What’s Happening at the Old Last Unicorn Site in Downtown Waterville, Maine?

It is kind of hard to believe that it has been about a year and a half since the massive fire that destroyed the downtown Waterville building that housed the Last Unicorn Restaurant.

On Sunday, April 23rd, 2023, many Central Mainers awoke to the news that the beloved restaurant was gone and that the building in which it was located was now a smoldering hole in the ground.

Thanks to the hard work of the firefighters, there was little damage to the Silver Street Tavern and Cancun Mexican Restaurant, the two buildings adjacent to Last Unicorn.  Fortunately, there were no serious injuries as a result of the fire.  However, sadly, despite their best efforts, there was no way to save the building.

In the months following the fire, the space was cleared.  For over a year, it has sat as a vacant lot.

It looks like that is about to change.

According to an article in the KJ, the owner of the building (now, the owner of the vacant lot) has plans for the property.

The owner, Sidney Geller, has hired architect Justin Morgan of Maine Home Design + Build of Augusta to design and construct a new building on the spot.

The article explains that it will be designed as a restaurant, but will have four commercial spots in total.  There will be two spots on the Silver Street level and two spots on the Spring Street level.

In addition to restaurants, the building could also be leased by people who want to operate shops, convenience stores, or even light manufacturing.

Prep work on the site has already begun and it is hoped that the building will be ready for occupancy by early summer 2025.