Category: Community

Community, Entertainment, Event, Food and Drink

2025 Montavilla Street Fair July 27

On Sunday, July 27th, the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) will host the 12th annual Street Fair on SE Stark Street. Early that morning, crews will close the road from SE 82nd to 76th Avenues along with segments of side streets to allow the 150 booth operators to set up ahead of the 10 a.m. opening. Vendors will sell a variety of items, including food and drinks, unique artwork, handcrafted goods, and clothing. Mixed in with people selling items, organizations will provide information, and performers will entertain the crowds until 6 p.m. Vehicle traffic will resume on the street later that evening after organizers clear the area. Still, people can stay in the neighborhood to visit the bars and restaurants along SE Stark and NE Glisan Streets. Last year, an estimated 25,000 people visited Montavilla’s historic downtown from around the region, participating in the annual 1,400-foot-long community party.

Graphic promoting the Montavilla Street Fair featuring a live music stage and an audience of diverse people, with a dog and food vendor tents in the scene. The event date is displayed as Sunday, July 27, 2025.

On Wednesday, July 16th, sign installers placed the banner over SE Stark Street at 80th Avenue, announcing the Street Fair dates to everyone passing by. Although many people in the area have already marked the date on their calendars, raising the banner represents Montavilla’s invitation to the city of Portland. Thousands of visitors attend this annual neighborhood event, driving record sales to local businesses and introducing people to the historic Montavilla downtown area.

Banner announcing the Montavilla Street Fair hanging over SE Stark Street, with shops and trees visible in the background.

Event organizers will feature the big brass sounds of a mini HONK! Fest PDX on SE 80th Avenue. People can also enjoy performances at the SE 79th Avenue Plaza Stage next to the Threshold Brewing beer garden. The main stage will feature a diverse mix of local Portland music and national touring artists. Montavilla Brew Works will sponsor a special stage located across from their brewery at SE Stark Street and 78th Avenue, where they will host one of the four beer gardens, with Tinker Tavern and The Observatory rounding out the beer-centered street fair destinations. Many past fair booth operators are returning, alongside a new crop of makers, food vendors, and organizations. As a bonus, the Montavilla Farmers Market will be open during its regular hours on the 27th, providing attendees with access to more booths and food options at SE 76th Avenue and Stark.

A colorful promotional poster for the Montavilla Street Fair and HONK! Portland event, featuring playful watermelon graphics, dates, and event details.

Sponsorship from Adventist Health Portland, OnPoint Community Credit Union, Mr. Plywood, and the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) helps fund what has become one of the largest street fairs in Portland. People can find day-of-event updates and the full music lineup, including performance times, at the METBA website (metba.org).

Update July 21, 2025: This article was updated with more detailed information about the side street music offerings and beer gardens.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News will have a booth at the fair this year. We will giving away stickers and sell year subscriptions that will come with a logoed hat or pin, while supplies last.

A mannequin wearing a dark blue shirt with the Montavilla News logo and a maroon beanie hat featuring the same logo.
Community, Construction

Berrydale Park Reopens Early with New Skateboarding and Play Facilities

On July 15th, crews removed the construction fencing that had been erected around Berrydale Park since October 2024, during Portland Parks & Recreation’s (PP&R) extensive renovations of the nearly 70-year-old community asset. Parkgoers now have access to modernized play equipment and a new skate park, surrounded by sidewalks and enhanced lighting. The city will host a grand reopening celebration at the SE 92nd Avenue and Taylor Street park on August 8th from 3 to 6 p.m.

A sign for Berrydale Park, surrounded by trees and grass, indicating park hours and management by Portland Parks & Recreation.

During 2021 and 2022, PP&R staff collaborated with the community to select the new design for Berrydale Park. Parks department leaders identified this park as an ideal location for expanding city skateboard facilities and designated funds collected from System Development Charges (SDC) for the park’s upgrade. This money is not part of the city’s general fund or the park’s operating budget. Developers pay into the fund when building new structures to support the creation or enhancement of public resources. It is a way to ensure that increased density does not come at the detriment of existing neighborhood infrastructure. During planning, the proposed budget doubled, with then-Parks Commissioner Carmen Rubio increasing the allocated funds to $3.0 million from an original $1.5 million budget. This increased funding enabled a significant playground update, accompanied by pathway and lighting enhancements throughout the park.

A new playground in Berrydale Park featuring swings, a slide, and various play equipment set on a rubberized surface, with trees and park benches in the background.

