Tag: Mudd Works

Entertainment, Food and Drink, New Business

Secret Sauna is Social in Montavilla

Article and photos originally published in Bridgetown Bites by

Meg Cotner

Secret Sauna: The name is intriguing right off the bat. So what is it? It’s literally a sauna parked on the patio behind Montavilla’s Replicant Wine Bar (shared by Mudd Works Cafe in the mornings). It offers a place to relax, enjoy some drinks and food, sit around the fire pit, and have a sauna. And as of today, it is officially open.

I met with Sarah Mayo, the owner of the Secret Sauna, to learn more about the sauna and its connection to the businesses that are hosting it.

Sign indicating patio hours, stating 'Patio closes at 9 pm!' above a cardboard poster announcing 'Coming Soon... secret sauna' with an Instagram handle.
It’s a sign (Meg Cotner – Bridgetown Bites)

Secret Sauna Overview

I’ll also add that this interview was a first for Bridgetown Bites: The majority of it took place in the sauna itself, wood fire happily burning in its stove. And yes, it was very relaxing.

Interior of a wooden sauna featuring a black stove with rocks and an open flame, surrounded by wooden benches.
Sauna, rocks, fire, and window inside the Secret Sauna (Meg Cotner – Bridgetown Bites)

It’s a barrel-style sauna structure—but not perfectly round like most barrel saunas are. Think of it as a square with rounded corners. That means straighter sides, giving more space inside the sauna, adding to the comfort level. It is made of cedar wood, and produced by AC Forest Saunas in BC, Canada.

The sauna itself is warmed by a wood fire rather than by infrared technology. There is a bucket with water that you can use to ladle over the hot igneous rocks (the best kind of rocks for a sauna) to create steam.

There is room for about a dozen people inside the sauna (more, if people want to be closer to each other). There will be an area for cold showers (an easier setup than a cold plunge, while still providing contrast therapy), and there is also an outbuilding that holds four dressing rooms, a stack of rental towels and sandals, and a check-in desk.

Connection to Replicant and Mudd Works

I was curious to know what Sarah’s connection was to the Replicant/Mudd Works space. She’s a neighbor and a fan.

Interior view of a cozy cafe featuring a wooden bar with black stools, colorful artwork on the walls, plants, and warm lighting.
Replicant Wine Bar and Mudd Works Cafe space (Meg Cotner – Bridgetown Bites)

“So I live in Montavilla and this is my favorite spot to just come and have a glass of wine,” she explained. “And I love the patio—I was here all summer last year. And there’s these big trees behind that I think are so unique for this space. We’re behind the building, have a little bit of privacy, and then these trees are just so great.”

Tall evergreen tree with dense green foliage viewed from below against a cloudy sky.
The tops of the trees by the Secret Sauna (Meg Cotner – Bridgetown Bites)

Sara’s Previous Work

Before she got into the sauna business, she worked in investor relations for commercial real estate investment companies. “I was doing that full-time in-house for a few different companies up until 2023,” she explained. “At that time, it was venture capital instead of commercial real estate, but still in the investor relations field.”

She also worked with startups and did consulting for smaller companies in this same field for a couple years. But at one point, something changed.

“My values had been shifting a lot,” she explained. “And once I was not working on [investor] projects anymore and thinking more about what I was actually doing, I realized that it was making rich people richer.” It’s safe to say that she craved doing something that supported community rather than participating in something she considered to be destructive.

The Start of the Secret Sauna

So how did the Secret Sauna come to be? It began with COVID. “So this whole thing started in October,” Sarah said. “I had COVID twice back to back, and I was sitting at home for eight weeks, basically losing my mind. I knitted a hat, and then I’m like, ‘What do I do now?’”

The Sauna Business, and a Partnership

“I was looking for something new to do anyway, and I kind of always had this idea to do a sauna business—but I hadn’t seriously explored it,” said Sarah. While she was stuck at home with COVID she started building a financial model for the potential business, along with creating a business plan. “And then I thought, ‘This could actually work!’” she exclaimed.

As soon as she got a negative COVID test, she messaged the Instagram account for Replicant Wine Bar, which was her number one choice of location for the sauna.

“And so I messaged the Instagram account,” explained Sarah. “Mila [short for Gianpiero Milani, the owner of Replicant—and yes, it’s a “Blade Runner” reference] answered within five minutes. We didn’t know each other—he had probably seen me here, but we hadn’t met each other. I showed the idea to him and he said ‘That sounds really cool. And can you come in to talk?’” She came in the next day, and the rest is history.

