The Hawker’s Locker at 933 NE 82nd Avenue will become Chronix Dispensary early next year. One of the long-time property owners, Patrick Butler, has joined forces with cannabis veteran David Schwimmer forming Greenmonkey LLC operating as Chronix Dispensary in this location. Crews are actively building a new storefront, upgrading the exterior, and creating a new look for the shop.
David Schwimmer lives on the East Coast but has family ties to Portland. He was impressed with Portland’s culture, finding it a “cool town and a fun place to visit.” In 2017, he opened Ivy Cannabis with his son Matthew Schwimmer. That company operated a retail marijuana store at 11850 N Center Avenue until they sold to Wild West Emporium last year. David Schwimmer still owns the Hayden Island building that previously housed his store and now rents it to Wild West Emporium.
Allen Grieser ran Hawker’s Locker for many years at this location and jointly owned the building with Patrick Butler. According to David Schwimmer, he is in the process of buying Grieser’s stake in the property. However, ahead of that transfer, the new team of Schwimmer and Butler is busily transforming the space. “We’re planning on going with a kind of Jimmy Buffett or an island relaxed state cool vibe,” said Schwimmer. They are entirely reworking the interior and rebuilding restrooms inside the 3,500-square-foot storefront. The building will receive new exterior siding, and they intend to replace the chainlink fence with something more inviting. “Our plan is to take [the fence] down and put more of an ornamental one up but still protecting [the building] to some extent. Although we haven’t settled on what type. That’s one of the things that’s gonna be going in at the end.” Said Schwimmer.
David Schwimmer noted that the large parking lot has opportunities to support complementary businesses. If allowed by licensing requirements, the dispensary owners intend to provide space for outdoor dining next to the shop. “There’s some plans to do some other things with food venues or something to attract people. There’s space there to set up some food carts,” explained Schwimmer.
Look for continued construction at the property on NE 82nd Avenue over the next two months, with store branding appearing closer to opening. The owners anticipate greeting customers early in 2023 but acknowledge that delays happen, and they will have a more firm date after the project progresses further.
By
Jacob Loeb
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The new owners of Vintage Cocktail Lounge are slowly transforming the location into Arbor Hall while retaining most of what made this location special. Opening in 2009, the craft bar at 7907 SE Stark Street earned a loyal following for its engaging staff and wide assortment of drinks. Last July, Nathan Myers and Becca Clover purchased the business after searching for a location to open their new bar. However, when learning of Vintage’s enthusiastic fanbase, they opted to take a slow approach to the transition and remain inviting to existing customers.
Myers and Clover developed a plan for their first business before searching for a location. As a result, they had already selected the name and theme by the time the sale went through. Soon after the transfer of ownership, people became curious about the new sign on the door. The Arbor Hall name has personal significance for the couple. Myers explained that the first house they shared as a couple was on Arbor Way, and the name honors that place. “It’s where we spent the first few years of our relationship and that house, and that part of our life is very special to us,” said Myers.
Beyond the name, the owners avoided significant change during the first few months. They considered closing down and making all the modifications at one time. However, that would have meant losing beloved employees like the bartender Tony Pepe. “Any time that I’ve mentioned to anybody that we bought Vintage, the very first question that I get asked by anybody who knows the bar is, ‘is Tony still there?'” remarked Myers. “He knows everybody’s name, and people enjoy having a conversation [with Tony]. He loves talking to people about different spirits.”
Behind the scenes, the new owners have significantly updated the unseen spaces that keep the establishment running. Myers and Clover invested heavily in those upgrades, taking it down to the subfloor in some cases. This remodeling work included the kitchen and the area behind the bar. Now they have begun to change the visible regions of the bar. Recently they painted over the dark brown color pallet, replacing it with a brighter copper patina paint. Next, they plan to repaint all the front trim and replace the bar top with a monkey pod or black walnut slab. However, the bar-top replacement depends on contractor availability, pushing it back to July 2023. The bathroom became a fun project for Myers and Clover, with the walls now coved in Magic: The Gathering cards and San Francisco Giants memorabilia. The choices reflect the couple’s childhood obsessions and a lighthearted, eclectically weird style.
Work-in-process bathroom redecoration with Magic: The Gathering cards on the wall
After the painting is complete, the next theming phase will bring more greenery into the bar. They are still determining what foliage will thrive in the environment, but soon patrons will see wall-mounted and hanging planters teaming with life. The space will have a “very heavy tree and plant influence to it,” said Myers. “We’re going to be introducing an enormous amount of plant life into the bar.”