City staff used the proposed Berrydale Park project as an opportunity to investigate the construction of adjacent sidewalks on SE Taylor Street and 89th Avenue. However, neighbor opposition to their required financial contribution to the project caused the city to focus sidewalk work on park frontages. In December 2022, the Portland City Council amended the SE 89th Ave and Taylor St Local Improvement District (LID) proposal, removing all but one private residence and significantly reducing the scope of infrastructure upgrades. The original LID included the construction of new curbs and sidewalks on both sides of SE 89th Avenue adjacent to Berrydale Park. The proposed LID would have also included continuous sidewalks on the south side of SE Taylor Street, from 92nd Avenue to 89th Avenue, rather than stopping 100 feet short of the whole block.

Map showing SE 89th Avenue and Taylor Street project with improvements like sidewalk additions, curbs, and drainage around Berrydale Park and Clark Elementary School.
Graphic showing sidewalk addition. Courtesy PBOT

For months, Portland skaters have expectantly looked through the fencing at the telltale shapes of purpose-built skateboard amenities, including a prominent clover bowl, mini-ramp, railings/rails, and other skills-building elements. North of the cement skate park, crews have created two new play zones with surrounding park benches. Swings, slides, and climbing structures sit atop a rubberized soft base for safe, youthful exploration and play. The green and brown-toned equipment blends into the mature tree canopy, shading a significant portion of the recreation area and cooling the space during our hot summer days.

Area residents have already discovered the park’s new amenities within hours of the fence removal, with people biking, skating, and enjoying the new benches. The PP&R project website indicated that staff took down the construction fence early, before the newly seeded turf areas were established, in response to the community’s request for park access. Consequently, park staff request visitors avoid areas where seedling grass is taking root. People should monitor the Berrydale Park Improvement Project website for more information about the August 8th reopening event.

Article and Photos by

Jacob Loeb

Community, Event, Government

82nd Ave Heat Islands Workshop July 22

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Oregon Metro, and partner organizations will host a community workshop focused on cooling down 82nd Avenue for the health and safety of its residents. The organizers invite people to pre-register for this free event on July 22nd from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. However, organizers are seeking youth participants, renters, and community members who are not often included in planning conversations to participate. The Dharma Rain Zen Center, located at 8500 NE Siskiyou Street, will host this Tuesday evening gathering. Attendees will receive food and beverages, but registration is required, and organizers explained that space is limited.

People familiar with 82nd Avenue understand how hot it is during the summer months, as the corridor exhibits a significant heat island effect, where pavement and other elements increase the temperature higher than surrounding areas. Workshop leaders believe that addressing this Portland urban heat zone requires governments to collaborate with the people who live and work in those areas to develop community-driven ideas for a cooler, healthier, and more interconnected 82nd Avenue.

Event flyer for a community workshop titled '82ND IS HOT' aimed at cooling down 82nd Avenue, featuring a date, time, location, contact information, and QR code for registration.

This workshop will connect attendees with federal, regional, and city government officials working alongside community advocacy groups, including Oregon Walks, the 82nd Avenue Coalition, and APANO. Transit provider TriMet is also a partner organization, as it is working to expand the FX Bus Rapid Transit system along 82nd Avenue with zero-emission buses powered by hydrogen, which emit less exhaust heat.

People interested in participating should register before the slots fill up and consider sharing the information with renters and youth who can contribute their unique perspectives to solutions to the harmful temperatures in the 82nd Avenue community.

By

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the 82nd Avenue Transit Project Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and the board of the 82nd Avenue Business Association which is a member organization of the 82nd Avenue Coalition.

Community

Friday Morning East Burnside Apartment Fire

Around 5:52 a.m. on July 11th, Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) received notice of an apartment fire at the Vandalay Arms Apartments. The 19-unit complex at 10405 E Burnside Street sits next to a recently completed multifamily building, prompting a significant four-alarm firefighter response to control the blaze and prevent its spread to other adjacent structures. Around 7 a.m., PF&R crews began to disband, reopening E Burnside Street to some transit and vehicle traffic that had been blocked by responding emergency service vehicles and firefighting apparatus. Most residents made it out of the building unharmed, but early reports say that PF&R rescued two people from the building who needed transport to a hospital for the treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The owners of the apartment building that burned in the early Friday morning fire were in the process of selling the 1997-era property, which had an asking price of $2,375,000. A significant number of units were damaged in the fire, resulting in the displacement of residents. Fire officials stated that one of the two buildings on the property is likely a complete loss. KGW reports that officials have detained one person as part of the investigation into the fire.

