We have enjoyed serving everyone our delicious New Orleans inspired treats over the years and we want to thank our amazing team members and our customers for being a part of this journey. Read more about the closure. Originally opened in 1991 on Northwest 23rd Avenue, the deli is one of a few Jewish restaurants in the city and serves bagels, cured fish, and sandwiches. It was beloved by regulars for decades, a stalwart in a famously gentrified neighborhood. The state now requires food cart owners to either use the tanks on their cart or connect to a sewer line, which can be prohibitively expensive for cart owners. I have many memories of nacho and cocktail happy hours with friends, and it was one of the first restaurants where I attended a vegan meetup not long after moving here. Relaxation and trips to visit loved ones are on the horizon, as well as catering crpe events! The restaurant had been open for 12 years; a new vegan restaurant, Daily Fuel, will open in its place. The restaurant may return as a catering company down the line. Its unclear if Beast will reopen in some other form or location down the line, but chef and owner Naomi Pomeroy has confirmed that the legendary fine dining restaurant will not reopen in its current space. However, on April 29, the cafe announced on various social media platforms that it would not be reopening its doors ever again. These past few years have been rough on everyone and we know life has not been easy on you either (and those challenges just kept coming). Read more on the closure here. As you all know, we opened during a time when uncertainty was the only constant, an Instagram post reads. The Guamanian restaurant within Oakshire Beer Hall closed October 2 after two years. After a decade of countless sandwiches, were ready to move on to something different, the post reads. Alley Mezza and Dingers Deli were the saddest closures as theyre both among my neighborhood favorites. Gabe Rosen, the former owner of influential izakaya Biwa, has closed yet another restaurant. Portland so badly needed a beautiful . The taproom and bar was decently short-lived, taking over the former Lompoc Tavern space in late 2018. All of these restaurants were attached to hotels, and the COVID-related drop in tourism and traffic downtown impacted his business. Its owner, Jeff Ridabock, opted to retire after years of service. The last day of business was December 30. The owner has since moved out of state without paying what he owes to the workers. The team at the Local has yet to respond to request for comment. This Lake Oswego waterfront restaurant, which belonged to the same parent company as Stanfords, closed on October 19. We just cant find the employees to run two locations at once at this time, an Instagram post announcing the closure reads. Its been a really rough several months for us and it seems like things are not going to return to the expectations or the vision we had planned for the space, Metivier wrote in an email to staff. Jacqueline - closed for the winter - PFD. The Oregonians Michael Russell has reported that Henry Higgins Boiled Bagels will take over the space. We were so lucky to have had the opportunity to serve Portland and got to meet some amazing people.. After a few stops and starts during the course of the pandemic, destination cocktail bar and restaurant Clyde Common has closed permanently downtown. Vegan and vegetarian eatery Picnic is trading for the final time on Sunday, April 30. Hillsdale bakery Baker and Spices sister cake shop The Cakery is closing its doors on May 14. This SE Division brewpub has closed its taproom, hoping to give it another shot down the line. Those experiences helped me fall in love with this field and this city; they pulled me back here after I moved across the country. This longstanding Mediterranean restaurant on NE Alberta has closed in its current location, after posting an Instagram announcement in March. This Hawthorne whiskey bar has closed after four years, bartender Robert Volz confirmed today. The businesss last day at the Portland State University Farmers Market will be July 9, but their ham and salami will remain available at Cooperativa and Market of Choice. I really miss the char-blistered rosemary pie with mushrooms. The team should be reopening a new business within the same space in the future, according to the Instagram post. We reach out to Portland food writers and influencers for their perspectives on major trends, impressive newcomers, and standout meals, and share their responses in a single. Staffing is hard enough these days, (for everyone) but with the building rehab looming, its nearly impossible. Read more about the impending closure here. The group attributed the closure to complications, much like those of many others in the community.. I feel like Portland could always use more dessert options beyond ice cream and doughnuts, much as I love those two foods. -Janey Wong, Portland Mercury food and drink columnist, This is such a tricky one. The fact that Chipotle would open a new location literally inches from their cart (and the entire original pod!) Nicolai McCrary. Read more about the closure here. It seems very likely that longstanding dim sum restaurant Wongs King has closed for good: The restaurants Facebook page and website have both disappeared, and a family friend of chef Fulai Wong told the Oregonian that the restaurant would not reopen. This Sellwood-Moreland pizzeria and restaurant closed indefinitely in June, announced in a now-deleted Instagram post. New COVID-19 distancing