The modifications will also include menu changes, beginning with the drinks. “It’s been the same menu of cocktails for the last few years. Next week, we’re going to be introducing the first new cocktail menu to the space since before the pandemic,” explained Myers. “We’re going to be doing a seasonal menu, so we’ll be changing the menu three to four times per year, featuring about ten cocktails.” The additional drinks will not supplant the current selection, according to Myers. “Anybody who knows what their favorite cocktail was from the last 10 or 15 years will be able to still come in and order those drinks, but they also have a new menu of drinks to order from.”
Vintage’s food menu traditionally featured Olympia Provisions hot dogs in various dressings, handmade soft pretzels from Rob’s Pretzel Palace, and other bar food. After the drink menu update, Myers explained they will replace the cooked options. “We’ll be going back to the kitchen to start focusing on redoing the food menu, and in doing that, we’ll be doing primarily vegetarian food.” The owners expect this shift in the menu will include more sharable dishes with flavors that better complement the drink offerings.
Outside seating will remain an indispensable part of Arbor Hall, with a planned reconfigured of the current covered Parking Plaza. The update should increase seating, making room for 30 people at six to eight tables outside and 33 guests inside. However, these transitions will not happen overnight. Myers and Clover anticipate completing the transformation by July of 2023, in time for their first anniversary of ownership. Until then, they will gradually introduce new elements and bring back old favorites like the pub crawl.
The new owners want Arbor Hall to remain an inviting space for Vintage fans while attracting new customers. Their number one goal is to create a friendly environment where everyone is welcome, and people enjoy spending time. Customers are encouraged to drop in often to see the changes, chat with Tony, and get accustomed to Arbor Hall’s transformation from its Vintage Cocktail Lounge roots.
By
Jacob Loeb
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Amaye International Restaurant opened on Friday, November 4th, after months of preparation. The African food venue at 8000 NE Glisan Street recently took over the former corner storefront from Paitong Thai Cuisine, which closed last May. Opening day saw a steady flow of customers ordering food-to-go or dining in groups at a table.
Since taking over the restaurant location this summer, the Amaye International Restaurant’s staff have methodically reworked the space, adding new furnishings and details to the interior. Along with updated signs atop the building, the shop’s owners added full-color window decals displaying some of the location’s 45 menu items. LED lighting along the trim illuminates the restaurant inside and out. Gold and red curtains, synched midway down, frame the view onto NE Glisan Street. A variety of well-spaced seating creates a comfortable space to reconnect with friends or eat alone.
The restaurant opens at 9 a.m and closes at 8 p.m. every day except Tuesdays. You can place orders by phone at 503-252-0264 or stop by.
By
Jacob Loeb
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Next month, Copper Moon Vintage Mercantile will open in the former Cactus Vintage & Consignment storefront at 7910 SE Stark Street. Owner Meg O’Brien spent the last two years selling vintage clothing online, gradually growing her business towards this retail expansion. Work is underway updating the interior ahead of an expected December 1st opening.
The store will sell 1970s and older clothing, focusing on antique garments from the early 20th century. O’Brien tends to lean towards simple, rustic pieces demonstrating the maker’s craftsmanship. That appreciation of skilled artistry will extend to a selection of consignment vendors who will have space in the shop. Those contemporary items will complement the vintage articles on display. Old vintage furniture and a mid-century record player will allow visitors to linger in the shop and take in the collection. A selection of vinyl recordings, some for sale, will fill the air as people shop or lounge.
Although this is the first dedicated home for Copper Moon Vintage, O’Brien explained that they have other retail locations. “A year ago, I started selling in a couple of curated vintage stores in town. Currently, I have a booth at Program Shop on Division, and I also have a booth in Red Fox on Woodstock,” said O’Brien. Those spaces are customized stores with a store, but at around 50 square feet, there is limited growth potential. Feeling the constraints of the booths, O’Brien began searching for a storefront location in August.
Initially, the affordable rent and a cooperative realtor attracted O’Brien to the Stark Street shop. However, the neighborhood and community quickly reaffirmed the choice. “I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the location, and it really couldn’t have been a better decision,” said O’Brien. The shop is in an active part of Stark street near the center of the historic downtown area. Copper Moon Vintage joins two other recent additions to the developing Montavilla vintage community, all located within a few blocks of each other. “I’ve actually followed Wink Vintage on Instagram, and I met them recently, and they’re really cool. I admire what they do,” commented O’Brien. “I recently checked out BoneJax, and I happen to know the owner from when he worked at Lounge Lizards. I’m kind of really excited to be a part of this new little vintage hub.”
