Roscoe’s bar will be reopening Friday at 3 PM, with limited service. They are located at 8105 SE Stark Street and offer beet on tap and southern cuisine.
A note is posted on Roscoe’s webcam, where it regularly displays a live feed of beers on tap. It reads “We will open for Carry-out Beer + Food 6/12/2020 From 3PM to 9PM.”
Last week Tinker Tavern received building permits for for their new Montavilla Tavern. This project has been delayed due to COVID-19 related shutdowns and was in a holding pattern, waiting for the city’s approval. Now work will begin in just a few weeks.
Tinker Tavern is going to have an “old school tavern look… classic.” Said Erik Mahan, owner of Tinker Tavern. He described Tiffany style lamps and swivel bar stools as elements of the design esthetic. The goal is to create a comfortable space, Mahan explained. He is not looking to challenge the customers through design but instead create a welcoming neighborhood bar.
The location of Tinker Tavern, 7980 SE Stark Street, was formerly a retail store. Transforming the space into a tavern, with a kitchen, will take some time. Mahan expects construction to last 10 weeks, as long as trade work is not overly delayed due to social distancing measures.
The added delay in opening, has given Mahan time to adjust his buildout to deal with the COVID-19 restrictions. He anticipates opening Tinker Tavern in phase two of Multnomah County’s reopening process. Currently he’s operating his other location, Bantam Tavern on NW 21st Ave, under the general restrictions. That has provided him the experience needed to make smart design choices for Tinker Tavern. Choices that will help him open safely and still function as a Tavern.
To meet the phase two guidelines, he has eliminated a table from his original interior layout, allowing for the required distancing of guests. Further interior modifications will include the use of plexiglass, to provide separation between groups. Fortunately the building is setback from the sidewalk and that will allow for outdoor seating. Mahan will use planters to create an 8 foot by fourteen foot outdoor seating area. He also plans to apply for Street Seating through the PBOT program, when he is closer to opening.
When asked why he chose Montavilla for his new Tavern, Mahan explained he has been a longtime fan of the area. He was impressed with other bars in the area, like Roscoe’s and has watched how they have grown. Mahan’s girlfriend lives in the neighborhood and they frequently walk the streets of Montavilla. It was on one of those walks that he saw this space available and knew it would be a great fit for his next Tavern. Being on SE Stark Street and a corner property made it an ideal location. Mahan described the location as an “attractive newer building.” Taking a space in an older Montavilla storefront, would not be as easy to upgrade with all the features he wanted to add.
Mahan sees a neighborhood bar as more than just serving neighborhood customers. He wants to incorporate items from other local businesses in the tavern’s offerings. Look for local beers and food items to be on his menu.
Construction will start soon and residents should expect to see activity at the site in the coming weeks. They have set up a Tinker Tavern Instagram as the primary way to communicate about their progress. Mahan said he will be posting updates and construction pictures there as things progress.
It has almost been a month of empty streets and closed shops. Even if you are safe and secure during this time, you are looking around at the businesses in the neighborhood and hoping they will survive. There are some programs to help these small businesses but not enough, and certainly they are not timely in providing the help needed. Those programs are for established businesses trying to make it through the forced closures. However, they do not cover establishments that have not opened their doors for the first time. We have many businesses in Montavilla that are mid construction.
The Oregonian has an article detailing the struggle of four restaurants and bars that had all been scheduled to open in Montavilla town. In the article, the owners of White Rabbit, Tinker Tavern, Lazy Susan, and Sebastiano’s all lend their voice to the story of uncertainty around us. No business in Montavilla is immune to the financial hardships being felt right now but the ones that have yet to see their first customer, are proving to be the most vulnerable.
All is not lost for these future landmarks of Montavilla. Some should be able to postpone plans. Others are adjusting the business to fit what is practical right now. Andrew Mace, of Lazy Susan, is quoted in The Oregonian article as being thankful they did not hire staff yet.
Unlike other shops with staff, payroll and unemployment is one burden the new locations in Montavilla are not contending with. There are many established businesses in our area that need cash flow to keep some of their staff employed.
Brian Stafki put together a Google Sheet of Montavilla, and other nearby businesses, that are open or offering services in an alternative form. If you can continue to give them business, please do.
The Montavilla East Tabor Business Association has created a COVID-19 Info and Resources page that has some additional information about its members, during this prolonged shutdown.
Based on a tip from our eagle eyed reader, Andi Bernard, it looks like the Stein Haus property will be transformed into a new bar called Last Drop.
The text of permit 2019-253142-000-00-RS is scoped to “demolish single family residence with basement to be filled” at 2366 SE 82nd Ave. The demolition permit was suggestive that the whole site would be cleared. However, now that the plans are available for public review, the underlined note on the documents leaves no doubt, “This Bar Building to Remain.“
This is exciting news for those lamenting the death of old Portland bar culture. One icon of that time will be saved. The next question is what will the Last Drop become.
Oregon Liquor Control Commission received a license request for the Last Drop, late last year. The company requesting the license is CT Royalty Inc., formed one year ago on March 29th 2019. The president and chief agent of that company is Kent K Chan. Very little information, beyond that, is available at this time
More information should be coming soon, as the Stein Haus building will need a great deal of work to return to service as a bar and possible restaurant. This will be a property to watch, as signs of life for this once written off building return.
A new permit application, for 7980 SE STARK Street, marks a change of occupancy and renovations to support a new bar. The application is on the behalf of Erik Mahan and House Policy LLC. with a reported budget of $110,192. This is the space formerly occupied by Eco Baby Gear, who recently moved to a new location. It is a prominent location on the corner of SE 80th Ave and Stark Street, in the center of Montavilla town.
The Portland blog Bridgetown Bites noted that a new “Tinker Tavern” was coming to Montavilla, base on a liquor license granted to Eric Mahan. The article had the location’s address a little off, and I have noted different spellings of Mr. Mahan’s first name in other publications, but these two pieces of information would indicate a new bar and/or restaurant is coming to that vacant storefront.
There are many open questions about this new establishment. Will the name be House Policy and will there be a greater offering than the standard bar menu? I look forward seeing what progress there.