restrictions will be burdensome or costly for some small restaurants, or simply impossible to achieve for others, as is the case for Arleta Library, reads a press release from the restaurant. After over a year, I feel that we earned a place in your heart and I thank you for being our supporters. Lam is planning to move to San Francisco. Although the ramen shop has closed at its location, Callahan writes: This is not the end of Menya Hokusei. We are happy to maintain full employment for all 23Hoyt staff at our sister restaurant, Clarklewis.. It just seemed to make more sense to move on with things, says co-owner Joel Stocks. The independent cafe closed its doors permanently in early December, but could not be reached for statement as the to the official reason for closing. Portland Food Writers' Saddest Restaurant and Food Cart Closures of 2021. This West Burnside taqueria served its last moronga taco Saturday, announcing its decision to close on Instagram. The restaurant was a neighborhood favorite, also known as the place chef Jos Chesas introduced himself to Portland. Hawthorne, Multnomah, and Quimby will hopefully serve our loyal customers for many years to come.. 2020 has consisted of brutal closure after brutal closure, and its destruction will likely carry on in 2021. As is tradition at Eater, we closed out 2020 by surveying local food writers and our own staff on various restaurant-related topics, and publishing their responses throughout the week. The cozy atmosphere was one of a kind with service, drink and food to match. The team behind Foxy Coffee closed both of its locations March 31, according to an Instagram post. Its sibling, Ankeny Tap & Table, seems to be running smoothly in its corner of the city. We hope this is not the last opportunity well [have] to serve each and every one of you. Park Avenue had one of the best wine selections on the west side of the river, if not the city, including heritage wines and rare bottles. Ben & Esthers Northeast Alberta Street location will remain open with a new menu coming and some really exciting things in the works. Denizens Cafe will take over the Northeast Sandy Boulevard space. Details about this soul food restaurants closure are unknown, but it has vacated its Pearl District location and the building has a for-lease sign in the window. Read more about it here. For a full list of Portland restaurant and food cart closures, check out this guide. I think we more than succeeded, even as we retreat. And the death of its owner, the Lovely Suzanne, mere months later was devastating as well. The dining room at Flora Bar. Its cafe near the Tram continues to operate. In 2020, the Portland Mercury 's Suzette Smith described the Alise Moffatt's Physically Forgotten as "a standard and favorite". We are moving into a small warehouse close by the Williams location and it just makes sense for us to leave Sellwood altogether. SushiLove is focusing on selling the business so it can stay open under new ownership, while Better Together and Saff Ramen are looking for new locations for their carts. I think the fact that Portland has so many restaurants serving underrepresented cuisines is part of what makes the city so special, and its sad to see any of them close. -Katherine Chew Hamilton, Portland Monthly food editor, Im not sure I would characterize the demise of Toro Bravo and Pok Pok as sad, but both of those closures do signal the end of an era in Portland dining. Owner Jon Abrahamson stated that the general poor condition of downtown played a major part in the closure of the 38-year-old restaurant, in addition to a lack of workers returning to the industry. By submitting your email, you agree to our, The freshest news from the local food world, Portland Food Writers Saddest Restaurant and Food Cart Closures of 2021, Sign up for the A sign posted at the restaurant cites increased labor and food costs as reasons for the closure. Something went wrong. For around a year, Eater Portland has been trying to determine whether Random Order Pie Bar, the Alberta Street coffee shop and bakery, would reopen at its original location. "After COVID closures, snow days, chronic staff turnover, a brutal slow season, and rising costs, the time has come to move on.". From absurd food & supply costs, labor, taxes, putting out fires, violence/lack of safety, robberies to never being able to bounce back from losing the outdoor tent, my hail mary I desperately need during the long, rainy months Its been quite the three years. A veteran of the food industry for 25 years, Stokes will step back to care for her mother for the time being, but teased that this is not goodbye: I will be bringing you more. The Pix-O-Matic, the shops 24-hour vending machines, will remain open onsite. New Yorkers said goodbye to so many restaurants this year. An inventive and eccentrically named restaurant, the Hairy Lobster has served its last themed dinner. Obviously it was tragic to say goodbye to Vitaly Paleys presence in the city. The bar hinted at potentially reopening in a new location down the line via Instagram. Its unclear when exactly the restaurant closed; the last Yelp review for the restaurant was posted in December. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Heres hoping were wrong. We have been holding on by a thread since the pandemic started and have been in austerity mode since then, says Lisa Sedlar, Green Zebra founder and CEO, in a press release. A combination of our lease drawing to a close, a need to downsize, and economics has necessitated a move to the Eastside, owner Ken Gordon writes in an official statement on the website. But I really, really miss those chicken strips.