She appreciates how collaborative he is and how he caught on to her vision so easily. “I didn’t even have to explain a whole lot about the idea,” she said. “He could just like see it, and was getting excited about it, too. He thought this was a great way to use the space.”

When Marco at Mudd Works heard about, he, too, was excited about it and wanted to support the project.

What Type of Sauna Is the Secret Sauna?

I wondered if she was going to encourage any specific type of sauna culture—the two that came to mind immediately were Finnish and Russian. She replied, “It’s a PNW-type of sauna, but I think that I’m kind of trying to emulate the Finnish style. I don’t have Finnish roots, so I’m not trying to like culturally appropriate it or anything. But I think that’s the style that a lot of people are familiar with.”

A wooden barrel sauna with a rounded roof, featuring a main door with circular windows, wooden benches on either side, and an orange bucket for supplies placed nearby.
Sauna room (Meg Cotner – Bridgetown Bites)

The Secret Sauna Is Social

Sarah says she wants to create a sauna atmosphere that is social, a way for guests to connect. “The vibe that I really want to go for is making this more of a social experience,” she explained. “Not like at other saunas that I’ve been to, where you’re kind of sitting silently, everyone’s quiet, and you’re almost afraid to make noise.”

She continued, “The sauna experiences that I’ve liked the most are where strangers are talking to each other and maybe even making friends and plans for later. And that was part of the vision—if I could be in an environment that is already somewhat social (like a bar and bonus coffee shop), then that was what I was going for when I was envisioning this.”

However, she may consider creating some designated quiet hours, “so people can self-direct into the type of experience they want,” she said.

Managing Your Secret Sauna Session: Inside and Outside

During a sauna session, it usually involves breaks, which could be a cold plunge or simply sitting outside to cool down. Sarah has a number of chairs nearby to sit in, and there is a fire pit to sit around where you can also be social.

Outdoor seating area with orange wire chairs arranged around a black fire pit, surrounded by a wood stack and trees.
Fire pit outside sauna room (Meg Cotner – Bridgetown Bites)

At this point in your sauna experience, you can enjoy a beverage—whether that’s a drink from Replicant or coffee from Mudd Works, or drinks (herbal tea, lemon water, electrolyte drink) that Sarah will provide.

They will also install some showers just to the south of the sauna structure. They want them to be heated as well as having cold water for contrast therapy.

So why a cold shower and not a cold plunge? It’s a practical choice. “Cold plunges in Portland are kind of hard to do ,” Sarah explained. “They’re classified as pools, so then you’re required to have all of the same level of filtration and circulation that a pool has.” This was more involved than her resources could handle. So instead of a cold plunge, you can do a cold shower if you want to. I’ve had this experience at other saunas, and it has been satisfying.

How To Dress in the Secret Sauna

A visit to the sauna during public hours will require you to be clothed (like in a swimsuit or athletic clothes—but not street clothes) but any private events can be clothing-optional. You’ll just need to wrap yourself in a towel when you step outside from the sauna. Next door to Replicant/Mudd Works/Secret Sauna is an auto shop, and there are private homes nearby.

A wooden structure with a rounded door featuring three circular windows, accompanied by an orange bucket labeled 'MORE DOING: FILL CHECK REPEAT' filled with sticks.
The sauna, seating, and the patio seating for Replicant/Mudd Works (Meg Cotner – Bridgetown Bites)

Additionally, this is a shared space among folks who are eating and drinking things from Replicant and Mudd Works who are not planning to sauna. There is no hard separation between the patio seating area for the two businesses and the sauna side, apart from the big sauna structure itself. That means anyone can stop by over near the sauna and use that seating. “We’re not keeping anything strictly segregated at all,” said Sarah.

Drinking and Eating Inside the Sauna

At this point here will be no food or drinks inside the sauna for a variety of reasons—of course there’s the potential mess from liquids and comestibles, as well as the risky warming of some food; any kind of glass itself could get quite hot, too.

As a solution to help guests keep track of their drinks from the wine bar or cafe, is that there will be set of racks with cubbies for storage.

Collabs With Replicant and Mudd Works

I was curious to see if there were any future collaborations with Replicant and/or Mudd Works on drinks or food. “I would love to like collab on that with them,” said Sarah. “My focus has just been on getting open.” This is fair.

