Eater Portland - Closing Report: Tracking the Gazillion Restaurant Closings This DecemberThe Portland Restaurant, Bar, and Nightlife Bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52682/favicon-32x32.png2015-12-23T08:35:30-08:00http://pdx.eater.com/rss/stream/104447212015-12-23T08:35:30-08:002015-12-23T08:35:30-08:00Renard Permanently Closes Overnight
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<img alt="Renard" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ty5A75cPiCI0Fw4_cgmLuw6T0Gg=/110x0:1884x1331/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48426537/Avila_Renard-118.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Renard | <a href='http://www.dinaavila.com/'>Dina Avila/EPDX</a></figcaption>
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<p>The French restaurant on SE Clinton has shuttered after seven months of business.</p> <p><a href="http://pdx.eater.com/venue/renard" style="line-height: 1.24;">Renard</a> has closed its doors for good. The French restaurant <a href="http://pdx.eater.com/2015/5/26/8659995/french-inspired-renard-cafe-now-open-in-former-st-jack-space">opened in May</a> in the space formerly home to St. Jack at 2039 SE Clinton, and Eater first heard of the shutter <a href="http://www.eater.com/contact?community_id=506&_ga=1.264675791.1526037239.1436466228#tip">from a reader tip</a> reporting dark lights during business hours and furniture being carried away. Eater reached out to co-owners <b>Ed Thanhouser </b>and chef <b>Dulce Frommer</b> <span>(</span><a target="_blank" href="http://accantopdx.com/" data-ref-index="3" style="line-height: 1.24;">Accanto</a>,<span> </span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cocottepdx.com/" data-ref-index="4" style="line-height: 1.24;">Cocotte</a><span>) to confirm, and Thanhouser said that Renard is permanently closed, citing "poor sales." </span></p>
<p>Renard is the most recent <a href="http://pdx.eater.com/2015/12/11/9889232/restaurants-closed-in-2015-portland-shutter-report">in a spate of restaurant closures</a>, including Lucky Strike, Gruner, Levant, The Farm Cafe, Cocotte, Brasserie Montmartre, All-Way, and Pizza Maria.</p>
https://pdx.eater.com/2015/12/23/10658576/renard-closes-se-clinton-restaurant-frenchMattie John Bamman2015-12-22T08:39:59-08:002015-12-22T08:39:59-08:00Hawthorne's Lucky Strike Chinese Restaurant to Close Sunday
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<img alt="Lucky Strike" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AB9JndeSPVm9n-R9caxjDOwk5nQ=/0x125:1000x875/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48414501/o.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Lucky Strike | <a href='http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lucky-strike-portland?select=vziGayh0phQ8twrTe4-2bg'>Yelp/Qiqi G.</a></figcaption>
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<p>The restaurant specialized in Szechuan cuisine cites increased rent.</p> <p>Szechuan stronghold <a href="http://pdx.eater.com/venue/lucky-strike">Lucky Strike</a>, located in the Hawthorne Theater building at SE Hawthorne and Cesar Chavez Boulevard, will close its doors after dinner service on Sunday, December 27. The news arrived first as a tip sent to <a href="https://twitter.com/eaterpdx">the Eater PDX Twitter account</a>, and Lucky Strike has now confirmed the shutter. The restaurant was known for its spice-to-the-wall Szechuan dishes, like Dan Dan Noodles and Guinness Pork Ribs, and according to an employee, it is closing due to a recent rent increase. (UPDATE: Lucky Strike's landlord has denied a rent increase forced out the restaurant.) Lucky Strike is currently considering whether or not to reopen in a new location.</p>
<p>To get your last taste, visit Lucky Strike before December 27. Lucky Strike was founded in 2007 by <b>Rita Jia You</b> and <b>Stefan Leopold</b>, and in 2009, it made Portland Monthly's list of best new restaurants.</p>
https://pdx.eater.com/2015/12/22/10641730/lucky-strike-to-close-restaurant-portlandMattie John Bamman2015-12-16T11:39:53-08:002015-12-16T11:39:53-08:00The Foggy Notion 'Gastro-dive' Closing Friday
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<img alt="The Foggy Notion" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tZo-Zf78wlCOarWuwJA8YyoZ7Dk=/0x0:720x540/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48198281/76426_169937603034153_2990365_n.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>The Foggy Notion | <a href='https://www.facebook.com/thefoggynotion/photos/pb.144936412200939.-2207520000.1450294332./169937603034153/?type=3&theater'>Facebook/The Foggy Notion</a></figcaption>