-Thom Hilton, Eater Portland contributor, Alan Maniscalco and Shan Wickham of Rally Pizza announced that theyre closing after six years. King says that the closure has to do with frustrations with the space, especially related to the potential guidelines associated with phase one reopening. Personally, Im bummed that Crackerjacks closed since its getting harder and harder to find friendly no-frills local joints as every prime Portland neighborhood has become more of the same. -Krista Garcia, Eater Portland contributor, Stella Taco (a great neighborhood joint), Imperial (best fried chicken I ever ate in Portland), and Tasty & Daughters. -Bill Oakley, television writer and Instagram influencer, No Bones Beach Club. We are focusing all our energy on our 2 brewpubs and growing our wholesale business., A neighborhood standby tucked off MLK, Beech Street Parlor closed in late September. Its unclear when Cruzroom announced its closure, but the Alberta Street bar has packed up its things and left the neighborhood. The staff was always super kind and ready to serve the neighborhood. -Katrina Yentch, Eater Portland contributor, For me it was Holy Trinity Barbecue which I had always wanted to try but never got around to. After nearly 50 years serving up hot sausage po-boys to locals, bar-hopping tourists, and the likes of Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Homer Simpson, iconic New Orleans sandwich shop Gene's Po-Boys closed this past summer. The closure was confirmed by the restaurants parent company, which also operates other landmark Portland restaurants such as Portland City Grill and Jakes Grill. Learn more about the closure here. The team was approaching the end of its lease at the CORE food cart pod, and instead of staying or even expanding, Mitate will roll out of the pod altogether. The cart does hint at the possibility of coming back in the form of a pop-up. The Mississippi Street Victorian-turned-cocktail bar, once home to chef Diane Lams Prey + Tell and Sunshine Noodles, will close on February 19. Many closures aren't due to lack of business, but deeper problems within the food industry." -Waz Wu, Eater Portland contributor Pok Pok owner Andy Ricker opened the original location in 2005, garnering national attention for his take on Northern Thai food and menu standouts like Ikes Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings. Its Facebook page has disappeared, Kimpton has removed it from its website, and both Yelp and Google are reporting the restaurant as permanently closed. Tollefsen and co-owner Jonathan Berube announced the impending closure on Instagram, saying they have decided to let Radar sail peacefully into the sunset. They did not note a specific reason for the closure. The fast casual Indian spot, which serves tandoor-cooked chicken, naan, and vegetarian dishes, has permanently closed its North Williams restaurant, but it appears that it will reopen in another North Portland location. Read more about the closure here. When were strong again well let you know where we are and we will look forward to seeing you there!, This Killingsworth juice shop closed in mid-September following a planned one-month hiatus, which turned into a four-month one. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Kimuras sister restaurant, Kayos Ramen Bar, will remain open and take over selling Japanese-style Basque cheesecakes. Welcome to Year in Eater 2021, Eater's annual ritual of eulogizing the past 12 months through input from . The cafe opened in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and, in the perspective of the team, never got the financial footing to keep things sustainable. (Yes, I realize Gustavs lives on in Vancouver. There isnt any place that attempted to replace this beloved farm-to-table spot known for its fire kissed vegetables, fish, and meat.-Rachel Pinsky, Eater Portland contributor, Washington correspondent. However, its likely that Biba will return to Portland in some form. Pearl District cocktail bar Botanist has closed after just after its third anniversary. Onwards. Beetroot permanently closed just a few weeks after its first birthday, finishing out some Rosh Hashanah orders and donating the rest of her inventory. -Janey Wong, reporter for Eater Portland "For me, the closure of Baby Blue was a sad start to the new year. Weve just been losing money since the pandemic, the closing announcement reads. Read more about it here. Its a long overdue break, to take a deep breath. Read more about the closure here. We had a good run. The Mountain roll spinach, kale, mushrooms, black truffle sauce leaves a void in my heart.