Downtown's Market Shutters After Just Three Months

Image of Market courtesy Avila/EPDX

After just three months serving theater-goers in the former Carafe Bistro space, Market has called it quits, officially closing over the weekend: An announcement was sent to the building's tenants on Friday, describing Sunday as the last day of service.

According to ChefStable's Kurt Huffman — who brought chef Troy Furuta's "Continental" concept to the space in May — disagreements with the space's landlord over its direction caused the closure. "This was the right decision to make quickly," Huffman says. "The kind of restaurant [the landlord] wants it to be is not viable in that space. We went back and forth. He didn't want us to switch the kind of service to [something more casual] — in the lease, he has veto power; this restaurant is an amenity for the people in his building, and I respect that. ... [But] basically what he's asking me to do is sit here and lose money for him."

According to Huffman, ChefStable retains its partnership with chef/owner Furuta, an alum of Ping and Clyde Common. "We're going to figure out something for Troy and get him back in an ownership position," Huffman says. "I really believe in his talent. I think he's really remarkable. This project did not fail because of his work."

Just last week, Market announced a drastic cut in hours, limiting dinner service to evenings when a show was playing at the nearby Keller Auditorium. Prior to that (and despite a positive review from the Oregonian), Market had attempted to draw in diners with a series of high-profile "guest chef" dinners throughout the latter half of this summer. The closure marks the second high-profile shutter within the ChefStable portfolio, with the West End's Corazon also closing earlier this year after just three months in business. Developing...
· All Previous Market Coverage [Eater PDX]