Tag: COVID-19

Business Closing

Coworking Space Consolidated

Collective Agency has moved out of its coworking space located at 7819 SE Stark Street. This was one of three locations for the Collective Agency, and the only one that has been permanently closed. Customers of the coworking space, called Members, will now have to relocate to another location.

All three locations have been closed during the statewide restrictions surrounding COVID-19. Alex Linsker, the owner of Collective Agency, is keeping the Member community engaged with outdoor meetups, Zoom calls, movie nights, and soon a July 4th barbecue..

Member movie night

With a tagline of Coworking Spaces with Cozy Community, being open during the age of social distancing was not an option for the small Montavilla space. The Montavilla location would have been the hardest location to reopen, and “the Montavilla community is the least tied to a physical space.” Said Linsker. Closing the Montavilla location resulted in only three Members leaving.

Starting in Phase 2 of Multnomah County’s reopening, Montavilla Members will be able to use the location at 3050 SE Division Street. The downtown location will also reopen at the same time as the Division Street location. However, they are looking to sublease the space soon.

Downtown location with new spaced out configuration

Linsker describes the Montavilla Members as being “very” support of the changes needing to be made by the Collective Agency. The consolidation of locations seems like a sound business decision. Alex Linsker is a proponent of Small in this Together and hopes for some relief for businesses affected by COVID-19 closures. Regardless of what assistance businesses receive, tough choices are required. This closure is a prime example of the tough decisions many business owners are making.

Montavilla location after closing
Business Closing

Pottery Fun Closing on Stark

Pottery Fun is closing its store in Old Town Montavilla. For Rent signs are now posting in the window of the longtime staple of Stark street. Located at 7821 SE Stark Street, Pottery Fun offered craft activities for individuals and groups.

Pottery Fun temporarily closed March 16th, in response to COVID-19 containment efforts. The website and voicemail for Pottery Fun have not yet been updated to reflect any change in business location or closure of this location. They have been at this spot on Stark street since October of 2010.

During their years in business, Pottery Fun has been featured in both the Portland Tribune and SE Examiner. They will certainly be missed as a family-friendly entertainment option in the neighborhood.

Disclosure: The author’s daughter once worked at Pottery Fun, many years previous.

Bar, Event, Food and Drink, Restaurant

Parking Plazas on Stark

As Montavilla restaurants and bars continue to reopen, Parking Plazas are now appearing on SE Stark Street. Businesses are converting parking spaces to extensions of their regular indoor seating.

Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) offers Healthy Businesses permits, enabling the closure of curbside parking and streets. These spaces allow business to distance customers from one-another, without sacrificing too much seating. Plazas like these are part of the PBOT Safe Streets Initiative and the hope is it will be a safer way to visit local businesses.

Vino Veritas, at 7835 SE Stark Street, was the first along Stark Street to open their Parking Plaza. Vino Veritas is a wine bar with a select offering of food items. Between 4PM and 9:30PM, the Parking Plaza is decorated with colorful umbrellas. They provide shade over a handful of tables, that are placed within the wine barrel parameter.

Redwood restaurant will open their Parking Plaza Wednesday, June 24th. This is the first day since the COVID-19 closure, that Redwood has opened for dine in and take out. Redwoods’ Parking Plaza is the most elaborate in Montavilla to date. They have constructed a double sided Shadow Box fence around the area, where others have just used rope or chain. Redwood is located at 7915 SE Stark Street.

Each business is using Parking Plaza in a method that matched their business. Threshold Brewing & Blending has their own take on a Parking Plazas, just around the corner from these two. While the weather is nice, these should be a good aid to deal with the challenges of reopening. Patrons can already be spotted making use of these outdoor venues, to the relief of many business owners.

Bar, Event, Food and Drink

Threshold Creates a Parking Plaza

Threshold Brewing & Blending is one of the first Montavilla businesses to setup a PBOT sanctioned Parking Plaza. This outdoor seating option takes over designated street parking spaces. The additional space allows businesses to serve customers outside and reduces the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Located at 403 SE 79th Ave, Threshold Brewing & Blending offers beer on tap and a small selection of food items. Their Parking Plaza extends the width of the building. Four additional tables now join the existing two outdoor tables.

In response to COVID-19 restrictions, Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) created the Safe Streets Initiative. Part of this initiative is the Healthy Businesses permit, which allows for Parking Plazas like this one. Parking Plazas are the smallest space that can be reserved for seating. It is possible to take over a lane of traffic and the curb side parking. PBOT will also allow side streets and main street closures. However, none of the larger Plazas configurations have been proposed for Montavilla.

PBOT hopes that additional outdoor seating will lessen the business impact of the increased table spacing, required in Phase 1 reopening. Many businesses are only able to seat half the number of guests, compared to before the restrictions. Outdoor seating could also attract customers still fearful of visiting public spaces. The safety of outdoor activities has been touted by some health officials and outdoor dining may be a safer way to visit restaurants and bars. How popular this option will become, is still undetermined.

Event, Food and Drink, New Business, Restaurant

Lazy Susan’s Curbside Open

Along SE 80th, a large grill cooks sizzling meat. Staff at Lazy Susan have not yet settled on an official opening date, however they have started curbside service for Montavilla locals.

Lazy Susan is located at 7937 SE Stark on the corner of SE 80th Ave and Stark Street. They had intended to open months prior, but delayed due to COVID-19. They are still putting the finishing touches on the interior of the restaurant but that will not stop them from cooking. “We are serving barbecue to the neighborhood curbside, and offering awesome beverages like sangria slushies and piña colada snow cones.” Wrote Kayla Morrell of Lazy Susan PDX.

