the lifelong friendships and connections that have been made at Novel,” he said. “I know the community … a lot of those connections are going to continue on.”
This story was originally published by the Maine Trust for Local News. Peggy Grodinsky can be reached at [email protected].
