Just before 2 a.m. on March 26th, emergency dispatchers sent Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) crews to the Pacific Market complex at 6750 NE Broadway. Arriving firefighters reported smoke visible from the structure’s roof above the closed Thai Binh restaurant storefront occupying a third of the 20,120 square foot strip mall. Before long, the fire spread through the roof and into the adjoining Pacific Market grocery store. The fire expanded throughout the building, prompting a three-alarm response. PF&R crews extinguished the fire, protecting the surrounding homes and a neighboring storage facility. However, the building and its contents are likely a complete loss.

The family-owned Asian grocery opened in the late 1990s to become a place for people “to stop and shop for their traditional foods and groceries all in one place,” according to a now offline company website. Situated between NE Halsey Street and NE Broadway, the store was an early provider of culturally specific imported foods in this area. It also provided convenient grocery access for many people living around the Rose City Golf Course. Residents in the neighborhood will instead need to travel to the Fred Meyer store at 6615 NE Glisan Street for basic needs.

The building, restaurant, and grocery store shared similar ownership, leading to the possibility of rebuilding. Google Maps only lists the Pacific Market as temporarily closed. However, the level of damage indicates this location will be unusable for a significant length of time. Additionally, the owners may decide not to rebuild and instead look to sell the property for development. The building shares the block with a new self-storage facility completed in 2022, and at nearly an acre, this site could attract interest from builders. Losing a neighborhood grocery is a detriment to the community. Fortunately, PF&R reported no injuries during this incident, and firefighters managed to confine all damage to the one building. Expect to see fencing around the site and the eventual arrival of demolition crews to remove all or part of the building within the coming months.

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