Red Sauce Pizza Officially Opens Tomorrow

Pizza has always been Shar Dues' thing. She estimates that she's worked for at least eight pizza parlors since she turned 18, and spent four years running the back of the house at one of Portland's favorite pizzerias, Apizza Scholls.

After a brief spell managing the meat department at the New Seasons in Concordia, she's back at making pies, this time taking over the old Bob's Rocket Pizza joint.

Dues says that Red Sauce, which celebrates its grand opening tomorrow, will offer salads, calzones, build-your-own pizzas and eight signature pies named after "the people who made this all possible."

She got a lot of help, she says, especially from her mother, Elaine, who basically rehabbed all the furniture from salvaged, reclaimed and repurposed materials.

As far as the pizza goes, Dues says to expect Red Sauce's to be a little doughier, but there's a reason for that: She's making her pies a little saucier and a little cheesier, too.

The 18-seat spot (with plans in place for another 20 to 25 seats) will also serve tap beer, bottled and canned beer, wines by the glass, and Mexican Cokes and Sprites.

Over the course of the next month, Dues also plans to roll out delivery services through Delivery Dudes.

Lunch is in the works, too (slices and pies), and so is brunch. For that, Dues plans to serve mimosas, her own sourdough toast, and a pair of breakfast pies—with potatoes, goat cheese, and bacon on one, and candied maple bacon, Canadian bacon, eggs, and greens on the other.

Red Sauce Pizza, 4935 NE 42nd Ave., 503.288.4899; Hours 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday