Jacob Loeb began writing for newspapers in high school, first for the school's publication and then for a Vashon, Washington, community paper. He graduated college with a degree in English Literature and Television Communications. After graduating, Loeb worked in film distribution for a pioneering DVD company that supported independent filmmakers. Years later, he wrote for a weekly newsletter about technology and ran a popular computer advice column called Ask Jacob. Moving to the Montavilla neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, with his family in 2005, Loeb firmly planted roots in the community and now writes for the Montavilla News. He is a Society of Professional Journalists member and volunteers with non-profit organizations serving East Portland.
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Crews recently completed half of a new mini-roundabout along NE Halsey Street as they work to reopen NE 80th and NE 81st Avenues to car traffic. Contractors working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation installed underground stormwater management pipes that connect with relocated catch basins as part of this street reconfiguration, which includes reconstructed sidewalks and curbs. NE Halsey remains open for east-west through traffic.
PBOT provided illustration showing the NE Halsey, NE 80th, and 81st junction with mini roundabout
This work is part of the NE Halsey Street (68th to 92nd Avenues) – Safety and Access to Transit Project. It builds on substantial street safety improvements undertaken in 2024, when roadwork reconfigured NE Halsey Street between 68th and 81st Avenues, removing a lane in each direction while adding painted buffered bike lanes and a center turn lane. In this section of the project, the new mini-roundabout at NE 80th Avenue and Halsey Street will address a notoriously confusing intersection, located just before one of the three NE Halsey Street freeway overpasses. Renderings posted show that people will have access to high-visibility pedestrian and bike crossings. Rebuilt and extended corners will also shorten the crossing distance, and new sidewalk segments will guide users to pathways that lead to transit connections. When contractors complete work at NE 81st Avenue, cyclists will have access to a bi-directional buffered bike track on the south side of NE Halsey Street, extending up to NE 92nd Avenue.
NE 80th Ave at NE Halsey looking east on January 15, 2026
PBOT chose this intersection design to reduce crashes while keeping traffic flowing. The roundabout will slow drivers and reduce conflict points, without requiring drivers to come to a complete stop unless a cyclist, pedestrian, or other vehicle has the right of way. The infrastructure should have a lower lifecycle cost because it does not rely on electric traffic signal equipment. Buses and fire trucks can easily drive through the center of the roundabout to make tight turns when needed, improving safety without impacting critical travel routes.
NE 81st Ave looking northwest on January 15, 2026
The next phase of work will restore the road surface around the new raised concrete infrastructure so eastbound traffic can travel around the southern half of the mini-roundabout and access NE 80th and NE 81st Avenues. Then, contractors can build the northern half of the mini-roundabout. Crews will continue to work at the site from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. All driveways on these blocks will remain open for people traveling to or from the worksite. However, street users should anticipate detours and follow all instructions from crews working in the area.
NE 80th Ave at NE Halseylooking east on January 23, 2026
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TESO Life will open its first Portland location at 10548 SE Washington Street next Saturday, January 31st. The Asian household goods seller took over the 23,200-square-foot storefront left vacant by Big Lots four years ago at Plaza 205. The shopping complex is currently reinventing itself to serve people interested in items and flavors from across Asia. Shoppers will find a variety of imported products, claw machines, and collectables inside the Japanese department store. The TESO Life staff will welcome people as the company hosts a grand opening celebration over the weekend, ending on February 2nd.
Once open, the store will serve guests daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Headquartered in Queens, New York, TESO Life began in 2017 and has expanded across the country with dozens of shops and plans to open more storefronts in the coming years, doubling its footprint. The organization will open another Oregon location at 4005 SW 117th Avenue in Beaverton this May. The store has a significant social media following among fans and customers seeking Asian skincare, hair care, and makeup products, as well as hard-to-find snacks and drinks not often sold in the United States.
This location is next door to Portland’s first 99 Ranch Market, which opened to large crowds on August 16th, 2025. Based on other locations’ opening days, attendees looking to check out the SE Washington Street TESO Life on January 31st should anticipate lines similar to those at its neighboring grocery store’s grand opening. The event organizers will offer free items with purchase during the opening weekend, further incentivizing large attendance. People can visit the company’s Instagram page for more details.
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On January 22nd, Portland’s first free-standing Chick-fil-A restaurant opened in the Gateway district across from Mall 205. The store is unique in several ways from the other locations in the outer Portland area. It has a larger kitchen than most stores, a kids’ play area less often included in new facilities, and no drive-through window. Instead of hosting lines of cars, the fast food destination will serve guests with a digitized version of a drive-in model, allowing customers to park and order via a mobile app, with meals brought to the vehicle. First-time franchise operator Austin Morrow has worked toward this moment since age sixteen, learning all he can about building an inclusive, family-oriented establishment.
Kids’ play area
For the last 12 years, Morrow has dedicated his career to Chick-fil-A, with the last four spent in the Leadership Development program. That helped in the competitive process to become an operator. In this franchise model, the company owns the restaurant building and equipment, but operators control the local business. “I have 100% flexibility. I rent the space from Chick-fil-A, but I am an independent business owner, and all the staff work in my organization here. I have direct influence on how I give back to the community, how I serve my team, and how I can offer opportunities for my team,” explained Morrow.
Franchise operator Austin Morrow
Morrow moved to the area last September, but had visited before when considering the opportunity. “When I was looking at coming to Portland, I went down [to the Clackamas location] and met with Brian Davis, the operator there. Just like me, he’s from the south, and he moved his family up here,” said Morrow. What he found was that most people did not have direct experience with the company on the West Coast, which allowed operators to shape the experience in a meaningful way. “In the south, Chick-fil-A is everywhere, so to be able to come to a community where it might be that first bite… there’s something special about when you’re sharing that first impression.”
Unlike the auto-focused Clackamas store, this location will need to serve customers arriving in a variety of ways. “I think we’re going to be pretty foot traffic heavy,” said Morrow. “We have a lot of people who walk or use public transportation. Even my team members live really local in the community and walk here to work, so I think we will be a high foot traffic area.” Additionally, the city’s building code did not allow them to build a standard fast-food restaurant targeting people in vehicles. The Portland City Council voted in 2018 to prohibit new drive-through construction within commercial zones. Although this project is a near-complete renovation of an existing building, the structure never included a drive-through service window, which prevents it from qualifying for a prior-existence exemption. This project dates back to May 2022, when the national fast food chain explored development at 9950 SE Stark Street, opting to renovate the original structure to maintain its nonconforming use of the existing site for food service. The 1984-era structure previously hosted Rax Roast Beef, Tony Roma’s, and Hooters restaurants before converting to Mystic Gentlemen’s Club and later Venue Gentlemen’s Club.
Delivery Driver entrance and numbered parking stalls for app orders staff will bring to customer’s cars
Although they have improved pedestrian infrastructure around the property, the freeway-adjacent location will continue to attract motorists. Without the drive-through option, Morrow and his staff will be creative to meet customer demand. “We have 15 curbside spots where we’ll be offering a similar experience [to other locations] where you don’t have to get out of the car, and we’ll bring the food to you,” said Austin Morrow. “They can order ahead of time, or they could park and then order in the parking spot.” The dedicated and numbered stalls are at the northwest corner of the parking lot, adjacent to the delivery driver entrance. People working with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub have a dedicated, inside, welcoming space to pick up orders. Delivery apps can make up 10 to 30% of a day’s orders, and having the separated space helps get them on the road faster without imposing on customers in line.
Delivery Driver pickup counter
Morrow said that customer experience is paramount to his efforts in Portland, but he also wants to support the nearly 100 employees joining his team. “My mission is to exceed the expectations of my guests and my team members. I want to be a premier employer for the team that’s working here, explained Morrow. At the base level, that is with a paycheck and a meal. “Sometimes we’ll have team members who come in and may not have food at home. This [shift] may be their only opportunity. So I want to make sure that they can have a hot meal for free that day.” Morrow said that he also wants to help his staff beyond their time at Chick-fil-A. “One thing I’m going to offer is I’m offering is a program where they can go to college. If you can work 30 hours a week, that will enable you to be able to go to college and hope for a better future. Because it’s not my hope that someone joins this organization and stays here for the rest of their life.”
In addition to staff support, the organization encourages locations to participate in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program, donating leftover protein to groups feeding the community. Morrow selected the Highland Christian Center to receive unserved food items that are cooled and ready for storage for use in the church’s meal program at 7600 NE Glisan Street. With this program, community kitchens will receive unused chicken that can be incorporated into other dishes. So recipients will not get the traditional sandwiches and may not know where the protein came from, but the leftover food will go to good use, feeding people with limited access to food. This philosophy of sharing food started even before the doors opened. “We’ve been training here [ahead of opening] so we actually donated a thousand sandwiches within the community, and so we use that as an opportunity to train our team,” said Morrow.
Morrow explained that he is committed to joining the community and improving the area around his store. “I want people to feel that local ownership aspect. We operate under a large brand that says Chick-fil-A, but I want people in the community to feel like this is a local organization.” He expressed how much he appreciates Portland’s cultural and intellectual diversity, noting that people have been far more welcoming than he anticipated. “It’s my hope that when you come into my restaurant, you’re going to see through my team members, all different backgrounds, all different walks of life. And it’s my hope that we can create a culture in our community that everyone is welcome in this restaurant,” said Morrow. Starting today, the Chick-fil-A Mall 205 location will open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. They anticipate significant demand during the first few days and recommend people consider parking in the Mall 205 parking lot and crossing SE Washington Street if the main parking lot is full.
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Crews working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will update sidewalk corners along NE Glisan Street as part of the planned NE Glisan Pave and Paint Project, which will use pavement maintenance to restripe and reconfigure the roadway from NE 82nd to 92nd avenues. Ahead of the planned summer work, contractors will begin rebuilding crossing points to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant standards for curb ramps and updating stormwater catch basin placement to match the new ramps and better handle rainwater runoff.
Future site of mid-block curb ramp at NE 83rd Ave leading to Montavilla Park playground
Recently added pavement markings at the “T” intersection of NE Glisan Street and 83rd Avenue indicate the placement of new curb ramps at the south corners and two mid-block ramps on the north alignment for the unmarked crosswalk. Montavilla Park and the Multnomah University campus create a long, uninterrupted block on the northern edge of NE Glisan. Up to now, anyone crossing the busy east-west roadway had limited curb ramp options. PBOT will need to enhance most crossing points along the work site that are not already updated to modern standards before major roadwork takes place, as the repaving project repairs the cuts made by the sidewalk corner and stormwater system installation at the street’s edge. People can expect that work to take place this Spring.
PBOT planners anticipate that much of the in-traffic lane work will take place in the Summer of 2026, when crews use heavy equipment to grind down old asphalt and spread a new layer of aggregate bound with bitumen to create a smoother driving surface. Contractors will repaint the lane markings in a new configuration to support painted buffered-bike lanes along the curb for much of the project length. This section of NE Glisan Street implemented alternating outer lanes used for parking or an auxiliary travel lane, depending on the time of day. Collisions occurred on this street where cars were parked, but drivers may have assumed the outer lane was clear. PBOT engineers anticipate that removing that conflict point will yield significant safety improvements with minimal impact on vehicle throughput. This work will also increase safer bike and pedestrian infrastructure in the area this year, while later project work can build on the new configuration with hardened street elements for greater safety.
Illustration of the existing four travel and one turn lane over proposed configuration from PBOT’s NE Glisan St – 82nd Avenue Multimodal Safety and Access 2028-2030 RFFA Project Factsheet. Courtesy Oregon Metro
This stretch of NE Glisan received an Oregon Metro Regional Flexible Funds Allocation grant to add physically protected bike infrastructure sometime in 2030. The work included in the Northeast Glisan St: 82nd Avenue Multimodal Safety and Access project would require lane reconfiguration and repainting. PBOT Planners feel that this 2026 road surface maintenance presents an opportunity to save public funds by reconfiguring the street during the post-asphalt-work painting process ahead of the larger safety improvement project. By doing road marking work now in the new configuration, post-repaving, PBOT can save taxpayer funds by lessening the reconfiguration costs four years later.
NE 83rd Ave looking south from NE Glisan
Travelers should anticipate seeing more pavement markings on the sidewalk along NE Glisan Street from NE 82nd to 92nd avenues as planners ready the area for the rebuilt pedestrian and stormwater infrastructure. People walking in the area should anticipate detours when demolition and construction work start in the spring. Drivers in the area should expect temporary outer lane closures on NE Glisan during construction, followed by permanent outer lane closures after crews paint new lane markings. Details are available on the project website.
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The owners of two lots along 82nd Avenue at SE Ash Street have their property listed for lease or sale after years of trying to make a food cart pod project pencil out in that location. B&U Properties LLC acquired 218 and 322 SE 82nd Avenue in 2021, planning to transform the combined property into an active community hub, but required improvements to the sidewalk along the site’s 360 linear feet of frontage, and other development expenses caused the restaurant owner team to focus their immediate efforts on a SE Hawthorne Boulevard project. Now, with few cart owners showing interest in the area and construction estimates rising, the developers are looking for other options for the Montavilla site.
Overhead image from Portland Maps with both lots outlined
Uday Seelam and his partner Ben Bui have extensive restaurant experience, which they have used to create a popular food cart pod. They had hoped to build several locations, but headwinds in securing funding and shifts in dining patterns in Portland have caused the team to adjust their plans. Seelam explained that of the 15 cart owners who wanted to view the proposed location for their second food cart pod, no vendors committed to the space, and only one would reconsider at a future date.
Seelam remarked that contractor estimates rose to $1.5 million for the SE 82nd Avenue food cart pod project. This is in addition to the cost of the property and expenses related to clearing the old Recreational Vehicle lot’s sales office building that was once on the property. They had planned to construct the primary entrance on SE Ash Street and create a covered seating area, restrooms, and other amenities. Since first designing the layout, they had already agreed to reduce the project’s size for more parking and a lower overall price tag. However, without even a few vendors committed to the space, any level of continued investment would be risky. Instead, they hope another group will invest in the space. They would consider a lease, as they have not given up on the area altogether and could see reviving the project if conditions change. Still, Seelam said that if a buyer can pay the $1.6 million asking price for the combined lots, they would need to “cut their losses” and let another group try to create something. He noted that affordable housing would be a useful addition to the neighborhood at that site.
Parking lot view looking north to fenced section of property
Area residents have other food cart options within walking distance from this location. The Yard at Montavilla is 1,300 feet north os SE Ash Street, across from Vestal School at 8220 NE Davis Street. Additionally, Montavilla’s Stark Street business corridor, just a block away from the vacant lots, offers many dining destinations and provides area residents with a variety of options. However, the change in direction for this project means the underutilized lots will remain mostly dormant for years. A portion of the paved land serves as overflow parking for customers visiting the shops at the adjacent “Annex” building, but construction fencing lines a substantial portion of the property. Groups interested in leasing or buying the land should contact Capacity Commercial Group for more information.
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Cascade Physical Therapy recently repurchased its former Montavilla location at 9310 SE Stark Street, an establishment that the previous owners split off from their Gresham-based company two decades ago. New owners, Dr. Liz Reynolds and Erika Elliott, are now working to reunify the two locations and serve more people who need help recovering from workplace or automotive injuries, while also addressing general pain and age-related decline.
