Tag: Isamini Bar

Bar, Construction, Food and Drink, New Business

Dzô Opens on NE Glisan

This month, Dzô Bar and Grill opened at 7907 NE Glisan Street, offering a lineup of Asian-inspired cocktails and Vietnamese food. This Vietnamese American sports bar blends classic pub menu items with dishes like Phở and fried rice. The full bar offers a wide range of cocktails, imported beers, and microbrews. Patrons can watch a variety of games playing on four large-screen televisions while enjoying their drink or meal.

Owner, Sam Nguyen, explained that the bar’s name originates from a customary expression of celebration. “Dzô is pronounced yo in Vietnamese, and it just means cheers. It’s a tradition in Vietnam where they count 1-2-3-Dzô” before drinking. It represents the communal and friendly environment that Nguyen wants to cultivate inside her establishment.

Nguyen and her husband, Hao Le, started this bar as an enjoyable way to shift away from their demanding careers. Nguyen is a working physician assistant (PA), and the recent trend in her workplace has made it less fulfilling. “I just feel burnt out from my job, especially during COVID,” said Nguyen. Packed hospitals and heightened patient demands caused her to reconsider how she wanted to spend her workdays. Sam Nguyen found this space thanks to her sister, who owns the Thanh Billiards club next door. The building’s owner completely renovated the storefronts in 2020, leaving all but the billiards location vacant. This location, with built-in customers from the neighboring business, was just the opportunity Nguyen and Le were looking for.

The bar’s owners did not anticipate how long the City’s permitting process would take when starting the build-out process nearly two years ago. Fortunately, the landlord helped with the rent while they waited for permit approvals. The extended spin-up time allowed the owners to gradually create a well-finished interior. The newly built-out space features a modern rustic design with wainscoting wrapping the dinning-room and white subway tile framing the full kitchen. Colorful LED light strips highlight details throughout the bar, and directional overhead lighting creates a visual definition around each table.

Nguyen and Le are adjusting the drink and food menus over the next few months based on customer demand and feedback. However, some items are already a hit. Nguyen is particularly proud of their Lychee Lime Fizz cocktail and Phở. The owners have two staff helping them run the location, and they are open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day except Wednesdays. Stop by with some friends and toast with a “cheers” or “Dzô” as you see fit.

By

Jacob Loeb

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Construction, Infrastructure

New Glisan Sidewalk Removes On-Site Parking

Update – The sidewalk reconstruction is now complete, with cars parked along the new curb. The work fulfills a Portland mandated change, explains Alex Ianos, the property owner. “The city wanted me to close the driveway due to the safety of people backing up into Glisan.” 

City staff did not require the parking lot’s removal during last year’s renovations. However, recent tenant improvements for the upcoming Isamini Bar allowed Portland to apply new parking design standards at the site. “A bar is opening in the small space close to the pool hall, and that permit triggered the sidewalk work,” said Ianos.

Completed sidewalk

Original article published November 19th, 2021

This week, crews reconstructed a section of sidewalk at 7909 NE Glisan Street. The building’s new owner redeveloped the property in 2020, replacing much of the sidewalk on the corner and creating extended curbs for shorter street crossings. The new mid-block pedestrian space removes a curb cut for onsite parking and adds two additional street tree cutouts, reconnecting the block’s tree line.

This redesigned sidewalk will abandon the current four-car parking lot in front of the single-story portion of the building. However, at least three more curbside parking spaces are now available for public parking on the block. The former parking slab may become outdoor seating for a future tenant or become a shared outdoor space for the building.

The nose-in parking used at this site can be hazardous for drivers and pedestrians. It creates a long section of sidewalk where cars could cross with reduced visibility. Additionally, cars have to back out into heavy traffic on NE Glisan when leaving. This sidewalk reconstruction will bring more trees to NE Glisan and should deliver enhanced safety. Look for a better walking experience at this location soon.

Concrete forms establishing three street tree cut outs

Bar, New Business

Isamini Bar on NE Glisan

A new bar is coming to NE Glisan Street later this year. Located at 7901 NE Glisan Street Unit 4, Isamini Bar is the creation of Sam Nguyen. This is one of the first businesses to appear in the recently renovated 1890 era building.

The first information regarding the bar surfaced in a Liquor Licence application last week. When reached for comment, Sam Nguyen explained that Isamini Bar has a tentative opening date in early summer. However, COVID-19 makes exact timelines challenging to predict.

Located in the building’s single-story section, the bar will be a cozy 667 square-feet. The real estate flyer for the building provides a rough outline of the space. Although still in development, Nguyen offered a broad description of the coming menu “We’re offering a small selection of draft beers, bottled beers, wine, American/Asian appetizers, and food.”

Nguyen is new to bar ownership and should bring a unique perspective to the establishment. Transitioning from the medical field, starting Isamini Bar provides a need change for Nguyen. As COVIS-19 restrictions lift, people will likely rush back to public gathering spaces. This newest destination on Glisan should offer a comfortable space for people to interact with friends and restore their social lives.