Roots Café rebrand: Owners plan to open Watershed Restaurant in Newmarket

Aqeel Hisham, Portsmouth Herald
·3 min read

NEWMARKET — The Roots Café is undergoing a major rebranding, including a new name and location.

Owner Amber Enright and her husband, Josh, have run the popular farm-to-table café on the bottom floor of the Newmarket Mills at 55 Main Street for the last two years. The couple said they are ready to take the next step by taking over the first-floor location at the Mills that formerly housed Savannah’s Kitchen and What The Pho.

The couple plans to transform the space into the Watershed Restaurant.

Josh and Amber Enright look forward to moving their Newmarket eatery from the basement floor to upstairs in the Newmarket Mills building.
Josh and Amber Enright look forward to moving their Newmarket eatery from the basement floor to upstairs in the Newmarket Mills building.

The Enrights said they have been eyeing the vacant space for a while, as it will nearly double their current seating capacity from 30 to 50-plus.

“It’s almost the same square footage," she said. "But the way our store is designed, it was designed for an ice cream store, so there’s a lot of wasted space for a food venture,” she said. “There’s a lot more usable dining space upstairs.”

Amber Enright, co-owner of Roots Café, cashes out a customer at their eatery at 55 Main Street in the Newmarket Mills building.
Amber Enright, co-owner of Roots Café, cashes out a customer at their eatery at 55 Main Street in the Newmarket Mills building.

Enright said the new space will allow them to offer a more “diverse” menu while still sticking to their roots, serving organic and locally sourced ingredients.

From the traditional fish and chips to hanger steak served with locally grown vegetables, Enright said Watershed Restaurant will serve coastal dishes with a focus on gluten-free and vegetarian options.

The couple is renovating the new space to turn it into the “coastal contemporary rustic” feel that many customers have come to know and love at their current spot. Enright said the new space will also increase their visibility.

“I think it’s going to be a surprise to a lot of people because a lot of people don’t know (about us),” she added.

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Roots Café ready to sprout new start in What The Pho spot

Drawn by their affinity for the area as alumni of UNH, the Enrights made the move to Newmarket in 2021, planting roots in a community close to their hearts.

“It’s such a great town,” she said.

The couple has spent more than 20 years in the food industry. They opened Roots Café in Hooksett in 2016, transitioned to a food truck venture in 2021, and opened the Newmarket spot in 2022.

Amber Enright, co-owner of Roots Café in Newmarket, talks about moving their eatery upstairs at 55 Main Street.
Amber Enright, co-owner of Roots Café in Newmarket, talks about moving their eatery upstairs at 55 Main Street.

Not only does Roots Café offer soups, salads and sandwiches, but they also cater events such as weddings, baby showers and house parties. From hors d’oeuvres to entrees, Enright said they will still offer catering services following the opening of the new restaurant.

Enright said a majority of her customers are locals, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Who better to give you advice than the people that have lived here for a long time or are people who just moved here and are looking for something different,” she said.

Josh and Amber Enright look forward to moving their Newmarket eatery from the basement floor to upstairs in the Newmarket Mills building.
Josh and Amber Enright look forward to moving their Newmarket eatery from the basement floor to upstairs in the Newmarket Mills building.

Enright said the new restaurant will allow them to up their culinary offerings. She is hoping to open Watershed Restaurant by mid-May.

Enright envisions the new restaurant as a space for the community. Whether you’re looking for a children-friendly restaurant or a spot for a date night, Enright hopes the restaurant will become a “destination” for all.

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This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Roots Café owners plan to open Watershed Restaurant in Newmarket