Jon Schnepel founded Cascade Physical Therapy in 1987 after graduating from Pacific University’s Physical Therapy program and a stint working for a large hospital system. Partnering with his wife, Chris, who worked at Cascade Athletic Club in Gresham, they created a physical therapy clinic inside the gym. At the time, this integrated clinic model was unique in the industry. The distinct but embedded business started within a small space on the upper floor of the gym building. It kept expanding, adding more clients, until it ultimately moved downstairs, where they converted space previously used for a couple of racquetball courts into a full-size clinic that Cascade Physical Therapy Gresham still operates today.
Fitness equipment used in physical therapy
When the athletics club expanded into Montavilla on SE Stark Street, Cascade Physical Therapy opened its second location attached to that new space. Elliott’s mother was the office manager of that location, and Erika Elliott worked there starting at age 16, managing medical records and later providing transcription services while attending college. “I would come here at night and type all of their reports,” recalled Elliott. The Schnepels sold both locations in the mid 1990s with the intention of retiring. “HealthSouth was a nationwide company that came through and bought up a bunch of little mom and pop shops in the area,” explained Elliott. However, the national healthcare clinic operator ran into financial difficulties within a few years of acquiring the physical therapy company and closed both gym-adjacent locations as part of the HealthSouth bankruptcy. The owners of Cascade Athletic Clubs offered the vacated spaces to the Schnepels, who returned to the business and reopened Cascade Physical Therapy.
Dr. Liz Reynolds and Erika Elliott
To stay focused on a single space, the Schnepels sold the Montavilla location to their employee, Julie McAllister, in December 2002, while rebuilding the Gresham business. “She came back here, and it was gutted; there was nothing here. So she furnished it, equipped it, hired staff, and has been here ever since,” said Elliott. McAllister’s business operated under the name “Cascade 205 Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy,” with a name less tied to the original business. In February 2023, the Cascade Athletic Clubs closed its Montavilla location at 9260 SE Stark Street after nearly 36 years in operation. McAllister needed to adapt the location, which would not have extended gym or pool access for clients. Fortunately, DolFun Swim Academy took over the former Cascade Athletic Clubs swimming facilities and made arrangements to allow physical therapy clients access to the pool. “When Cascade [gym] left, they drained the pool, and there were no plans for it to be a pool again. So when DolFun came and negotiated to take over the lease, the McAllisters were really excited because it meant that they could offer pool therapy again, which is a big need in our community. Not a lot of physical therapy offices offer pool therapy,” explained Elliott.
One of three private treatment rooms
After several more years of success in Gresham, the Schnepels looked to pass the business along again, this time to trusted employees who had worked for them for 10 to 15 years. “So they looked at us for a succession plan, started those negotiations in the fall of 2018, and we became the official owners January 1st of 2020,” recalled Reynolds and Elliott. They completed a relatively smooth transition of the business, with the former employees continuing the founders’ work. Then, in the fall of 2024, McAllister contacted the partners about buying the SE Stark Street company and reunifying the two locations. “Julie approached us, asking us if we’d be interested in taking over for her. She felt a call to not just close after being here and treating patients since the 1990s,” recalled Elliott. When Julie McAllister retired at the end of June 2025, the location rejoined Cascade Physical Therapy under its name and business license.
One of three private treatment rooms
The new owners of the Montavilla location were able to extend their existing business into the space while retaining some continuity for clients. “Some of her patients have just carried over, and we kept an employee of hers on board. His name’s Greg, and he’s a PTA (Physical Therapist Assistant) here, and he’s wonderful. That’s been nice because patients who don’t maybe know Erika and I know his face, and we’re keeping the legacy going,” said Reynolds. They have updated the paint scheme in the space to match the company colors and are working to update some equipment offerings. “We are one of the first locations to trial a new AI exercise program that was developed by Intel and a local physical therapist,” remarked Elliott. “We, as therapists, would program in exercises, and the patient would wheel the machine in front of them. Then it would get a visual of their body while they’re doing the exercise and critique them,” added Reynolds. They explained that it is a tool that appeals to some customers who want their movement reviewed but do not want someone staring at them the whole time. They are still working to integrate this newer technology into treatments, but they are excited to expand the tools they can offer people seeking help.