She’d like to talk with them more about ideas they have regarding collaborations. One idea she had was to create promotions—discounts on drinks. or a combo of a sauna sesson and a drink. She has not nailed down any specifics on that quite yet.

Winter vs. Summer

I was curious to learn if the Secret Sauna will be available all year, or just during the winter/colder seasons. Summers can be hot so perhaps a sauna is less appealing then. “My plan initially was that I’d be closed during the summer,” said Sarah. “And Mila wants the backyard space fully back during the summer, so I am committed to moving this on out during the summer.”

In case it wasn’t obvious, the sauna is on wheels.

“And this is a trial year, so we’re going to see how this goes and then see what people want. If I’m still super busy in May, then maybe I would look for another place to be during the summer. I’m just not sure exactly yet.”

Pricing

A social session is $40 for a 75 minute session and $270 for a private session. She is also considering a multi punch pass where it’s like cheaper per visit if you buy multiple sessions ahead of time. She is also considering memberships, but that idea needs to be hashed out a bit first.  

Sauna Hours

Right now, she’s planning on having the sauna available to reserve starting at noon with the final slot at 7:40pm. She may adjust that in the future—for instance, she’d like to be open in the mornings, but it requires having enough staff.

They had a little bit of a soft opening last week, and now the places is open for booking!

Also note that the sauna is for those age 18 and older only.

What Sets the Secret Sauna Apart

First, it’s heated via wood-fire rather than infrared. Sarah has strong feelings about infrared saunas. She points out that the two heating elements work in different ways, and she prefers the traditional heat source—wood fire warms your body in a way that is easy and familiar.

Infrared heat has been around a fraction of the time (decades) compared to traditional wood fire (thousands of years). “I don’t think that they have the amount of longitudinal research [for infrared saunas] that exists for traditional saunas,” she said.

That said, she acknowledges that people will gravitate towards the type of experience that they want to have—whether it’s the way a sauna is heated, or the level of social interaction in a particular sauna. “I think the biggest differentiator here is this social vibe that we’re trying to cultivate, and how you can have like a beer or a glass of wine.” Also note there are some food options (pastries, pizza) to enjoy along with beverages in the back by the sauna.

She wants the accoutrements to a Secret Sauna experience to be solid, as well. That’s the hot herbal tea, lemon water, and electrolyte drink; secure changing rooms; a dry floor, secure hooks on the wall, and a shelf or cubby for your things. “We’ve thought through all of those little details,” she added.

This also includes the availability of towels and shoes for rent, swimsuits for sale, in case you find yourself at Replicant/Mudd Works and realize there is a sauna in the back, but you didn’t prepare yourself ahead of time.

Additional Details

Right now she is open five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday. The sauna’s day off will include doing any cleaning that  needs to be done aside from what is done throughout the week, and a chance for Sarah to catch up on admin work and other projects for the sauna, too. And, to take a break.

You can book your sauna session on the Secret Sauna website.

This is a very interesting mix of sauna relaxation, access to food and drink, and an unconventional social opportunity, all in one place in the north section of the Montavilla neighborhood. Replicant/Mudd Works is cozy, the sauna is cozy, and it’s a nice place to hang out in.

Wishing Sarah all the best with the Secret Sauna!

Secret Sauna [opened January 29, 2026]
Behind Replicant Wine Bar and Mudd Works Cafe
7033 NE Glisan Street, Portland
Secret Sauna website | Instagram

Article and photos originally published in Bridgetown Bites by

Meg Cotner

This article originally published in Bridgetown Bites on January 29th, 2026. Montavilla News republished it with permission of the editor and author. All copyrights remain with the original publisher.

Meg Cotner lives in NE Portland and is the editor and publisher of the independent Portland food news website Bridgetown Bites. She is also an active editor and writer, and the author of “Food Lovers’ Guide to Queens” (2023, Globe Pequot Press)

Community, Event, Food and Drink

Montavilla’s 2025 Fall Crawl and Trick or Treat Events

Starting October 17th, visitors to select Montavilla businesses can pick up a “Fall Crawl Passport” card from participating locations and collect stickers with purchases to earn a raffle entry. Completed passports are due back at Arbor Hall on SE Stark Street or Replicant/Mudd Works Cafe by the close of the event on October 31st. During the sticker collecting and business visiting event, the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) will also host a Trick or Treat event on Sunday, October 26th. A printed map shows key participants, and the METBA site displays individual business hours for the candy giveaway.