Portland Fire & Rescue personnel and equipment at the scene of an apartment fire, with a fire truck stationed nearby.

TriMet halted MAX Blue line service and rerouted some buses temporarily near 102nd Avenue due to road closures. Drivers needed to find detours around the area where firefighters were responding. However, the quick response of PF&R crews quickly extinguished the fire, and most of the roadway has reopened for the morning commute. The residents of Vandalay Arms Apartments, many of whom will need to find new housing, face numerous challenges ahead as they deal with the aftermath of this fire.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Community, Food and Drink, View of Montavilla

Produce Stand Tuesdays at Adventist Health

On July 8th, Adventist Health Portland hosted its first weekly produce stand popup of the summer at the healthcare organization’s 10123 SE Market Street complex. The community farm stand will open to the public on Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. through October 28th. The food primarily comes from gardens operated by the project partner, Outgrowing Hunger.

Fresh produce displayed at a community farm stand, including raspberries and cherries in baskets, set up on a green tablecloth with various vegetables in the background.

The 2025 produce stand season is the second year Adventist Health Portland has facilitated the sale of fresh foods on its campus. The stand operates outside Adventist Health Portland’s main hospital entrance under some trees lining the driveway, attracting hospital staff and visitors to the shaded display of fruits, vegetables, and honey. Vendors collect most of the items for sale the same day, and Adventist Health representatives explain that the farmers keep all proceeds from the stand.

The medical provider representative noted that sourcing fresh and healthy food in the area is difficult, with few grocery stores within walking distance of the community surrounding the hospital. In 2019, Adventist Health Portland and Outgrowing Hunger collaborated to create a community garden adjacent to the hospital. This new resource helps the Outgrowing Hunger member farmers grow food for their families. Many program participants are immigrants who use the garden space to grow produce familiar to their upbringing, along with crops traditionally well-suited to the Pacific Northwest.

Produce stand display featuring fresh vegetables and jars of honey from Mr. Farms, set on a green table with a prominent logo.

Adventist Health Portland invites anyone interested in fresh produce to shop at the stand on Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. until it wraps up for the season in October. They accept cash and credit cards at the stand and offer a variety of locally produced fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other items from local farmers.

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.

Community, Event

Fireworks to Watch Not Light

The previous Portland City Council permanently banned the sale and use of all consumer fireworks within city limits in March 2022. This restriction includes Independence Day celebrations, often occurring during hot and dry weather. The ban also prohibits the purchase of personal fireworks outside the City and returning to Portland to use them, so Portland Fire & Rescue (PP&R) encourages people to attend the professional July 4th fireworks displays presented throughout the region. Montavilla residents can usually view the 10 p.m. Waterfront Blues Festival display from Mt. Tabor Park uphill from Reservoir Number 5.

Map showing Mt. Tabor Park with marked view spot for fireworks display, highlighting nearby streets and landmarks.
Portland Maps image with MV News illustration

The consumer fireworks prohibition passed the Portland City Council unanimously, in part due to a fatal fireworks fire the previous year and in reaction to the Eagle Creek Fire in the gorge, which started with the use of personal fireworks. Fire departments regularly experience a spike in injuries, fires, and fatalities during the fireworks season, which begins on June 23rd and runs through July 6th. People with pets also report significant stress inflicted on their animals during this time, with some dogs and cats becoming separated from their owners when they run away from the explosive sounds.

This holiday weekend’s predicted low humidity could increase the danger from fireworks. On June 23rd, Portland’s Fire Marshal issued a burn ban for the City due to forecasted high summer temperatures and ongoing dry conditions. Effective immediately, people must refrain from using recreational campfires, fire pits, or burring yard debris. Outdoor grills, smokers, and similar cooking appliances are allowed if they use clean, dry firewood, briquettes, wood chips, pellets, propane, natural gas, or similar fuels. Residents should exercise extreme caution when using the allowed outdoor cooking devices and place them at least ten feet away from anything combustible, such as siding, fences, or shrubbery. The burn ban will remain in effect throughout the summer weather season.

A small firework emitting sparks and colors on a concrete surface, with discarded firework remnants nearby.