The Cascade Physical Therapy team is genuinely excited to expand back into Portland, though they acknowledge that running two locations is twice the work. They anticipate more people will seek out their services and want people to know that in Oregon and Washington, patients can visit a physical therapist without a referral if their insurance allows it. Reynolds is a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy and can work with many insurers. They can work with patients aged 9 or older. In addition to treating injuries or helping with sports training, many people see them for balance issues. Another group of people seeking help has no idea what happened. “Some people have pain, and they don’t know why they hurt,” said Elliott. “We call them the NARs. No apparent reason. Usually, I can figure out why, but they don’t know. It wasn’t like they got hit on a bicycle or anything like that. They just started having hip pain,” explained Reynolds.
Fitness equipment used in physical therapy
The Montavilla location is open from 7:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. People needing help on a different weekday can also visit the Gresham location at 19201 SE Division Street. The original space has access to more equipment through the Cascade Athletic Club, which is still in operation outside Portland. However, the SE Stark Street space has nearly everything they need to restore motion or alleviate pain for patients and offers three private treatment rooms, as well as access to pool therapy. The owners hope to meet more people in the area seeking Portland-based physical therapy and expect that visitors living near Interstate 205 will appreciate the location’s easy freeway access.
Article and photos by
Jacob Loeb
Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.
Recently, TriMet announced a series of proposed cost-cutting measures planned for this August. Elimination of the Line 19 Bus route is among the possible reductions, and its closure would end NE Glisan Street’s century-long run as Montavilla’s transit backbone. Other potential changes would similarly reduce functionality for transit users, push more people to existing TriMet lines, or encourage driving to a destination. People have until January 31st to contribute their perspective on these updates via an online survey.
TriMet leaders are trying to close a $300 million annual budget gap through a variety of measures. Since first announcing the issue in July 2025, the transit agency says it has reduced spending by about $150 million through cutting expenses, eliminating staff positions, and pausing service expansion efforts. The next round of reductions aims to trim service or remove low-ridership lines where riders have other, sometimes less functional, options. In fiscal year 2025 (July 1st, 2024, through June 30th, 2025), 15,600 riders boarded Line 19 each week. Of those weekly transit users, 7,617 started their trip between I-205 and stops at Southwest Lincoln Street and 4th Avenue in Downtown Portland.
TriMet graphic showing current and proposed cuts to the MAX Green Line and Line 19 bus route among others
For people accustomed to boarding a bus on NE Glisan, TriMet recommends the Line 20 bus on East Burnside Street, with the MAX Blue or Red lines also offering options for those close to stations. The Line 20 already sees almost double the ridership of the Line 19, with 59,618 weekly boardings in fiscal year 2025. However, for some riders, walking an extra 1,200 feet between NE Glisan Street and East Burnside is a significant burden. It also ends the historic role transit played in forming Montavilla and the commercial corridor along NE Glisan Street.
These details of the 1889 Hart-Royal Company broadside for Mount Tabor Villa Addition show an extension of the Morrison Street Bridge Motor Line going through the subdivision (the red rectangle on the right). Courtesy of the Oregon Historical Society
Starting in 1889, Montavilla developers sold parcels to residents based on future transit service along NE Glisan Street—originally named Villa Avenue—in advertising for the Addition. By 1892, the operators of the City and Suburban Railway extended their East Ankeny line to Montavilla on Glisan up to 82nd Avenue, but without the full loop around Mt. Tabor. In 1948, streetcar service in Montavilla ceased, with buses replacing trolleys. That era of transit service to the neighborhood helped businesses flourish and shaped the community around that corridor.
