LEWISTON, ME – One of Lewiston’s longtime hospitality properties has a new name, a new restaurant, and now, a new face on Pleasant Street.

On Thursday evening, September 10, the Maine Grill officially unveiled its new exterior signage at 490 Pleasant Street, marking one of the most visible milestones yet in the transformation of the former Ramada into the newly renovated Clarion Hotel & Conference Center Lewiston. Neighbors, city officials, local business owners, and members of the press gathered from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m., with the sign illuminated during a 6:30 p.m. reveal.

The unveiling represents the final major exterior piece of a property-wide rebuild. The Maine Grill opened in June inside the Clarion following a multi-million-dollar redevelopment led by a new ownership group that includes New York-based KS Hospitality Group. More than $500,000 went into life-safety and infrastructure work completed in coordination with the City of Lewiston, with total committed capital exceeding $3 million through 2026.

A Sign, and What It Signals

“A sign is the last thing you put up and the first thing people see,” said Kanvar Singh, Founder of KS Hospitality Group. “We spent the better part of our renovation on fire systems and electrical work that nobody will ever photograph. Thursday night was the first time the outside of this building told the truth about what’s inside it.”

The restaurant has been open since the property’s June 18 reopening, serving elevated pub fare with an emphasis on local ingredients under Joe McBrady, Director of Food & Beverage and a thirty-year veteran of Maine hospitality. McBrady has held Executive Chef roles at Maine institutions including the Tugboat Inn in Boothbay Harbor and the Tiki Hut in Old Orchard Beach, and has served as General Manager for craft breweries including Foulmouthed Brewing.

The restaurant’s business has grown steadily since opening. A core of repeat guests has taken hold, and the property’s event spaces have begun to book in earnest, with weddings and birthday celebrations now on the calendar.

Made to Gather

The Maine Grill was designed around long communal tables and a room that reads more like a neighborhood restaurant than a hotel dining room. Its tagline, “Made to Gather,” runs through the wider property, which includes a ballroom, a theater, a set of boardrooms, outdoor space, a pool, a gym, and a sauna.

That combination is increasingly rare in the region. The Clarion Lewiston is one of the largest venues in the area able to host a conference, a wedding, and a weekend of guests under a single roof, and its return has brought hospitality, food-and-beverage, operations, and event-staffing jobs back to the Lewiston-Auburn area. KS Hospitality Group has prioritized local hiring throughout.

“While much of the hospitality industry focuses investment on major metropolitan areas, I saw a unique opportunity in Lewiston,” said Singh. “Places like this are where hospitality still has the ability to matter. You’re not just filling rooms. You’re rebuilding a relationship with a community.”

What Comes Next

Additional guest room renovations and event space enhancements continue in phases through 2026. The Maine Grill is open Monday through Thursday 4pm–10pm, and Friday and Saturday 4pm–11pm, at 490 Pleasant Street, Lewiston.

Ethan Jerome / EthanJMedia