METBA organized both events as part of its annual tradition to create a safe and fun celebration of Autumn. The idea of a Montavilla pub crawl grew in popularity in 2019 when Threshold opened the neighborhood’s second brewery in the historic SE Stark Street downtown area. The concept grew into a more formalized event as part of METBA’s Harvest Festival and now includes a variety of activities, including a week-long shopping event for a chance to win a prize. Additionally, bars, restaurants, and other participating businesses may offer special entertainment and discounts.

A decorated house at night with colorful green and red lights, featuring Halloween decorations, including skeletons, pumpkin lanterns, and a ghost figure.
Montavilla home decorated for Halloween

Burgerville at 8218 NE Glisan Street will offer a free coupon for a food item with purchase for passport holders. Kim’s Tae Kwon-Do at 9003 SE Stark Street will provide free classes for passport holders on Tuesday and Thursday during the event from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street will host a special beer release on Halloween, celebrating its three new fall/winter seasonal brews. NightOwl Custom Apparel will offer free stickers and treats for those visiting the shop at 7114 NE Glisan Street in costume. The Glisan Fred Meyers branch of OnPoint Community Credit Union, located at 6615 NE Glisan Street, will feature a prize wheel on October 31st and offer candy on all other passport dates.

For October 26th specific activities, Beanstalk Children’s Resale at 8021 SE Stark Street will have “trick-or-treat goodies for the kiddos” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. DolFUN Dynamics will host a free Halloween party from 2 to 3 p.m. for children twelve years old and younger at 9260 SE Stark Street, along with a discount of $50 off the first month of classes for new enrollments. Personal Beast at 8119 SE Stark Street is offering a 25% discount on select dog and cat bulk treats from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Although not included on the map, Threshold Brewing & Blending, Academy Theater, and Flying Pie Pizza will participate in the Trick or Treat event.

A spooky Halloween-themed display featuring a creepy clown figure with glowing yellow eyes, holding a large lollipop, surrounded by colorful banners and festive decorations.
2023 Nightmare on Taylor Street haunted walkthrough animated creature

Many more locations will participate. An extensive list is available on the METBA Fall Events website page at metba.org. People trying to win the raffle can receive two stickers per purchase of $5 or more from participating locations, and every five stickers counts towards a raffle entry to increase the chances of winning. For a scarier, yet family-friendly event, consider “Nightmare on Taylor St,” featuring The Madhouse of MonstaVilla at 7926 SE Taylor Street. That October 31st event is a haunted walkthrough hosted by a resident who creates an elaborate experience for the neighborhood. As with most years, Montavilla plans to have an active fall celebration throughout the last half of October. Look for these events and more through the neighborhood.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Community, Event, Food and Drink

NE Glisan’s Winter Wassail Dec 14

On December 14th, Montavilla businesses along NE Glisan Street are again hosting a special holiday event full of activities, discounts, and unique offerings. The Saturday Winter Wassail event spans the day during each location’s operating hours, with a street-wide celebration from 5 to 8 p.m. People should check the shops’ social media or the event page for specific extended hours and updates.

Some event highlights include Wreath Making Classes at Citrine Bloom, Wine Tasting at Replicant, and dried citrus ornament making at Sparrow Salon from 5 to 8 p.m. Event organizers describe it as a business celebration of the season when customers can feel comfortable walking NE Glisan with the added light from the storefronts open into the evening.

by

Jacob Loeb

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Community, Infrastructure

Residents Highlight NE Glisan Dangers

Today, residents of Montavilla and the surrounding area used temporary road safety infrastructure provided by safety advocates at NE Glisan Street and 70th Avenue. The event, designed to call attention to insufficient pedestrian crossings on the busy road, began at 10 a.m. and continues until 6 p.m. During the eight-hour project, people are encouraged to cross NE Glisan Street using the painted crosswalk at NE 70th. Volunteers will record the crossing and share the results with Portland leaders as evidence supporting the need for more frequent enhanced crosswalks on this street.