-Nathan Williams, Eater Portland contributor, Too many to name, but at the top of that list, the Roxy. Blue Star has shut down four of its doughnut shops permanently: The NW 23rd location, the brands fourth store, permanently closed in early May, followed by the downtown, Multnomah Village, and Progress Ridge locations a month later. Instead, Papi Sals will be hosting pop-ups in 2023. The Vancouver waterfront location of this seafood chain has permanently closed; the COO of parent company Landrys said the inability to serve dine-in customers made it difficult to remain open. This Mexican restaurant from internet personality Nick Zukin closed on July 3 in Old Town. Read more on the closure here. Its with a heavy heart that we have to announce the closing of our beloved Psychic Bar, the closing announcement reads. Popular Portland coffee roaster Coava closed its downtown cafe on April 13. This is another really difficult question to answer. The dive-bar-meets-breakfast-spot has closed its SE Belmont shop, though co-owner Justin King is looking for a new place to reopen. Volz said that the layout of the bar didnt allow for easy social distancing, between Neats long bar and the pool table. We asked Portland food writers and personalities for the closures that hurt them the most this year; these are the spots that hurt us the most. You knew that thoughxoxo. Derbys final day was December 12. Weve built some great relationships in the community, and to those friends weve made along the way were sorry to say goodbye, a closing announcement reads. Pascuzzi attributed the decision to close to rising meat costs and supply chain issues, though his other restaurants chicken spot Mama Bird and bowl cafe Feel Good remain open. Read more about the closure here. The brewery attributed the downsizing to the financial impact of the pandemic. " Irving Street Kitchen was one of . The colorful queer people that made Local Lounge what it was for the past 11 months through the ups and downs of Covid-19/closures were taken advantage of by the current (soon to be previous) owner of Local Lounge, the announcement reads. Two Portland-area Stanfords locations remain open: one in Clackamas, and one in Tanasbourne. After 10 years on North Mississippi, Radar closed on April 15. When we opened 14 months ago, Portland was still in the depths of the pandemic, writes owner Steven Chin in a closing announcement on Instagram. An understated sushi bar in the Foster-Powell neighborhood, Sushi Ichidai had been open for more than a decade when it closed its doors due to the coronavirus outbreak. The restaurant plans to reopenWillamette Week reports that they are in search of a bigger space in a different neighborhood. This was a challenging decision to make but feel it is the right one.. Falafel House appears on Eater Portlands list of restaurants and food carts to visit in St. Johns, and Willamette Week called Falafel House one of Portlands best vegetarian shawarma carts., After 12 years selling falafel and sabich, Wolf & Bears is closing both its North Portland and Southeast Portland carts. In early August, owners Annie Moss, Katia Bezerra-Clark, and Will Fain made a joint announcement on the businesss Instagram. This will allow us to put more energy into Tanglewood and the Williams cafe.. Although it has been on hiatus since the fall of 2019, Bonnie and Israel Morales confirmed that this Slavic bar has permanently closed in March. But really, there were so many.-Zoe Baillargeon, Eater Portland contributor, I am going to miss Naomi Pomeroys Ripe Cooperative. Mexican restaurant La Parilla closed its NE 82nd Avenue location in August, Bridgetown Bites reports. newsletter, removed references to the Burnside locale, the restaurants Instagram still lists it as a location, newly implemented regulations related to wastewater disposal for food carts, Eater Portlands 2018 Food Cart of the Year, plans a brick-and-mortar called Juke Joint. While Nodoguro looks around for a new space, chef and restaurateur Ryan Roadhouse has announced that the fine dining omakase spots sibling, Tonari, will not reopen. Pastry chef Cheryl Wakerhauser closed Portlands preeminent French pastry destination on August 22. This is also true of the Hawthorne Fish House. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. ).-Gary Okazaki (@garythefoodie), renowned globe-trotting eater. I have made the tough but vital decision to close Drink Mamey on Killingsworth, writes owner Cydnie Smith-McCarthy. The lease ended, and owner Lisa Herlinger nudged Katelyn Williams, the owner of Kates Ice Cream, toward taking over the space. The restaurant was known as a place to spot celebrities, and was once considered one of the citys most-high-end dining rooms. Read more about it here. Dingers Deli the vegan sandwich cart known for its garlic-fennel veggie meatball subs, faux meat cheesesteaks, and reubens closed July 8 after quickly selling out of its inventory. This brand-new cart has permanently closed due to the new wastewater laws that are impacting Portland food carts. Friends have joked that I eat enough pizza that I should have been able to keep the cart in business. Founder Sara Hart sold the company to Moonstruck Chocolate in 2018, moving the main candy-making production to Moonstrucks St. Johns facility. The restaurant was last active on Instagram in early July; owner Johnny Huff Jr. has not responded to requests for comment. Portlanders will be able to find Mocking Birds vegan fried chicken sandwiches at the St. Johns restaurant, as well as the Homegrown Smoker standbys. All Pok Pok restaurants - PFD. In a public statement, the company cited break-ins and theft, employees being subject to physical violence, and property damage among the reasons for the closure. The past 30 years were filled with great memories with our customers and friends but also some amounts of pain, he wrote on a Facebook post. Carey has not responded to requests for comments on the closure. Little did we know that we were staring down a 2-year long global pandemic! The hotel bar and restaurant within the Sentinel hotel has closed temporarily to re-imagine, according to its Instagram bio, but it looks like the change will likely be permanent. It has been a GORGEOUS experiment at 5425 NE 30th, Pomeroy writes. To say the least, we are exhausted. The beer bars SE Division location will remain open.