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<p>This Friday is the last night for cheap skee ball and cult-worthy pierogies.</p> <p>This week, <a href="http://pdx.eater.com/venue/the-foggy-notion">The Foggy Notion</a> announced <a href="http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2015/12/14/the-foggy-notion-is-closing">its final day will be this Friday, December 18</a>. Owners <b>Melanie Brandy </b>and <b style="line-height: 1.24;">Kevin Scullin </b><span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thefoggynotion/posts/1177790298915540">released the news on Facebook</a>,</span><span> saying "Friday December 18 we are having one last blowout with a white elephant gift exchange at 8 p.m., followed by a dance party. Let's celebrate!!!!" Located at 3416 N Lombard St., The Foggy Notion was known for its cheap drinks, pierogi, rock shows, and </span><a href="http://pdx.eater.com/2014/10/23/7049199/nopos-foggy-notion-arcade-games-at-80s-prices">classic arcade games, including skee ball</a><span>.</span></p>
<p>The full Facebook post reads:</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote">The Little bar that could, which we lovingly call The Foggy Notion, will be closing it's doors on December 19, 2015. It's been an incredible 5 years... from epic Bent dance parties to all the incredibly talented local and touring bands we have hosted. Much gratitude and love for my incredibly precocious and hilarious staff... all the bookers who made our weekends unique and varied! Much love to our wickedly smart trivia host Margaret! Joel and Justin! Two of the best beer reps ever!! But most of all thank you to all the incredibly kind, intelligent, fun-loving and irreverent customers who made coming to work an absolute joy... Thanks for all the memories. The Foggy may be gone, but it will never be forgotten in our hearts! So let's go out with a bang shall we? Friday, December 18, we are having one last blowout with a white elephant gift exchange at 8pm followed by a dance party. Let's celebrate !!!!</blockquote>
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https://pdx.eater.com/2015/12/16/10308134/the-foggy-notion-closes-portland-bar-restaurant-north-lombardMattie John Bamman2015-12-16T08:54:24-08:002015-12-16T08:54:24-08:00Hokusei to Roll Its Final Sashimi Roll December 30
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<img alt="Hokusei" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2VhnZuFKHTjeFYHXO2wM763Ivhw=/52x0:905x640/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48186235/1926630_896047167074522_4223803185981877954_n.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Hokusei | <a href='https://www.facebook.com/323493650996546/photos/pb.323493650996546.-2207520000.1444155962./896047167074522/?type=3&theater'>Facebook/Hokusei</a></figcaption>
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<p>Another sushi scene shake up.</p> <p><a href="http://pdx.eater.com/venue/hokusei" style="line-height: 1.24;">Hokusei</a>, the late-night den of Northwest-inspired sushi and izakaya at 4246 SE Belmont, <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2015/12/rip_hokusei_se_portland_sushi.html">has announced it's closing December 30</a>. <b>Cody Auger</b> owns Hokusei, and he said he'd like to thank friends for all of their support. "It was a fun ride while it lasted," said Auger, who also said he may offer Hokusei's Fukami dinners in some format in the future. <span>Hokusei </span><a href="http://pdx.eater.com/2012/5/14/6586949/carpaccio-trattoria-hokusei-sushi-now-open#4260784" style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: #ffffff;">opened in May 2012</a>, and this year, the Oregonian placed it at position 67 in its guide to the city's best restaurants.</p>
https://pdx.eater.com/2015/12/16/10293748/hokusei-closes-southeast-belmont-portland-restaurant-sushiMattie John Bamman2015-12-14T12:18:37-08:002015-12-14T12:18:37-08:00The Georgian Cheese Bread Trend Leaves Portland with Kargi Gogo
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<img alt="Kargi Gogo" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dHYw71uXF1UTWsLEtgIpLiOm9_4=/0x0:960x720/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48049609/11218161_945834262126706_5014792811323180279_n.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kargi Gogo | <a href='https://www.facebook.com/kargigogoPDX/photos/pb.397289760314495.-2207520000.1450123864./945834262126706/?type=3&theater'>Facebook/Kargi Gogo</a></figcaption>
