Portland Grocer New Seasons Has Temporarily Shut Down Its Central Kitchen

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for the weekly EaterWire round up of all those news items we didn’t quite cover. The holiday season’s food news cycle was dominated by the expansion of Screen Door and the closing of Russell Street Barbecue, but a few stories did fall through the cracks:

A NEW SEASON FOR THE CENTRAL KITCHEN — New Seasons, the local grocery chain just sold to an international grocery company, has temporarily shut down its central kitchen to change some things about the facility’s workflow. The 166 workers at its central kitchen should be given temporary shifts at other stores to make up for the gap in pay, but employees say they were given abrupt notice and weren’t told when the space would reopen. [The Oregonian, Willamette Week]

CIDER RIOT LEGAL PROCEEDINGS — In May, the now-closed cider house Cider Riot sued Patriot Prayer and its founder, Joey Gibson, for leading a riot against the pub’s patrons. Since then, Gibson’s lawyer has tried to get the case thrown out as a “SLAPP” suit, a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, and has attempted to have the case tried in another county. Both requests were denied. In late December, attorney James Buchal brought both rulings to the Oregon Court of Appeals to be reconsidered. [Portland Mercury]

BOTTLE HOUR — The Portland Bottle Shop is starting a new happy hour. Monday through Thursday from 2 to 5 p.m., the Sellwood bar will sell its popular bacon smash burger for $6, Old Bay or garlic parmesan fries for $3, and glasses of red, white, or sparkling wine for $6. The happy hour officially starts January 6, with specials all day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. [EaterWire]

CHEFSTABLE BEAVERTON? — Chefstable, the restaurant group behind St. Jack and Ox, has purchased the Bank of Beaverton building for a restaurant and bar. The plans for the restaurant will be discussed at a public hearing on January 22. It’s unclear what, exactly, the Chefstable team has planned for the space, so the interested should stay tuned. [Business Tribune]

Updated January 3, 2020, 1:10 p.m.: This story has been updated to include the news update about Chefstable.