Work is still underway at 7910 SE Stark, and delays could push the December 1st date back by a few weeks. However, the 900-square-foot shop was in good shape and only needed a new floor. O’Brien chipped up all the dated floor tiles and will soon polish and seal the concrete. The walls will remain white with old barn wood providing color and texture to the space. Even after the store opens, O’Brien said she intends to keep the other booth locations open. “I figure it’s kind of nice to have a little bit of an outpost in different parts of town to attract more customers and also maybe help drive some traffic to Montavilla.”
O’Brien already has a store’s worth of items ready to fill the shelves. When open, the store hours will run from noon to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Follow the company’s Instagram for details on an official opening date.
Images courtesy Copper Moon Vintage
By
Jacob Loeb
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PDX Nutrition will open at 6824 NE Glisan Street in the former DB Dessert Company location. The cafe is hosting a soft opening on Monday the 10th, beginning at 8 a.m. This supplement-focused shop marks the 20th such location started by owner Hiram Silva. The NE Glisan location is the first in Portland, but other restaurants are anticipated in the coming years.
Most menu items incorporate Herbalife products in the drinks and food options, although non-Herbalife shakes are available. The business positions products as meal replacement drinks or energy-boosting supplements to a regular diet. “Everything comes with protein, ” explained Silva. Even the coffee they serve at this location comes with a choice of added protein. Non-drink items include mango bowls, pineapple bowls, banana coconut bowls, protein waffles, and protein donuts. The donuts are smaller than the traditional dessert and intended as an add-on treat. The menu tries to keep the calorie count low. Meal replacement drinks are 200 to 350 calories depending on the toppings. Energy items are all less than 100 calories.
Silva plans to source ingredients locally when possible, buying the fruit and milk from nearby vendors. Those ingredients are important for customers not interested in consuming Herbalife products. “So some people don’t want to have protein smoothies, but they want to have a milk smoothie. We can always do the whole milk or almond milk with fruit, and basically that’s it.” Said Silva.
Herbalife is a Multi-level marketing company that distributes its products through a network of independent distributors and members. In 2016, the company agreed to “fundamentally restructure” its business as part of a settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Shops like PDX Nutrition support the reorganization by providing a sales path for the products that do not include joining a membership or club. However, Silva will explain how someone can get involved in the business if asked. “If somebody ever asked me, ‘how you do this, is there any way that I can do it?’ I will show them, but nobody is obligated to sign up for anything.”
Silva assures his patrons that people do not need to participate with Herbalife to visit the shop. “They don’t have to ever sign up for anything because we are providing mainly the restaurant experience.” He also pointed to his own family’s health to assuage concerns surrounding Herbalife supplements. “I have seen people saying these will cause damage to your health. The only thing I can say is that we, my wife and I, are being consumers for the last 16 years, and my parents for more than 20 years. I have four kids that have been consuming these smoothies since they were little.”
Hiram, Diana, and NayeliSilva
Since 2010, Hiram Silva has opened many shops like PDX Nutrition in the Seattle area. However, he does not currently own most of them. He opens the cafes and trains people on how to manage the shop before selling the business. He explained it is “kind of like a franchise,” and in that way, it continues the MLM strategy of growing a participant’s profit by bringing in other people behind them. This expansion into Montavilla is only the start of what will be a new focus in Oregon. “Our goal is to open at least four locations in the next one to two years in the Portland area.” Said Silva. The first few locations will stay within the family, with his daughters running them after he trains the new staff.
PDX Nutrition is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays. New customers receive $2.00 off when placing their first order. Look for a grand opening celebration after the first month in operation.
By
Jacob Loeb
Update: An entirely different Portland medical provider named PDX Nutrition is run by trained dietitians. That group organized in 2020, two years before the Glisan shop opened. “We are not affiliated with the storefront PDX Nutrition on Glisan,” explained Kate Webb, Registered Dietitian with PDX Nutrition.
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Fortune BBQ Noodle House opened this Friday, September 9th, at 18 SE 82nd Avenue. The restaurant occupies the once vacant storefront that previously housed Giant Gyros at the corner of E Burnside Street and SE 82nd Avenue. The first few days of operation brought in a steady volume of customers, depleting some of the menu items.
An article in Bridgetown Bites first identified Fortune BBQ Noodle House as the new tenet for this storefront last month. This new business continues over two decades of restaurant operations from this location. Before serving Chinese barbecue duck and pork, Giant Gyros offered Mediterranean food from 2017 until closing earlier this year. Subway sandwich shop occupied this space for many years prior to that, and plumbing permits indicate it was once an AM/PM convenience store.