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<p>The downtown food cart announces it will soon close.</p> <p>When it opened nearly three years ago, the Kargi Gogo food cart brought foods from the country of Georgia to Portland, and just two months ago, it brought <a href="http://pdx.eater.com/2015/10/7/9466021/ristretto-roasters-to-open-downtown">the Georgian cheese bread trend</a>. Portland responded appropriately with open mouths and wallets, but despite their successes, <a href="http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2015/12/14/kargi-gogo-closes-friday-get-your-georgian-cheese-bread-and-dumplings-now">owners Sean Fredericks and McKinze Cook are moving on</a>, stating <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kargigogoPDX/posts/989641147746017">on Facebook,</a> "When we opened in 2013, our intention was never to operate a food cart forever." That said, Kargi Gogo isn't dead. Fredericks and Cook add:</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote">[W]hile the food cart may be closing, Kargi Gogo will continue! We are already shipping our new spice mixes all over the country and plan to build on that. More of our popular "supra" dinners, cooking lessons and private parties will soon be coming to Portland and elsewhere. Other ideas are also in the works that we hope will resonate with Georgia enthusiasts worldwide.</blockquote>
<p>For those who want one last taste of khachapuri (Georgian cheese bread)—or a first taste, as the case may be—head to Kargi Gogo's location at 950 SW Washington St. between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. before Friday, December 18.</p>
https://pdx.eater.com/2015/12/14/10123938/kargi-gogo-food-cart-closes-portland-georgian-cheese-breadMattie John Bamman2015-12-14T11:49:23-08:002015-12-14T11:49:23-08:00Marmo Deli & Bar Halts Service After 7 Months
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<img alt="Marmo Deli & Bar" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Lbxtpw9JVyisjZvgHRxJxoHiNmk=/110x0:1884x1331/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48049303/Avila_Marmo-6296.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Marmo Deli & Bar | <a href='http://www.dinaavila.com/'>Dina Avila/EPDX</a></figcaption>
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<p>The downtown lunch, dinner, and brunch spot is officially closed.</p> <p>Opened at 1037 SW Morrison in May, <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2015/12/southwest_portland_refined_ita.html#incart_river_index">Marmo Deli & Bar closed its doors</a> after service on December 11. The 30-seat restaurant served lunch, dinner, and brunch items originally designed by former <b>Bluehour</b> chef <b>Thomas Boyce</b>, such as pasta salads and cannoli filled to order. <b>Kevin Chambers</b> owned Marmo, and previously, he managed operations at <b>ChefStable</b> for two-and-a-half years. Chambers has not announced concrete future plans, but he did say he might work to open a new business in the same location.</p>
https://pdx.eater.com/2015/12/14/10121172/marmo-deli-bar-closes-portland-restaurantMattie John Bamman2015-12-10T09:54:55-08:002015-12-10T09:54:55-08:00Historic Guild's Lake Inn Ends 30-Plus-Year Reign in Northwest Portland
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<img alt="Guild's Lake Inn" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/J1nv2YLhWJnjEOsx1-XUunQ4i7k=/0x0:1000x750/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47845643/o.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Guild's Lake Inn | <a href='http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/guilds-lake-inn-portland?select=aQFE3P3WQXdKei3ZP3meww'>Yelp/Nathan V.</a></figcaption>
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<p>The most recent end-of-year fatality is <a href="http://guildslakeinn.com/">Guild's Lake Inn</a>, a historic restaurant in Northwest Portland that will serve its last meal on Christmas Eve, <a href="http://www.wweek.com/2015/12/08/guilds-lake-inn-to-close/">according to Willamette Week</a>. Guild's Lake Inn is one of the last remnants capable of transporting Portlanders to Guild's Lake's heyday, when it was the number-one source of wet-and-wild amusement for much of the city, rather than an industrial park. If the Monte Cristo, Brian's Meatloaf, or Reuben don't do it, Guild's Lake Inn's <a href="http://guildslakeinn.com/about-us/p200654">30-foot photograph of Portland in 1903</a> definitely would. Most recently, the restaurant was named "Best Lunch in a Time Machine" by WWeek.</p>
<p>Owner Brian McAdams announced the restaurant's closing on the restaurant's website, stating that he and the restaurant "could not reach an amicable agreement regarding our lease with our property owners." McAdams later told WWeek that new landlords ProLogis recently acquired the property and had jacked up the rent by thirty-percent, causing Guild's Lake Inn 30-plus years of business to come to an end.</p>
