New daytime restaurant and market opens in downtown Saco
Downtown Market by Swell opens its doors in Saco, offering a blend of fresh market goods and a Massachusetts‑style sub shop in a longtime sandwich storefront
SACO — The former Vic & Whit’s sandwich and wine shop at 206 Main Street in Saco has been transformed into a breakfast‑lunch restaurant and market that opened last week. Downtown Market by Swell, the latest venture of owners Peter and Michelle Vacca, is now a 1,600‑square‑foot space that splits the front area between market stalls and a small dining room.
The Vaccas, who run the nearby Swell Nitro Coffee shop, said they were drawn to the idea of a local market that could showcase regional foods and crafts. “The market sells a variety of locally and regionally made food like pasta, salsa, chips, popcorn, maple syrup, honey and cheese,” Peter Vacca explained. “The market also offers goods like handmade pottery and crochet work from local artisans.”
The dining portion, which has roughly 18 indoor seats and additional outdoor tables, serves a breakfast menu that includes egg sandwiches, burritos and breakfast bowls, and a lunch lineup centered on subs. “Subs are the centerpiece of Downtown Market’s lunch menu,” Vacca said. “One thing we missed the most about home is our sub shops. So we kind of took that Massachusetts‑style sub shop and we brought it up to downtown Saco.”
The lunch menu features a range of sub options. The steak and cheese sandwich is a local favorite, while the Italian sub—called “Not your Maine’s Italian”—comes with capicola, prosciutto, pepperoni and mozzarella. Vegetarian selections include eggplant bites and a pressed veggie sub with butternut squash, spinach and pesto.
In addition to sandwiches, the lunch menu offers 10‑ and 15‑piece boxes of “chicken bites” — panko‑crusted fried chicken breast chunks served with a variety of house‑made sauces.
Vacca said the restaurant’s short hours reflect its focus on breakfast and lunchtime customers: the market is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. “We’re still in the early days,” he noted. “I’m considering offering beer and wine in the future.”
The building that once housed Vic & Whit’s has a 50‑year history as a sandwich shop, and its new owner hopes the fresh concept will honor that legacy while adding a modern twist. Downtown Market by Swell’s opening follows the Vaccas’ success with Swell Nitro Coffee, a local specialty coffee shop that also serves breakfast and light fare.
For residents and visitors looking for a quick bite or a place to pick up regional treats, the new market offers a convenient one‑stop shop. The Vaccas invite Saco’s community to try their new subs, sample the market’s artisanal goods, and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of a downtown spot that feels both familiar and fresh.
