A warm welcome

Well-known Portland restaurateur Josh Sobel called on Woodhull and Mey & Co. to team up for an exciting new venture on Congress Street. Having worked with Mey & Co. on Mr. Tuna’s Old Port location, we knew it would be a smooth partnership. Taking cues from the Italian eateries of the urban East, Sobel’s new restaurant, Benny’s, would be a red-sauce family spot—warm, casual, and unique within the Portland restaurant landscape.

Easy collaboration

Our team was confident entering another collaboration with Mey & Co. Woodhull would handle the build, and Mey & Co. would lead the design. With a strong foundation already in place, as the former home of Broken Arrow, the layout of Benny’s was mainly kept intact to comply with code. Adjusting the footprint further would have required an additional restroom, which would have impacted overall seating.

Character and charm

From checkered, woven bamboo vinyl flooring to a walnut veneer wallpaper, Mey & Co.’s creative problem-solving and deep knowledge of Portland’s restaurant scene helped shape a space that felt established and inviting. Their team also introduced Aaron Cabine, a Tennessee-based millworker who furnished and installed the millwork, which was crucial for the project’s tight timeline and budget.

A new life

With just ten weeks to complete the project ahead of a Memorial Day opening, sequencing was critical. Carrie and Aaron drew detailed shop drawings, allowing our team to move quickly and confidently with minimal guesswork. Most of the work was focused on the dining room, but Woodhull also improved the kitchen and back-of-house areas to support restaurant operations. The layout remained familiar, but nearly every finish was replaced, bringing new life to the space while avoiding costly structural changes. It was a fast-paced, highly collaborative process, shaped by creative compromises and smart decisions.