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<p>If you want to get a final taste of the good old days, which tends to taste like deli meat piled high on a sandwich, visit Guild's Lake Inn for breakfast or lunch before December 25. The restaurant is open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, and located at 3271 NW 29th Ave.</p>
<p>Here's McAdams's official closing announcement from the Guild's Lake Inn website:</p>
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<p>Dear patrons,</p>
<p>Come January 1st. 2016 our doors will be closed as the Guild's Lake Inn. We unfortunately could not reach an amicable agreement regarding our lease with our property owners. After 35 years of serving this community, its time for a change. We are sorry for YOU and want to thank all of you for the years of support. We will miss you, and hope you will join us this month and celebrate its existence. I will post more later about a Christmas Eve celebration!</p>
<p>Thank you,</p>
<p>Brian and loyal loving staff.</p>
</blockquote>
https://pdx.eater.com/2015/12/10/9882290/guilds-lake-inn-closes-portland-restaurant-northwestMattie John Bamman2015-12-09T10:56:38-08:002015-12-09T10:56:38-08:00Hawthorne Lobster House Will Close for Good December 30
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<img alt="Hawthorne Lobster House" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KVEG6ABhgyPo19vkkQuaio4I0F0=/0x45:960x765/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47839283/11053663_1712585288968725_2649562507006757912_n.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Hawthorne Lobster House | <a href='https://www.facebook.com/hawthornelobsterhouse/photos/a.1509874769239779.1073741828.1509871315906791/1712585288968725/?type=3&theater'>Facebook/Hawthorne Lobster House</a></figcaption>
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<p>Now where are you going to get "The Best Tail in Portland?"</p> <p>Joining <a href="http://pdx.eater.com/2015/10/29/9632956/gruner-closes-ox-replaces">Gruner</a> and <a href="http://pdx.eater.com/2015/12/7/9861956/levant-restaurant-closing-portland-new-years-eve">Levant</a>, <a href="http://pdx.eater.com/tags/hawthorne-lobster-house">Hawthorne Lobster House</a> is the third restaurant to announce that it will close for good at the end of the year. Owned by <b>Rodney </b>and <b>Vicki Scott </b>(Brazil Grill) and <b>April Garstin</b>, Hawthorne Lobster House <a href="http://pdx.eater.com/2014/6/12/6208119/bassotto-gelateria-hawthorne-lobster-house-now-open">opened with the tagline The Best Tail in Portland in June 2014</a>, and it was best known for serving the East Coast lobster feed, replete with bibs, butter, and tanks of live lobsters. In April 2015, it received<a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2015/08/hawthorne_lobster_house_portla.html"> a positive write-up in the Oregonian</a>.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hawthornelobsterhouse/posts/1789229871304266">announcement that Hawthorne Lobster House is closing came by Facebook</a>, and while the owners hint at <i>maybe</i> reopening in a new location down the road in the comments, there's no doubt that Hawthorne Lobster House will close indefinitely after dinner service on December 30, 2015.</p>
<p>The complete parting Facebook message reads:</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote">
<p>CLOSING: To our dearly valued customers, Through a series of unfortunate events, we regret to inform you we will closing our doors Dec. 30, 2015. We cannot express enough gratitude to the many customers that enjoyed our restaurant, shared it with their friends, and even became regulars. Our goal and desires were to bring the city of Portland amazing food that can't be found anywhere within the city limits. The numerous compliments and laughter heard throughout the restaurant in our time here was a sound and feeling we'll never forget!</p>
<p>If you are in possession or know of anyone who has an unused gift certificate, please come in and use them before Dec. 30th.</p>
<p>Last but definitely not least, to our staff. We were just a group of friends with the same love for amazing food and outstanding service with the desire to share it with our fellow Portlandians but in turn, we gained our restaurant family. Thank you for the amazing effort and spirit you added to our dream.</p>
<p>Love,<br>Rodney, Vicki, and April</p>
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https://pdx.eater.com/2015/12/9/9880202/hawthorne-lobster-house-closes-portland-restaurantMattie John Bamman