The site of an April 1st homicide will become a new Chick-fil-A restaurant after the City approves permits. Since 2022, franchise designers have worked to gain approval for a new chain chicken sandwich shop at 9950 SE Stark Street. The approximately 7,012 square foot building hosted several establishments over its years, including Tony Roma’s, Hooters, Mystic Gentlemen’s Club, and now Venue Gentlemen’s Club. It was outside this current adult entertainment business that responding Portland Police officers found one person with life-threatening injuries and a second person deceased on that early April evening.
On Friday, April 12, members of the Vancouver Police Department and the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested the suspected April 1st shooter in Washington State. The 31-year-old Portland resident is awaiting extradition to Multnomah County from the Clark County Jail, where law enforcement officials are holding him on warrants for Murder and Attempted Murder. The suspect’s apprehension resolves immediate concerns regarding this most recent spike in violence in a commercial area struggling to come back from its decline.
This parcel sits across SE Washington Street from the Mall 205 complex that sold to new investors in January 2022. As the new ownership works to remake that formerly bustling retail center, several area tenants have vacated the area. However, other big-name companies have remained in existing locations while other new chain stores look to establish a foothold in this central corridor.
Portland City officials recently approved a design review for the future Chick-fil-A restaurant to replace Venue Gentlemen’s Club. The 1984-era building will receive substantial upgrades inside and out. Motorists will maintain parking lot access from the two existing SE Washington Street and SE Stark Street driveways. However, guests will need to leave their vehicles at this fast food location as the building will not offer a drive-through window. Crews will rework the façade and roof to incorporate a new entry vestibule. Sidewalk improvements around the site will join the parking lot and ramp additions to increase accessible entry to the restaurant. Workers will restructure the interior with all new restrooms, a play area, a sit-down dining room, and kitchen space to meet the Chick-fil-A standards.
After years of preliminary work on this proposed restaurant, project planners have recently moved to the permitting phase, making this site’s transformation likely to proceed. The permitting process can take significant time to secure City approvals. According to an Oregonian/OregonLive article from May 2023, Venue Gentlemen’s Club will remain at this site on SE Stark Street until they can secure a new location. The presence of a Chick-fil-A location can often change the character of a street, drawing many patrons. Its addition to the business roster for the area could bolster the efforts of Mall 205’s rehabilitation along with other shopping additions planned for neighboring commercial spaces. People should expect construction at 9950 SE Stark Street to begin soon after permits are approved and the existing tenant vacates the space.
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