Central to Shutter in Old Town, Planning East Side Move

Not-quite-a-speakeasy Central — which started as a behind-the-curtain operation, then morphed into one of Portland's best outdoor drinking spots — has announced that it's moving from its Old Town location after two years in business. Owner Dustin Knox (also founder of SE cart favorite Perierra Creperie) announced the change last night, telling Eater that while no new home for Central has been secured yet, he's specifically targeting Portland's east side.

"I'm looking at spaces right now," Knox says, noting that "most of my [current] customers live on the east side." Though Central 2.0 would retain a similar look and menu, Knox hopes to land a larger space in order to create a more accessible bar atmosphere. "It's most important to me that I build a space that's comfortable — people really wanted that bar experience [at Central, as opposed to table service]. The thing that we want to do at the new space, we want to be able to loosen it up a little bit but keep the same aesthetic, and the cocktail program will only be getting better." After closure, Central will take a multi-month hiatus to search for a new location and allow Knox to "really connect with the national [cocktail] scene."

Central will remain open, Thursdays through Saturdays, through the end of year, with the last evening in the Old Town location scheduled for New Year's night — but Knox stresses that the space will still be available for private parties through the holidays and January 2013, pending sale. More updates as they become available.
· Central [Official site]
· All Previous Central Coverage [Eater PDX]