The Local Celebrity Moves Into Mint/820 Lounge

Famed craft cocktail bar Mint and its accompanying 820 Lounge closed in July at 816 N Russell St., and the new owner of the venue, Daniel Leussler, is ready to reveal his plans for the space: a new bar, restaurant, and live music spot called The Local Celebrity. Most of the Mint portion of the venue will be devoted to the stage, while the adjoining 820 Lounge will house the full bar and restaurant.

“I run a live local music show called Killingsworth House,” Leussler tells Eater, “so we’ll roll that into The Local Celebrity. Portland has lots of venues for touring national acts, but we need more places for local musicians.”

The Local Celebrity opens tomorrow, August 18. The kitchen will be helmed by Warren Kirk, a Medford, Oregon native with 13 years cooking experience. He will serve bento-inspired bowls, with a dedication to offering something for any diet, with options like cauliflower rice. There will be build-your-own bowls, as well as four regular bowls featuring salmon, fried chicken, deep-fried cauliflower, and falafel, respectively.

The Local Celebrity will also offer appetizers like garlic fries, jalapeno poppers, and portabello mushroom pizza bites. Leussler confirms the bar program will no longer focus on craft cocktails, but cocktails will still be part of the mix, along with an expanded draft beer selection.

Starting tomorrow, The Local Celebrity will operate daily, from 4 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. A food and drink happy hour will also run daily, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

• The Local Celebrity [Official]
• One of Portland’s Most Important Cocktail Bars Just Closed [EPDX]