Previous tenant Giant Gyros’ storefront
As a new venture for the owners, the restaurant is still building out its presence. However, the staff have years of food service experience, and early customer reviews indicate menu items are well prepared. They are open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., making them a dependable choice for an impromptu meal.
By
Jacob Loeb
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This week, Rey Taco opened at 145 SE 82nd Avenue, replacing Su Casa Taqueria. This standalone food cart is a new venture offering “LA Street Food.” Although reusing the Su Casa Taqueria cart, Rey Taco staff upgraded interior kitchen elements ahead of opening. The owners demolished the preexisting outdoor seating area and created a new covered deck with tables. The black cart now has a colorful wrapper featuring LA skyline imagery and the restaurant’s logs.
Su Casa Taqueria opened in that location around 2007 as the lone food cart in the area. Based on filings with Oregon’s business registry, several people operated the cart over its sixteen years. The host business for the restaurant also changed during that time. When food service began from this site, Meineke Car Care Center operated out of the single-story service station building. Later, Trendsetters Truck and Auto upgraded vehicles from this location. Now, the mobile kitchen sits in the northwest corner of the parking lot for Max’s Auto Spa.
Old Su Casa Taqueria logo
Rey Taco serves an assortment of tacos, birria quesa tacos, machetes, tortas, mulitas, burritos, enchiladas, and chilaquiles. Consider visiting this new open-air dining destination and explore the extensive menu. The cart is open daily for lunch and dinner. There is a discrepancy between Facebook and Google Maps regarding the hours of operation. However, they should start serving guests by 11 a.m. and close sometime after 9 p.m.
New Rey Taco logo
By
Jacob Loeb
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This month, the Chick-fil-A development team continued their preliminary work on redeveloping 9950 SE Stark Street. Designers have modified the project from the Early Assistance meeting last May. The current Early Assistance no longer seeks to demolish the approximately 7,012 square foot building or construct a drive-thru lane on the property. Instead, crews will rehabilitate the existing structure to host the fast food restaurant with 98 indoor seats. Plans still include some outdoor seating.
Currently zoned as Central Commercial (CX), City planners expect new developments on this property to maximize density and encourage urban activities. The CX zone allows projects with tall buildings placed close together. Developers working in this zone should create pedestrian-oriented structures with a strong emphasis on a safe and attractive streetscape. The proposed project on SE Stark Street will be a nonconforming use of the existing site. Portland allows noncomplying use within a zone when the building predates the new standards and only expects zone compliance to occur when property owners significantly redevelop the site. The status of nonconforming structures is not affected by changes in ownership or tenant. The project’s initial demolition and drive-thru-oriented redevelopment plan would need to adhere to the CX standards. This new renovation plan will create a different Chick-fil-A than most of the restaurant’s other locations but retain its nonconforming status and maintain the usage pattern of previous tenants.
The single-story structure, first built in 1984, hosted a wide range of restaurants and entertainment venues over the years. Rax Roast Beef owned the property until 1990. Recent tenets included Tony Roma’s restaurant, Hooters, Mystic Gentlemen’s Club, and Venue Gentlemen’s Club. If approved, Chick-fil-A will shift this location’s use back towards general fast food and away from adult-orientated services. The lack of a drive-thru window will limit some of the traffic impact experienced by the change in use. However, based on other Chick-fil-A locations, this could become one of the most popular destinations in the surrounding blocks and attract additional vehicles to the area. The project is likely months away from approval and may fail to move beyond the planning phase. Look for permit applications sometime next year if the City approves this site’s reuse.
Article originally published May 13th, 2022.
A recent land-use Early Assistance application indicates Chick-fil-A may soon open a new restaurant on SE Stark Street. If approved, developers will demolish the 1984-era building and construct a new fast food restaurant with a drive-thru window. Located at 9950 SE Stark Street, the 36,590 square-foot half-block property currently houses an adult entertainment club and bar.
The Chick-fil-A development team intends to construct a 4,991 square foot building with 98 indoor seats for guests. Outdoor canopies and an outdoor eating area with 12 patio seats would surround the new building. The property sits between SE Stark and SE Washington Streets, aligned at SE 99th Avenue near Mall 205. The site offers a variety of vehicle access points and is near the number 15 TriMet bus line. Other Chick-fil-A restaurants tend to attract many visitors, sometimes with lines spilling onto the neighboring street. However, this proposed Chick-fil-A is just six miles from the Clackamas restaurant and seven miles from the Gresham location. That density of stores may reduce peak demand for the proposed eatery and avoid traffic issues sometimes seen at other Chick-fil-A sites.
