Pollo Norte Shutters on 42nd Avenue

Over the weekend, the original location of Pollo Norte closed at 5427 NE 42nd Ave. According to a Facebook announcement, the flagship restaurant wasn’t able to hold onto its lease, but Pollo Norte’s second location, which set up shop in 2016 with expanded offerings at 2935 NE Glisan, will keep the rotisseries lit, basting and serving Mexico City-style quarter, half, and whole chickens.

“We're heartbroken to leave that neighborhood,” co-owner Kelly Shelton tells Eater, “but ultimately, we lost our lease extension. We're proud to have converted that little abandoned building into a thriving restaurant, and we're super grateful for all of the community support over the past three years. It was an awesome experience for us.”

Shelton and business partners Wade Shelton and Ryan Gibson say they will focus on the Northeast Glisan location for the time being.

Landing in Portland in December 2014, Pollo Norte was one of the originators of the Portland rotisserie chicken craze. In its first months, it predictably sold out of birds daily before closing time.

The restaurant isn’t the only high-profile dining option to recently leave the ‘hood: The Pastrami Zombie food truck also vacated the area last month.

Here’s the full farewell from Pollo Norte’s Facebook:

Super sad news: We lost our lease on 42nd Avenue, which means the flagship rotisserie will stop turning tonight. An enormous, sincere thank you to everyone in Cully, Concordia, and citywide who brightened our first little shop. Please stop in today to say farewell. Pollo Norte will keep spinning chickens at the Glisan location, so come see us there!

• Pollo Norte [Official]
• All Previous Pollo Norte Coverage [EPDX]