Portland’s Vena’s Fizz House Waves Goodbye to Storefront, Stays Just a Click Away

This was not an easy decision, but it makes sense.

If you've followed the unique Vena's Fizz House with a location on Fore Street in Portland that opened 10 years ago, you know they started as almost an anti-bar. They only served mocktails for their first two years. Creative, well-crafted delicious mocktails.

Their passion got national attention with CNN writing an article with the title 'This Bar Got Famous Not Serving Alcohol.' In 2015, they decided to add alcohol. It's funny how they came to the decision. They wrote on Facebook.

We started in 2013 as Portland's first mocktail bar, and after two years, we gained the confidence to introduce cocktails to our menu. It was a subtle indication from our customers when we found empty nip bottles in the trash—they were enjoying our mocktails so much that they started adding their favorite spirits. That's when Vena's truly came into its own.

For 8 years they had some of the most creative drinks in Maine and quickly had a huge devoted following in Portland.

And then that pandemic hit. It was a game-changer for a lot of people, including Vena's. They closed the Fore Street location and vowed to come back. Even purchasing an old church on Congress Street in Portland. It was an exciting time for Vena's and for fans of Vena's!

During that time the owners of Vena's, Johanna & Steve Corman, decided to concentrate on developing their products including Spirit Sipper & Nipper Infusion Jars, Bitters & Tinctures, Syrups, and Bitters Infused Sugar Cubes. Today, you can find their brand in over 700 retailers nationwide. They had every intention to return to a physical store, but since the pandemic, the hospitality industry itself has changed a lot and so has Vena's. They decided it made the most sense to focus on e-commerce. This was not an easy decision.

If closing our venue in 2021 was our first difficult decision, then sharing with you that we will not be opening the intended venue is our second difficult decision. Please know that this decision was not made lightly; it involved careful consideration, professional advice, and a deep sense of gratitude.

I had a chance to meet Steve Corman about 5 years ago one afternoon walking into Vena's with some friends. What an amazing place. We are the ones grateful that you and Johanna (former school teachers) decided to share your passion with us. We will follow you online or brick and mortar. Thank you.