In addition to the potential elimination of Line 19, East Portland transit users could see the Green MAX light rail line shortened to only run between the Clackamas Town Center station and the Gateway Transit Center, prompting riders to transfer to other lines to continue downtown. TriMet’s highest ridership bus, Line 72, would retain current service levels on 82nd Avenue but reduce evening service between Cully Boulevard and Swan Island to every 30 minutes after 8 p.m. and once an hour after 10 p.m. The Line 20 could terminate at the Sunset Transit Center instead of continuing to the Beaverton Transit Center, and Line 77 buses may have route adjustments west of NE 9th Avenue. All riders should review the trimet.org/servicecuts site for details that may impact their future commute.
TriMet encourages transit commuters and occasional riders to complete the online survey by January 31st so its planners can make modifications before this summer’s planned cutbacks. Business owners whose employees and customers depend on TriMet service may also want to contribute their perspective in the survey, as transit service has historically improved business district prosperity. People concerned about these reductions in service can also reach out to their state representatives to ask for more public transit funding, particularly in light of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s call for lawmakers to scrap the newly passed transportation bill, which is facing implementation delays due to opposition efforts. Additional State funding for transit districts from a replacement Transportation Act could soften TriMet cuts as it attempts to balance its budget.
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As Portland’s first free-standing Chick-fil-A restaurant prepares to open in early 2026, pedestrians traveling around the Mall 205 area in the Gateway district gain access to wider sidewalks with street furniture offering places to rest. Recently, crews removed construction fencing around the new fast food destination at 9950 SE Stark Street, fully opening the area to street users.
Cluster of three round concrete seating on the southeast corner of SE 99th and Stark St
Construction work at this restaurant location began last April, triggering requirements for sidewalk and curb ramp reconstruction to meet modern standards for its Civic Main Street classification on the south and north sides of the site. Improvements to the 15-foot public right-of-way feature street trees planted between the curb and pedestrian through zone, offering a buffer between the fast-paced traffic on the SE Stark Street and Washington Street couplet. Chick-fil-A contractors installed round concrete seating pods along the property’s SE 99th Avenue frontage with a cluster of three on the southeast corner of SE 99th and Stark Street. A new traffic signal pole at the northeast corner of SE 99th and Washington Street features mounting points for future mast arms to support traffic lights, replacing the antiquated cable-hung hardware at the intersection. An additional mounting bracket at the top of the pole has a place for a new street light to further illuminate this high-volume crossing, while building-hung sconces add human-scale lighting.
Mounting points on a new traffic signal pole at the northeast corner of SE 99th and Washington St. for future mast arms to support traffic lights
The Portland building code mandated many pedestrian improvements along the three frontages of this 0.78-acre property. These upgrades serve the district as a whole as it becomes less car-centric. However, this restaurant’s patrons may depend on these updates, as there is expected to be higher foot traffic here than at other Chick-fil-A stores in the area. The Portland City Council voted in 2018 to prohibit new drive-through construction within commercial zones. Although this project is a near-complete renovation of an existing building, the structure never included a drive-through service window. This project dates back to May 2022, when the national fast food chain explored development at 9950 SE Stark Street, opting to renovate the original structure to maintain its nonconforming use of the existing site for food service. The 1984-era structure previously hosted Rax Roast Beef, Tony Roma’s, and Hooters restaurants before converting to Mystic Gentlemen’s Club and later Venue Gentlemen’s Club.
SE 99th Avenue frontage with human-scale lighting and seating
Without a drive-through window, most motorists will need to park onsite and enter the establishment for service. Other Chick-fil-A locations have been known to create traffic jams at times as drivers queue for in-vehicle sales. At this new location, people may need to park at another location and walk over for service during peak times. To help speed up orders and clear the parking lot more quickly, operators will implement digital tools for customers. “We will be offering curbside delivery as an alternative,” wrote a store social media representative on Facebook. This will require more staff time but will allow customers to remain in their vehicles. Additionally, this restaurant features a dedicated delivery driver entrance so people can order via smartphone apps and have their food brought to them.
