Portland Is Getting its First Tap Room in an Athletics Store

Portland has taprooms in laundromats and movie theaters, but for the first time it will have one in an athletics store. Portland Running Company, a 25-year old retail store focusing on running gear, is opening a location in Slabtown, and with it, the Run Pub. The small, four-to-six tap pub in the back of the store will serve Oregon ales to shoppers, runners, and anyone who wants to swing by for a pint.

Co-owners Dave and Paula Harkin aren’t expecting the Run Pub to be the forefront of their business, or expecting people to stick around for hours knocking back beers — instead, they want to provide shoppers with a pint as they peruse, and to give runners and running groups a place to gather for a pre or post-run beer. To that end, the store will open at 10 a.m. each day, and close around 8 p.m. “There’s no real a.m. or p.m. for drinking a beer,” says Dave Harkin, referring to Portland runners’ predilection for drinking beers after early morning runs like the Shamrock and Turkey Trot. The shop will also host some sort of running group, where runners can earn points towards beers, but that’s still in the works.

All staff members will be OLCC trained so they can quickly pour a beer for a guests, and the selection won’t be anything too wild — Both Harkins are big fans of IPAs, and assume many of their visitors will be, as well. They’ve hosted Thirsty Thursday events at the Beaverton store for years now, often working with Rogue Ales, so shoppers can expect to see beers from there, as well as popular spots like Deschutes, Boneyard, and Breakside.

Portland Running Company and the Run Club are set to open at 2258 NW Raleigh Street in the old Fleet Feet space, which recently closed. Beer-drinking runners can look for it to open in mid-December.

Update, November 13, 12:05 p.m.: Run Pub’s address has been corrected to 2258 NW Raleigh Street.

• The Run Pub [Official]
• Spin Laundry [Official]
• Rogue Ales [Official]