Portland kayak business finds new home after Custom House Wharf fire

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 14, 2026

When the massive fire on Custom House Wharf in December destroyed Nanuq Kayaks, friends and fellow paddling enthusiasts told owner Harley Lewin they would help him move boats and gear out of the rubble. There was barely anything left to carry. “What happened was a catastrophe,” Lewin said. On Wednesday, Lewin stood on the floor of 200 Anderson St. in Portland, the new home of his business in East Bayside. The industrial space is different from the shop’s former home on the wharf, where wood-paneled walls and sleek boats lent a clubhouse feel, he said, but he’s glad to be there.