People can contact PF&R 503-823-3700 for additional information about the burn ban. Although the City prohibits the use of personal fireworks, emergency services request that people refrain from calling in reports of firework violations to 911 so that the dispatch system can remain open for reports of serious crimes, fires, and injuries. For non-emergencies in Portland, such as illegal fireworks displays, residents can call the non-emergency line at 503-823-3333 after the holiday. Additionally, individuals witnessing the unauthorized use of fireworks can report the incident online (portland.gov/311/report-fireworks).

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Update June 30, 2025: Added link to online fireworks reporting tool.

Community, Government

Montavilla’s Best Off-leash Option to Avoid Fines

Many urban dogs and their humans do not have enough space at home to run free outdoors. For those Portland residents, city parks serve that recreational need. However, with only six out of Portland Park & Recreation’s 30 designated dog off-leash areas located east of 82nd Avenue, some area residents have ignored the rules requiring dogs to remain leashed in parks without off-leash areas. A new enforcement policy could curb that behavior by fining parkgoers $50 to $150 for bringing their off-leash dogs onto Portland Park property not designated for dog off-leash activity.

Map of Portland showing various designated dog off-leash areas marked by blue pins.
Portland Maps Image with six PP&R dog off-leash areas east of 82nd Ave and Mt. Tabor Park

Portland Park & Recreation (PP&R) Park Rangers received authorization to issue citations for dogs off-leash outside of designated areas in 2013. However, a policy requiring written warnings before issuing a citation complicated the enforcement process. In 2024, the City Council approved updates to the city code for park rules, which, in part, allow the park’s safety staff to issue fines for observed violations without written warning. A person receiving a citation must pay the fine within 30 calendar days or appeal the citation within 10 business days.

A fenced dog off-leash area in a forested park featuring several sections with grassy mounds, surrounded by trees.

PP&R says Park Rangers will work to educate visitors and gain voluntary compliance when confronted with park rule violations. However, they have the authority to require a person to leave a park for a set amount of time, along with issuing citations to visitors who violate dog-off-leash or scoop laws. Park Rangers patrol over 280 park properties across the City at all hours and respond to calls from park visitors and staff regarding concerns. PP&R first offered dog off-leash areas (DOLA) in 1995 as a way to support dog owners while maintaining parks as safe places for all users. Leashed dogs are allowed in nearly all of Portland’s parks and natural areas. The new citation policy is likely to encourage more people to follow the rules for bringing dogs into the park. However, those who have let their dogs run unleashed outside of designated park areas may now need to adjust what parks they use.

Entrance to a fenced dog off-leash area at Mt. Tabor Park, surrounded by trees and concrete blocks.
SE 68th Avenue DOLA entrance

For most Montavilla residents, the best off-leash dog recreation option is Mt. Tabor Park, which features a massive area with multiple entrance gates and diverse topography. PP&R recently completed a refresh of the Mt. Tabor DOLA, enhancing access and addressing concerns about erosion. Park users will still find fenced-off areas in the off-leash section, erected by maintenance staff, to allow plants to establish on the sloped hillside. However, these areas will offer people and pets a wide range of leash-free play options without the fear of receiving a fine. A new DOLA entrance, located at the end of SE 68th Avenue, off SE Division Street, is well placed for people with dogs arriving from east of Mt. Tabor Park.

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.

Community, Food and Drink

Free Lunch + Play Returns June 23

On Monday, June 23rd, Portland Parks & Recreation’s (PP&R) Free Lunch + Play program returns to Montavilla Park on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with free lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. for youth 18 years or younger. For many children, school offers activities and services that extend beyond education. Some students rely on school as their only structured playtime with peers and depend on the free lunch program for a midday meal. Thanks to funds provided by the 2020 voter-approved Parks Local Option Levy, the Free Lunch + Play program offers children weekday activities without registration or cost. From June 23rd to August 22nd, kids can visit 22 parks citywide for recreational activities and a nutritious lunch.

Portland Public Schools close for summer on June 12th, and over half the city’s school-age children qualify for free or reduced-price meals during the school year, making PP&R’s Free Lunch + Play program a critical tool in keeping young people fed during the summer break. However, the free lunches are available to anyone meeting the age requirements, regardless of enrollment in a school district’s free lunch program. Adults bringing 10 or more youth to a location to receive free lunch should contact 503-729-0332 at least five business days in advance so parks staff can accommodate the group. USDA Federal guidelines require recipients to eat their meals on-site in the designated area, and youth are limited to one serving per day. Locations will have a No Thank You Table offering unwanted items from lunches that youth can take to supplement their meal during the designated lunch hours.