Delivery driver entrance
Franchise operator for this location, Austin Morrow, has worked for Chick-fil-A since 2014. In this specific franchise model, the property, building, and equipment are owned by the corporation, with individuals competing to become the location’s operator. The “Chick-fil-A Mall 205” store will be Portland’s only location within city limits since the Lloyd Center food court location closed in 2003. Community members have mixed opinions on the opening. Some are excited for the renowned chicken sandwich provider to come in and revitalize a commercial corridor that has experienced a decline in previous decades. Others worry about the increased traffic near the Interstate 205 ramps caused by this new high-demand destination. Additional perspectives oppose the company as a whole because of the ownership’s support for organizations that oppose LGBTQ rights.
New wider sidewalk on SE Washington St. with street trees
The operator of Chick-fil-A Mall 205 has yet to announce an official opening date, but indicated it will welcome guests soon. Regardless of the restaurant’s impact on the business district and community, the renovations of this former strip club have improved the public infrastructure on this half block. The corporate endorsement of the area could also incentivize other investments along the corridor, spurring redevelopment with infrastructure improvements and denser land use, fitting the Gateway District’s Central Commercial zoning that encourages city-center-sized projects.
Update January 18, 2026: The Chick-fil-A Mall 205 location will open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday starting Thursday, January 22nd.
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The property, bordered by the Interstate 205 Multi-use-path on two sides, is currently secured with plywood “due to prior break-ins while vacant,” according to a real estate flyer. A modest commercial parking lot provides three parking stalls in front of the single-story building and one driveway leading to the eastern entrance. A gated back courtyard faces south and provides separation between two dormitory wings, each with a bathroom at the end. The most recent configuration of the space included five bedrooms, along with laundry, kitchen, office, and storage spaces. The north end of the building features an equally sized “family room” and “living room” flanking the large kitchen, which features residential-style appliances.
Gated back courtyard
A buyer could reconfigure the space and update the dated quarter-century-old interior in many ways, but the site’s residential zoning limits it to single-family, single-room occupancy housing, or similar group home uses. A new owner could also redevelop the large 16,460-square-foot lot into townhouses or other middle housing to increase density. Its location next to the pedestrian I-205 crossing bridge leading to the MAX light rail station and proximity to the Multi-Use-Path make it a good candidate for Transit-oriented Development.
Image of 9350 SE Taylor St from Portland Maps
Home Forward—renamed from Housing Authority of Portland in May 2011—is an independent Public Corporation that contracts with the federal government to administer housing programs. It owns around 110 properties. In past years, it has worked with partner groups to build affordable housing. This land, if fully redeveloped, would likely not be an impactful source of affordable housing for the organization that oversees 6,678 units. However, with an asking price of $499,999, selling it will not generate a significant sum to stave off operational budget shortfalls at the nonprofit. In a different financial landscape, Home Forward could have reinvested in this property for a similar group home use or other affordable housing option. The future buyer of this unique property will have an opportunity to reshape this residential block abutting the I-205 border of the neighborhood.
Article and Photos by
Jacob Loeb
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With 2025 officially closed, here is a look back at the top stories readers viewed and shared in the past year. Many of the most visited articles center on the Gateway area with the opening of Portland’s first 99 Ranch Market on August 16th and the construction of Portland’s first Chick-fil-A restaurant within city limits since the Lloyd Center food court location closed in 2003. People enjoyed the East Glisan Pizza Lounge‘s reopening and rediscovered an article from 2024 featuring Storied Vintage on SE Stark Street. Two stories about declining enrollment at Multnomah University and the future sale of the property made the top stories list. Readers also took an interest in real estate listings for the Gateway Shopping Center and another area mall. Traffic cameras and bus shelters round out the things Portlanders found interesting in 2025.
Thanks for reading the Montavilla News in 2025. You were one of 127,000 people who regularly visited last year. We appreciate the financial support of our paid subscribers and business supporters that help keep independent news available to our community. We look forward to sharing more news with you in 2026.
Top Articles of 2025 (Ordered by newest to oldest)
