Tag: 8243 SE Division

Food and Drink, New Business, Restaurant

Stop By Bakery and Deli on Division

On December 5th, 2023, Waseem Elaibi opened Stop By Bakery & Deli at 8245 SE Division Street near Portland Community College’s southeast campus. The owner and chief baker migrated from Iraq in 2016, bringing traditional baking skills first honed in his youth. The menu features halal-compliant foods and many freshly baked items, including samoon, an Iraqi bread enjoyed by many cultures throughout neighboring regions.

Stop By Bakery & Deli is Elaibi’s first restaurant, although he worked as a baker early in his career. Before moving to the United States with his family, he worked with electronics, repairing phones in Iraq. Elaibi explained that as technical jobs became more scarce, he saw an opportunity to rekindle his commercial cooking know-how. Finding affordable rent in a former Mexican restaurant on SE Division Street, he opened his bakery with what he believes are the town’s finest halal dishes made with the freshest ingredients, enhanced by his flavorful sauces. Stop By Bakery creates organic bread and other baked goods from this location, giving customers access to recipes developed before mass production altered the way people cook.

Since opening, Elaibi has updated the menu to accommodate customer requests. Although he enjoys cooking the gyros, kebabs, and other dishes, he hopes to hire more kitchen staff to bolster the offerings. For now, he is focusing on creating fresh bakery goods, including a well-reviewed baklava. People can also purchase dried goods at Stop By Bakery & Deli, and they accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefit cards. Waseem Elaibi invites people to come to try his signature bread from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. He thinks there is a good chance new customers will experience unique dishes that some guests may have never experienced before and perhaps find new favorites.

Article and phots by

Jacob Loeb

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Business Closing, Food and Drink

Enchilada Express Closes SE Division Location

Enchilada Express shuttered its Montavilla location after a temporary closure became permanent. The restaurant owners ask customers to visit the original SE Powell location instead or order online. The food-service-ready storefront at 8243 SE Division Street is once again available for lease after less than three years.

Enchilada Express opened this second location on SE Division in February 2021. This pandemic-era expansion forced the restaurant to focus on takeout orders and sales through delivery apps. Enchilada Express had difficulty establishing a solid customer base in the two-and-a-half years they worked in this space. Foot traffic from the nearby community college has yet to return to pre-covid levels, and changes to the street eliminated some on-street parking. A few other eating establishments have recently closed in this area for various reasons, adding to a cluster of vacant storefronts on this block.

Although this area has several empty retail spaces, commercial property around SE 82nd Avenue and Division Street could increase activity as more residential projects break ground. Developers plan to build a 143-unit apartment building called Jade Lofts on the neighboring block at 8301 SE Division Street. Additional housing developments in the pre-planning phase will bring more residents to the Portland Community College SE Campus and the former Canton Grill property. However, waiting two to three years for new customers is not viable for many businesses, and current conditions are challenging for existing shops. As things improve in this area over the next few years, this former Enchilada Express space may provide affordable retail space in a desirable location. People interested in leasing the now vacant shop space should call 503-407-7936.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News has a Patreon account. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to please consider becoming a paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Event, New Business, Restaurant

Enchilada Express Opens on Division

Enchilada Express opened its second location this week. The new restaurant, serving Mexican food, is open for takeout. Located on SE Division next to the recently completed Pacific Plaza, this additional location is in the heart of a rapidly growing section of Montavilla.

Located at 8245 SE Division Street, this Enchilada Express location joins the original restaurant on SE Powell Blvd. The menu offers a range of Mexican dishes that should be popular with the lunchtime crowd. Place orders over the phone at 503-477-9800, on their website, or when visiting the location.