A swimming pool area featuring a clean, blue pool with lane markers, a slide, and surrounding grass and trees under a clear sky.

Montavilla Park at 8219 NE Glisan Street, Gateway Discovery Park at 10520 NE Halsey Street, and Lents Park at SE 92 Avenue and SE Steele Street will host Free Lunch + Play activities for Montavilla area residents. Meal times shift based on location, but Parks employees will organize games and other group activities throughout the four-hour sessions. The program staff observe the July 4th national holiday and will take the day off.

Portland Public Schools, Centennial School District, Parkrose School District, and David Douglas School District provide all the meal packs that adhere to the USDA Federal Lunch Program regulations. Youth must attend in person to receive meals and eat all the food on-site. Foodservice occurs only during stated mealtimes. For Montavilla Park, that is from noon to 1:30 p.m. At Lents Park, food is available from 11:30 a.m. through 1 p.m. Gateway Discovery Park has a shorter mealtime window of 11 to 11:45 a.m. Staff will require everyone to wash their hands before receiving food.

Free Lunch + Play is part of Portland Parks & Recreation’s (PP&R) Summer Free For All program, offering more than 40 events for all ages, including multicultural festivals, free outdoor movies, and concerts across the city. It also includes activities at PP&R outdoor pools, opening on June 20th. Six outdoor pools will host a weekly free swim session in addition to its fee-based swim lessons, open play swims, and water fitness. Montavilla’s pool offers free swim sessions on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. People will find a complete list of Summer Free For All’s inclusive and family-friendly activities on the PP&R website.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Community, Food and Drink, History

Behind the Wok a Restaurant History Archive

On May 30th, APANO launched its online archive titled Behind the Wok: A Tribute to Iconic Chinese American Restaurants in Portland’s Jade District. This digital collection documents the shift in Chinese American dining toward East Portland. This online repository focuses on six restaurants that represent the phases of Portland’s Asian community’s eastward move from Old Town Chinatown. The work preserves stories from the families behind some of 82nd Avenue’s most iconic restaurants, attempting to create a record of these community cornerstones that are often missing from traditional archives.

Promotional materials for APANO's online archive, including a card reading 'Behind the Wok: Honoring Chinese American Restaurants in Jade District,' coasters, buttons, and a matchbook featuring iconic restaurant illustrations.
Behind the Wok promotional items including tote bag, matches, pins, and coaster

The inaugural cohort of restaurants includes Hung Far Low, Canton Grill, Chinese Village, New Cathay, Legin, and Wong’s King. However, the project aims to expand the digital archive over time, documenting the history of these foundational restaurants and their enduring cultural impact on the East Portland Chinese American community. The early evening launch party included several family representatives who came of age in and around the restaurants preserved in the archive. Their recollection and photos of these gathering places represent some of the only records of what they symbolized to the region beyond their decades of food service.

Aerial view of a neighborhood layout with labeled blocks and streets in East Portland, highlighting areas for development and existing infrastructure.
Guide map, copyright 1933 by Terry Tebault Inc. with Behind the Wok notations Courtesy APANO

Conversations following the presentation continued to reveal more history and a deeper understanding of the role these Chinese American staples represented for the community, supporting the need for such an archive. Without the historical seedwork released last month, these accounts would fade, and other untold stories would remain unknown to a community built on that history. The group working on Behind the Wok noted how difficult it was to obtain information, partially because news articles often failed to document changes that impacted this community and how people’s cultural humility kept them from lauding their accomplishments. However, in terms of storytelling and praising others, participants and attendees expanded the group’s understanding of their shared history.

A hand holding a commemorative button for the Behind the Wok Digital Archive Launch on May 30, 2025, featuring an illustration and the event name.
Behind the Wok promotional pin commemorating the launch date

That night’s brief open conversation revealed how many more details could end up in the digital archive. APANO is working to preserve the memory of the Chinese American restaurant as a community meeting place and support system for immigrants settling in Portland. The nonprofit purchased the Canton Grill property in 2022 for future housing development and named one of its other housing projects after Legin restaurant as a way to enshrine those shuttered establishments in the community’s consciousness. The project team invites people to visit the Behind the Wok digital archive regularly for in-depth information about their contributions to East Portland. APANO will host a celebration of the Canton Grill on June 27th from 4 to 9 p.m. at 8188 SE Division Street. That event will focus on the Canton Grill Memorial Project and further inform the cultural preservation efforts.

Article and photo’s by

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: Attendees of this event, including the author, received free food and promotional items related to the project.