Some of the event organizers

The Friday, September 15th, community event joins nearly 100 other gatherings worldwide as part of Park(ing) Day. That group facilitates an annual public display where people temporarily repurpose curbside parking spaces as public parks or otherwise advocate for more equitable streets. NE Glisan Street organizers Strong Towns PDX, Congress for the New Urbanism – Cascadia, and Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association installed a temporary crosswalk and painted curb extensions, among other pedestrian safety measures, at this ordinarily unmarked crossing. People from those groups are on site to talk about street safety with residents and gather contact information for those who want to continue the conversation around street improvements.

Vehicle waiting for pedestrian and dog to cross NE Glisan Street at 70th Avenue

This frequently accessed intersection is near several popular businesses, including the Rocket Empire Machine food hall and Mudd Works Roastery. People often cross here, but vehicles do not usually yield, forcing pedestrians to wait for an infrequent break in traffic or use another intersection several blocks away. During the first few hours of use, the community-painted temporary crosswalk considerably increased the number of vehicles yielding to crossing pedestrians. Many people using it expressed excitement for the unsanctioned markings and hoped Portland would make it permanent. Crossing statistics is one signal this advocacy group intends to share with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) about NE Glisan safety improvements. Event organizers said people can still add to that number by crossing the street at NE 70th Avenue before 6 p.m. or by sending a comment directly to PBOT asking for enhanced crosswalks at this intersection.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association board and participated in planning meetings for this event.

Community

Public Support Needed for NE Glisan Businesses

Several NE Glisan businesses seek community support to keep their doors open in a challenging economy. Mudd Works Roastery at 6922 NE Glisan Street started a GoFundMe campaign last month to bridge the gap caused by revenue shortfalls. After health issues and nearly two years of limited operations during the pandemic, the coffee house needs an infusion of money to make it another season. Hinterland at 7112 NE Glisan Street is also looking to make up for slower sales. Instead of fundraising, they created the Forever Feral 2022 Calendar to bolster income.

Mudd Works Roastery’s GoFundMe efforts began at the start of November. Winter is a notoriously slow season for the coffee company, and without the cash reserves from the previous months, continuing operations will be challenging. 

I am not one to ask for help too often but my life recently changed as I contracted COVID-19 for the second time. Luckily, I have some very great friends who have stepped up to keep things going while I focus on getting better. Mudd Works has been getting by for the last year and a half. But with the colder months and the ever-present COVID-19, we are suffering financially. This is the time of year where we typically see a drop in sales. But with people going out less and spending less due to the pandemic, sales are down. With sales going down in the past year and our expenses rising, it’s been a struggle. Despite it all, we’ve managed to stay open half days at one of our locations to provide fuel for our loyal patrons. Our issue in the simplest of terms is a lack of capital and customers. we thought a GoFundMe appeal seemed like the best option to raise money, share our story, and connect with those who care about small businesses. I know I’m not alone in this story of struggle. I’m sure I will be one of the many voices this season experiencing a similar situation. It’s not lost on me that so many in my industry and folks at home are only just getting by financially. Making this a lot harder to ask for help. I ask this, give until it feels good. That giving may look like a donation or it may be a reposting to your social media pages or even kind words of support. Any and all forms of giving have an impact. Donations will be used for rent and utilities, labor costs and inventory for coffee roasting and the bakery/cafe.

Mudd Works Roastery’s GoFundMe campaign page

The Hinterland Forever Feral 2022 Calendar celebrities the spirit of the store’s brand in pictures. The content of the calendar may not suit everyone’s style. However, they have many other products that can express the same powerful messages the company is known for. Of course, there is always coffee for sale at Hinterland, and every purchase helps.

The first (annual?) Hinterland calendar is here and it’s wild. This print run is super limited (it’s almost 2022 after all!). Grab one for yourself, share with your friends via social media: it all helps! I have to be honest with you all: while we’re having fun and making the best of things these days…shit is wildly tenuous with us and other small businesses. This holiday season will be a make-or-break for many small businesses and I hope you think of us when you’re sourcing coffee or cozies (or in this case saucy calendars). If you value what Hinterland brings to your lives–and what we bring the towns our brick and mortars reside in–please continue to support us. This calendar is probably not ideal for youngsters–but you decide. All photographs were taken by Kait Di Angeles in Portland, OR.

Hinterland December 1st email newsletter

Other restaurants on the street have also started less public GoFundMe campaigns, looking for customer assistance while circumstances force limited operation. The neighborhood businesses seeking support all recognize that they are not alone. Almost any small business in Montavilla needs more customers this season. However, these businesses are looking for extra consideration from the community and would be grateful for the added income to survive a difficult time.