On October 9th, the Prosper Portland Board of Commissioners voted to grant up to $750,000 towards reconstruction of the Portland Mercado after a January 3rd fire destroyed the Barrio Bar and damaged its surrounding building. The presentation that preceded the unanimous vote revealed that crews will reconstruct the bar space to its former configuration and show additions to the structure, creating more outdoor covered space at the ground level with newly accessible rooftop seating.
The nearly $2 million budget blends funds from fundraising, insurance, and now the awarded grant to Hacienda CDC that manages food cart pod unified by Latino culture. Located at 7238 SE Foster Road, this site fulfilled a community dream to develop the first Latino public market in Portland when it opened in April 2015. Organizers built the affordable retail complex on land owned by the City of Portland’s development agency, Prosper Portland. It offered a mix of interior and food cart space to emerging businesses until an early morning fire in January closed the main building’s shops and Commissary Kitchen.
The outdoor facilities at Portland Mercado reopened not long after the fire, but the building remained shuttered until crews could repair the damage and reconstruct the weakened structure. Insurance payouts totaling $904,203 have taken time to coordinate. Presenters explained that the insurance compensation policy requires the bar space to be rebuilt to its previous configuration, and that process follows a restoration path that should return the building to its previous state. However, this construction project allows Portland Mercado to tackle expansion projects it planned to build prior to the fire.
Covered outdoor seating is critical to guest comfort at the Portland Mercado. The Pacific Northwest’s dependably rainy weather is exchanged for hot summer days, and diners appreciate cover in both circumstances. Rebuilding efforts will use the extra Prosper Portland grant money to create a larger building that can accommodate more seating outside the bar area. A new outdoor staircase will lead up to the second floor, where a covered rooftop seating area provides more space for guests and a neighborhood view away from ground-level activities.
During the remodel, the building will also receive new paint in an updated color pallet. Once reopened, a new bar vendor will likely take over the space. Barrio Bar’s owner Chris Shimamoto recently took a position at the Publican Beer Room within the Collective Oregon Eateries (CORE) food hall on SE 82nd Avenue. He explained he was not ready to reopen his own space again but was excited to return to bartending at CORE. Portland Mercado operators intend to file building permits this month, with construction starting in the winter. Crews should complete work in mid-2025.
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