Community, Food and Drink, New Business

Stone Soup PDX Cafe Opens on NE Glisan

On Tuesday, June 3rd, Stone Soup PDX Cafe opened at 7400 NE Glisan Street, marking the culinary training nonprofit’s return to direct customer sales after closing its downtown storefront at the start of the pandemic. The cafe will serve breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Starting in July, Stone Soup’s operators expect students to begin staffing the cafe as they learn food service skills in a 12-week program geared toward individuals who have recently experienced housing insecurity.

Group of individuals holding a red ribbon during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Stone Soup PDX's cafe opening, with storefront in background.
Cafe ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 2nd

Stone Soup PDX’s Executive Director, Ellen Damaschino, thanked the supporters of the cafe during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 2nd. Her appreciation extended to a collection of project supporters, including local business Montavilla Station, located blocks away off SE Stark Street and 80th Avenue. After brief remarks and a certificate presentation by the East Portland Chamber of Commerce, Damaschino welcomed guests into the corner storefront for samples of some of the caffeinated drinks and pastries on the shop’s menu. The counter-service cafe offers several tables for dine-in customers, or they can take their coffee and food outside, where they can enjoy limited outdoor sidewalk seating. This relaunch of cafe dining is a significant step for the organization, which was forced to cut its customer-facing program due to nationwide challenges. Serving customers in the cafe is in the nonprofit’s roots — sustaining people through both sides of the food service industry.

A sign displaying 'Thank You To Our Supporters!' with logos from various sponsors, located outside Stone Soup PDX's cafe.

Stone Soup PDX opened in its original location on NW Everett and Broadway in 2019. They operated primarily as a cafe and training kitchen until COVID-19 forced a shift in the group’s operations. “So it slowed down a lot during the pandemic, and that is when we really kicked up the Community Meals program,” recalled Damaschino. “We make about 1,500 meals a week for the community. Those are for places like shelters, mental health facilities, and transitional housing. So exactly the places that our participants come from.” That shift enabled the organization to establish a production kitchen on SE Powell Boulevard, where program participants spend four weeks preparing meals that volunteer drivers deliver to Portland locations.

Interior view of Stone Soup PDX cafe featuring a menu board with drinks and food options, a barista serving a customer at the counter, and display cases with pastries.

A year ago, the organization closed its Downtown location, and in late 2024, they began working from the Beacon at Glisan Landing building on the corner of NE 74th Avenue and Glisan Street, starting with educational programs. In that work, participants receive basic instruction and engage in weekly “check-ins” with the support services coordinators, who work to ensure students have the necessary supplies to succeed in the program. With the cafe now serving customers, students will soon have the option to train in either the NE Glisan Street commercial kitchen or the SE Powell Boulevard location for a four-week segment. This bifurcated path allows students to choose which skills they intend to strengthen. The cafe work will provide students seeking restaurant employment with hands-on experience in a functioning commercial kitchen serving walk-in customers, complete with associated expectations and workflow but guided by the support of instructors.

A close-up of a paper coffee cup featuring the logo of Stone Soup PDX, with a latte art design on top, sitting on a light countertop.

Stone Soup PDX plans to introduce a new role within the organization that will focus on supporting students as they transition out of the program and enhancing connections between individuals and employment opportunities. That position will also help alums as they find their post-training position in the workforce and begin to secure economic stability, sustaining permanent housing and self-confidence. Through a continued relationship with the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, links from the association’s site will bring potential employers to a directory of Stone Soup graduates, showing the job seeker’s relevant skills. Program operators believe this will become a significant enhancement for students progressing through the program, improving their chances of securing employment and applying the newly acquired culinary skills.

A view of the kitchen at Stone Soup PDX cafe, showcasing stainless steel appliances, cooking equipment, and various kitchen supplies.
Stone Soup PDX culinary training kitchen

The nonprofit encourages people to support Stone Soup by visiting the cafe as part of their morning routine or grabbing some of the shop’s soups and sandwiches for a quick lunch. They also expect the pastries to become a welcomed pleasure throughout the day for those looking for a sweet treat outside of mealtimes. All proceeds support the workforce training program.

Correction: A previous version of this article listed the operating days as Tuesday through Thursday. They are open Tuesday through Friday. Montavilla News regrets this error.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Greg Beddor – SEO Specialist, an Oregon based digital marketing consultancy. The company markets customer’s websites and provide SEO services to grow their business. We thank them for their support.