Lazy Susan has taken curbside service to an extreme, cooking and selling the food from the sidewalk. Orders for food and drinks are placed at the front door on SE Stark Street. Around the corner the food is prepped and grilled. They offer waiting chairs along the front of the building, spaced apart for safety.

Lazy Susan staff have successfully brought a mini version of their restaurant, to the sidewalk. Plates are priced at $15, with your choice of meat. A crescent roll and potato salad are included. They are open 12 to 4 PM.

Event, Food and Drink

Montavilla Street Fair 2020 Canceled

This years Montavilla Street Fair has been canceled in response to COVID-19. The annual event was set to occur on July 26th and would have been on SE Stark street, as it has for many years. The event is hosted by the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA). METBA President, Pete Dills, announced the cancelation at the June 16th association meetup.

The decision to cancel this years fair was driven by many factors. Concern for everyones health was the primary reason. Beyond that concern, the States reopening guidelines would also prohibit any event like the street fair. In past years the event has attracted thousands of visitors. Any social distancing plan would be complicated and hard to monitor. “I do not know how we would ‘police’ something like that,” said Dills.

Logistics alone were not the only reason to cancel this years fair. METBA Board member, Carmen Wilson, added that the issues were also financial. The Permits for closing Stark street, from 76th Ave to 82nd Ave, is a large cost to METBA. They would be unlikely to recoup that cost through in donations this year. Instead, METBA wishes to use the funds they have to support local businesses in other ways.

Dills presented a few ideas of how METBA could help local businesses, instead of hosting the street fair. One idea, would try to replicate the business exposer from participating in the fair. The structure of the program would spread out participation over a month, to allow for COVID-19 related restrictions. Currently it’s referred to as “Montavilla Passport.” The Passport would be a mobile-device friendly why to interact with or patronize local businesses. This may be though in person visits or no-contact ways of interacting.

Dills’ other idea, had METBA creating a neighborhood scavenger hunt. Both ideas have the goal to help the residents know “what businesses are open and provide opportunities for the Montavilla community to support their local business district in fun and unique ways.” Wrote Dills in an email to Montavilla News.

METBA is seeking advice and feedback from the community about what can replace the Montavilla Street Fair this year. You are invited to email montavilla.biz@gmail.com with your ideas and thoughts on what METBA should do. Local businesses need extra support this year and now is the best time to start work on how the community can band together.

Event, Food and Drink, Restaurant

Redwood Opening June 24th – UPDATED

UPDATE – Redwood restaurant has decided to push back their opining until Wednesday Jun 24th. Jessie Hawkins, Front of the House Manager at Redwood, informed Montavilla News about the change. In a text message she wrote “The numbers were not looking good so we hesitated to prep a bunch of food before we knew for sure.”

This echoes the choices many restaurant owners have made recently. With last week’s delay in entering Phase 1, many chose to wait and see if Multnomah County would be delayed again. Today, Governor Kate Brown announced we can enter Phase 1 this Friday but for many that assurance came too late.

  • Original Post from June 12th

Redwood is scheduled to reopen Friday June 19th. Originally staff planned to open the restaurant on the 17th but that’s “currently not possible.” Said Jessie Hawkins, Front of the House Manager at Redwood. Hawkins explained that the date could change again, depending on whether Governor Kate Brown gives approval for Multnomah County’s Phase 1 reopening.

Redwood, like many local restaurants and bars, had to adjust their plans. Thursday evening Governor Brown announced a week long pause to Oregon’s phased reopening. This last minute change caught businesses off guard, some planning on opining the next day. Many hope that this will only be a seven day long delay and not a prolonged wait to enter Phase 1.

Redwood is located at 7915 SE Stark Street, in the center of Montavilla Town. They offer brunch and dinner from Chef Susie Blue and drinks of all types, at their bar.

Bar, Event, Food and Drink

Montavilla Saloon Opening Friday – UPDATED

UPDATE – Due to Governor Kate Brown decision to pause reopening efforts, Montavilla Saloon will not be opining today. The below note was was posted on the businesses’ FaceBook Page.

“We’re out here getting ready for you all! Looks like multnomah county will be holding off for yet another week! See you all Friday the 19th! We can’t wait to see you“

  • Original Post from June 10th

Montavilla Saloon, located at 8012 NE Glisan Street, will open on June 12th. They are joining other Montavilla bars also set to open this Friday, as part of Multnomah County’s phase 1 reopening. A simple massage is posted on the chalkboard at the front door. It reads “Open Friday @2 PM Thank You.”

Bar, Event, Food and Drink

Montavilla Station Set to Reopen Friday – UPDATED

UPDATE – Due to Governor Kate Brown decision to pause reopening efforts, Montavilla Station announced they will not reopen as planned. The below message appeared on the bar’s FaceBook page.

“We are NOT able to open Friday June 12th. We MAY be able to open Friday June 19th. Stay tuned….“

  • Original Post from June 9th

Montavilla Station announced on their Facebook page, intentions to reopen this Friday. Opening is contingent on Multnomah county entering Phase 1 reopening. The below post appeared Monday evening:

“We are gearing up to REOPEN! IF Multnomah county is approved for Phase I reopening, we will re-open this Friday, 6/12 at 11:00 am. Things WILL be different, however as we need to adhere to state guidelines: Please do not come if you feel sick; table seating only (no bar seating); maximum of 10 people in a party seated together; maintain 6 feet distance from others not in your party at all times; wear a face mask when not seated at your table; no karaoke, pool tables, or live music; video poker machines will open with restrictions. Please be courteous and respectful to our employees and to other patrons and we can all stay safe! We look forward to seeing you all soon!“

Montavilla Station is a bar located at 417 SE 80th Ave.

Bar, Construction, Food and Drink, New Business, Restaurant

Tinker Tavern to Start Construction

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.