Tim Barney, a representative of Top Trumps USA, talks about his company’s release of Monopoly: Portland, Maine Edition during an event Thursday at Bayside Bowl. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
Bayside Bowl owner Charlie Mitchell played Monopoly with his 7-year-old son on Friday, and he got to buy his own business.
Game-makers Hasbro and Top Trumps USA released a new edition of the classic board game Friday set in Maine’s largest city. Park Place became the Eastern Promenade, the Pennsylvania Railroad is now Casco Bay Lines, and Baltic Avenue was replaced by the Portland Observatory.
The designers put out a call to the public in February for suggestions about what local landmarks and businesses to include, and competition was tough for only a couple dozen spots on the board. It was pay-to-play in more ways than one. Many of those selected had to cash out real dollars (not Monopoly money) for their spots, although they generally declined to say how much they paid.
Bayside Bowl claimed one (formerly Virginia Avenue). Mitchell said the company approached him about the game earlier this year. They negotiated a price that he said he couldn’t share, and Bayside Bowl hosted the official launch party on Thursday night where the selected businesses celebrated with Mr. Monopoly. But when Mitchell cracked open the board, his son was more excited to snag Becky’s Diner (on the spot for Tennessee Avenue).
“It’s a fun memento,” Mitchell said. “It’s a great snapshot of time in Portland.”
Tim Barney, a representative with Top Trumps USA, said thousands of people sent emails with ideas for the themed game. He read their messages, visited local spots in Portland, and interviewed business owners.
“We have special inboxes for the city editions, and it was just blowing up,” he said. “It’s proof they love their area, but they love Monopoly too. It’s this special sentimental version of the game.”
Top Trumps USA (which has no connection to the former president or any of his companies) has been producing themed versions of Monopoly for Hasbro for years. The first community board, San Diego, was released in 1994. Since then, there have been dozens made for big cities such as Boston and Seattle and smaller ones such as Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Photo courtesy of Top Trumps USA
Barney said he likes to pick businesses for the board that have longevity and also show involvement in the local community. Some notable selections include Harbor Fish Market, Geary Brewing Co., and Boone’s Fish House & Oyster Room. Each color typically gets a sector – for example, green for higher education (Maine College of Art & Design, University of New England, and University of Southern Maine). Barney also would not say how much a spot on the board cost because those prices varied, but he always tries to give away some spots for free, especially for nonprofits.
Purists will notice right away that an iconic lighthouse has a prominent spot on the board and the box. Barney, at least, did enough research to know that it isn’t located in its namesake city. He admitted he was torn about including it but decided to fudge the boundaries of Portland in favor of such a famous landmark.
“It’s called the Portland Head Light, after all,” he said.
Narrowing down the city’s restaurants was a tall order, but chef David Turin said he was thrilled to get a call about the board. He owns David’s Restaurant in Monument Square (now in the place of New York Avenue). Years ago, when Turin was a charter boat captain in the Virgin Islands, he found the number of guests and crew was too large to play around a single Monopoly board. So they put two together in figure eight, overlapping the “Pass Go” square, and played them both.
“I finally got kicked out of the double board because I kept winning,” he said with a laugh.
He said the game-maker seemed to be looking for businesses that had deep connections in the community, and his longtime passion has been involved with vocational and culinary programs that train young people to work in the food industry. A chef in Portland since 1992, Turin said he felt grateful to be asked.
“Being here, continuing to be a stubborn fool in the restaurant industry, it was nice to be noticed,” he said.
The one place he was surprised not to see on the board was DiMillo’s On The Water, a Commercial Street staple. What happened there? Steve DiMillo sighed when asked.
“I’m waiting for someone in my family to ask,” he said. He got the call but was too busy to respond. Then he saw the Portland edition on the news the other night. “It was a missed opportunity. I regret that we did not end up on the board, so I’m taking the blame.”
He’s not a spoilsport, though. He still plans to pick one up at Treehouse Toys as a Christmas present for someone who moved out of state.
Lynn Tillotson, president and CEO of Visit Portland, holds a placard representing the Victoria Mansion square of the new Portland-themed Monopoly board. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
Tim Brosnihan, executive director of the Victoria Mansion, has also added the game to the gift shop. Like others, he declined to say whether the Victoria Mansion paid for a spot on the board, but he was excited to be included.
“I like to say this house was special from the day it was built, but it’s gotten more and more important through the years because other buildings like it, mostly in big cities, were torn down,” he said. “It’s one of the last houses of its type.”
He planned to play the Portland edition with his teenagers. Ari Gerson of Longfellow Books also plans to break out the board game for his kids, although they are 4 and 2 years old.
“We’re not going to play by the rules,” he admitted.
Ari Gersen, left owner of Longfellow Books, helps his son Asher hold a placard while posing for a photograph with the Monopoly Man, his wife Breana Gersen, and daughter Hannah on Thursday. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
Gerson said he sent an email to customers about the game, and then so many people suggested the longtime bookstore that they got a free spot on a Chance square. He thought the finished board was a fitting cross-section of Portland destinations, and he will also be selling it in the store.
“I think it’s a nice thing for locals,” he said. “I think it’s a nice takeaway for tourists.”
Barney said the game is on sale in a host of local businesses for $39.99. That price is deliberately cheaper than the $44.99 price online. (“They can beat out Amazon,” Barney said.) He is based in New York City but could someday be in the market for real property in Maine.
“I want to move here,” he said.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