Developers use Early Assistance applications during the pre-planning phase of a project. Many proposals do not continue past this stage, and this Chick-fil-A may never materialize in this location. However, the addition of a popular destination restaurant in the area could draw in more visitors and improve business for neighboring stores. Expect to see updates regarding building permits if this project moves forward.
By
Jacob Loeb
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Later this year, the Mia and More restaurant will relocate from its original Beaverton shop to 326 SE 82nd Avenue. The store’s menu features fresh-pressed sugarcane juice, milk tea, fruit smoothies, and Vietnamese street food. Located in the Annex building near SE Stark Street, the retail space previously housed Las Tres Flores and All-Ways Warm fireplace store. Remodeling crews are now waiting on permit approvals before they begin transforming the space.
The Mia and More brand originated in Kent, Washington, several years ago. The owners license the name to other independent store operators across the country and supply licensees with sugarcane sourced from trusted farms in Vietnam. The Beaverton location was the first Mia and More in Oregon. Local restaurant owner Michelle Tran wanted to open her Mia and More location in Portland. However, an existing commercial lease in Beaverton allowed Tran to test the market before committing to a dedicated space.
Image courtesy of Mia and More
Tran is no stranger to Portland eateries, having owned The House of Ramen on SW Columbia Street for many years. However, with a 22-year-long career in the medical industry, Tran wanted to expand her food service work to include more fresh and natural products. The Mia and More brand had built a reputation for high-quality ingredients that appealed to her. “We blend the sugarcane juice with real fruit instead of powder. The only powder that we use with the taro powder, chocolate, and matcha, those are the ones we can’t help,” explained Tran.
Mia and More Beaverton Store, pressing sugarcane. Image courtesy of Mia and More
After a short time in Beaverton, Tran began looking for a location closer to her most active customers and a community with an appreciation for the menu items. “So when we were in Beaverton, people had to drive all the way from Portland, Vancouver, Salem to get to the Beaverton location. We chose the Montavilla area because it’s quite packed with Vietnamese population right there.” Said Tran. Designers started work on the new location in March, but City permitting delays stalled construction. Tran could not staff both sites simultaneously and had intended to close the original restaurant around the time of opening the SE Portland spot. However, construction delays have pushed the opening date past August, and it is still uncertain when renovations will be complete. The old location is now closed, leaving customers eager for the Montavilla restaurant to open.
Image courtesy of Mia and More
Michelle Tran explained that the new storefront is smaller than her old location. Consequentially, the staff will need to cut down the menu some. However, the popular drink offerings will remain the central focus of the store. Look for an update within the next few months announcing the official opening date for Mia and More on SE 82nd Avenue.
Las Tres Flores has relocated down the street to 24 SE 82nd Avenue, inside the Santa Cruz Bakery and Taqueria.
By
Jacob Loeb
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SE 82nd Avenue may soon have a new food cart pod near the popular SE Stark commercial area. A recent Early Assistance application revealed plans for the large corner property on SE 82nd Avenue at SE Ash Street. The new owner of 218 SE 82nd Avenue wants to demolish the existing Recreational Vehicle (RV) sales buildings and construct a food cart pod with an overhead canopy structure and other amenities.
B&U Properties bought the corner lot used by Budget RV Center in November of 2021. The same Limited Liability Company had recently acquired three lots adjacent to the RV sales property in June of 2021. B&U Properties is owned by Uday Seelam, who previously operated a food cart business and has experience in the food service industry.
The combined site owned by B&U Properties is 260 feet long and 100 feet deep, making it a sizable dining venue with space for parking and dozens of food carts. The proposal for the site includes adding water and sewer services to support the food carts, along with a shared trash enclosure. Crews will reconstruct the existing commercial driveway and add a pedestrian entrance from SE 82nd Avenue. They will also provide modular bathrooms on site, similar to the facilities installed at The Yard at Montavilla food cart pod.
This new food cart pod would be Montavilla’s second culinary collective opened in the last few years. The Yard at Montavilla greeted guests a year ago, just two blocks to the north. One month before the Yard’s grand opening, the Collective Oregon Eateries (CORE) at 3612 SE 82nd Avenue opened near SE Powell Blvd. If approved, this new pod could create a competitive marketplace for food cart operators seeking favorable rent while remaining in the same vicinity. This project is in the early stages of development and will likely not begin construction until sometime in 2023.
By
Jacob Loeb
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Neighborhood news site focused on buildings and changing businesses
