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Since I started my Beerchasing retirement hobby in the fall of 2011, I’v visited over 425 bars and breweries. About 140 have been in the Portland metro area – close to my home. That said, there are still many wonderful watering holes waiting for a Beerchasing expedition.

For example, I recently “discovered” Jerry’s Tavern – an outstanding dive bar that’s been adding hundreds of bottles to the sales of Miller High Life. Opening only about eighteen months ago, it has risen to the ranks of favorite dive bar for many Portlanders.

I needed a new bar for me to get together with a group of “old guys” who periodically gather for beer and to tell stories. Since most of the group are lawyers, the stories aren’t that interesting…but the camaraderie is good.

Past mustering of this group over the last two years has included the Basement Pub, the Sandy Jug, and Holman’s:

Since our last gathering towards the end of 2025, we added a few to the group, so I needed an establishment that had at least one large table and where the music and crowd noise wouldn’t preclude our conversations.

After some research and based on recommendations, I chose the Tulip Shop Tavern (hereafter TST) for a late Wednesday afternoon gathering. I was impressed with the owners’ backgrounds, the reviews and the ambiance.

That said, after a very positive experience, one of our group lamented:

“Williams, you must be losing your touch. This place has too much class. Next time we need a hardcore dive.”  

That comment was taken under advisement by the Executive Committee (that would be me – Thebeerchaser.)

As the co-owner, Devon Treadwell stated:

““Tyler (her husband) and I take a lot of pride in making our home space cozy, ‘Devon Treadwell says. ‘We don’t want it to feel cold and dirty, but nice and warm. People want to hang out here.’” (Portland Eater 3/21/19)

They have succeeded in that desire.

Why You Should Raise a Mug at the Tulip Shop

(#1)

Tyler and Devon Treadwell are entrepreneurs and respected pros in the Portland hospitality industry. As stated in New Schoolbeer.com shortly after they opened TST in May, 2019:

“…Tyler and Devon Treadwell, local hospitality industry veterans, have quietly opened their tavern without much fanfare…Tyler Treadwell was on duty on a pleasantly warm evening, mixing drinks and pouring beers like a pro with years of experience, which in fact he is, with stints at Cascade’s Barrel House, Saraveza, and the Rum Club.

His wife, Devon, has put in working time at Higgins, Sweedeedee, and yes, also at the Rum Club.”

Perhaps their success with the Tulip Shop evolves from a combination of their prior experience, good instincts, willing to take risks, luck and a strong work ethic:

“The Treadwells put no small amount of sweat equity into the space, taking over the former Pop Tavern premises, putting in a lot of elbow grease to clean it up, and remodeling where needed.” (New School Beer)

They also have complementary skills – he handles the beverages including the outstanding cocktails (“The cocktails here get wild with a laundry list of spirits.”) and she handles the food:

“…The menu includes burgers, pork schnitzel, pickle-brined fried chicken, and Alaskan cod sandwiches, all using Dos Hermanos milk buns. TST also has beer-battered onion rings and French fries served with sauces made in-house including curry ketchup and Alabama white barbecue. Specials have included cheeses and chicken sandwiches.”  (Portland Eater 4/20/23 – “15 Best Restaurants and Bars Along Killingsworth Street in Portland”)

Both the cocktails and the food have gotten rave reviews as has the ambiance.gg

And speaking of favorable reactions in the six years since they’ve been open, the TST is often mentioned. They made the list of Portland Monthly’s ten best bars in 2023. In addition to asserting that TST was the City’s best burger bar, Oregon Live’s Michael Russel included it in the list of Portland’s best bistros in 2024.

The awards continued in in 2025 with a ranking of 33 in Oregon Live’s best 40 Portland restaurants.

And social media reviews are quite positive – almost effusive as is this one from Yelp in July 2025:

“Get the double smash burger and thank me later. It was quite possibly the most perfectly cooked smash burger patty I’ve eaten. Crazy good. On top of the amazing burger, the rest of the experience was pretty solid, too. The onion rings were delicious, and the staff were very friendly as well. All in all, a solid spot that I’d gladly revisit

Since my group of old guys, just drank beer and did not try the food, I returned a week later with my former lawyer colleague at the Schwabe firm, John Mansfield – a “victim” of many prior Beerchases.

John had the Daily Special – three tacos for only $11. I feasted on the fried-chicken sandwich ($15). We both agreed that the menu and quality of food merits a return trip(s).

By the way, our server, Rochelle, was a gem and Darren the bartender was also great.

I had a nice chat with Tyler Treadwell and his vision was impressive.  First, he was smart to hitchhike on the same great location of two previous dive bars which had been successful but eventually closed.

NE Killingsworth is an eclectic collection of shops and restaurants that has a following both by locals and those from the burbs. The prior two bars also had character:

Ducketts from 2010 to 2016 – “… a bar should be a place where everyone feels welcome and as I kept an eye on the broad cross-section of humanity ambling in and out the front door my heart warmed to this little neighborhood dive.”

Pop Tavern from 2016 to 2019 – “For a bar explicitly devoted to pop, there’s a sense that this, finally, is a place where history is preserved… as advertised by a lit-up indoor marquee that faces only toward the people already drinking, ‘LESS FASHION MORE THRASHIN’, the sign might entreat the bar’s drinkers.”

Tyler and Devon upgraded the bar so it’s (in Thebeerchaser’s opinion) a seamless integration of an upscale dive and neighborhood bar. That said, Tyler stated that he is well aware that bars go through cycles and need to adapt and change to both retain existing customers and attract new patrons. (#3)

It should be noted about the only complaint besides it being very busy (any bar owner would love that complaint) was that the loud music along with multiple conversations made it difficult to have a discussion. Our group of old guys wouldn’t offer that lament as it would lead to inquiries about which of us had hearing aids.

(Above left to right – Kimball Ferris, John Kelly, Larry Frank, Doug Blomgren, Doug Walta, Bernie Stea and Don Williams)

Although I have a lot of Portland bars I’ve never visited to this point which need exploration, I’ll definitely return to the Tulip Shop Tavern. Besides supporting a great hospitality couple and the robust food menu at reasonable prices, there are exotic cocktails and slushees to investigate.

We stuck to the draft beer lineup, which was great, but as one mixed drink connoisseur stated: “A cocktail is a hug you give yourself.” Anyone reading the news these days, certainly needs a hug. A slushee would also fill the bill and they look outstanding.

“Stay thirsty, my friend!” (#4 – #7 above) (#8 – #9 below)

External Photo Attribution

#1 Tulip Shop Tavern photo as appearing in Eater Portland.com May 23, 2019 (Two Rum Club Alums Open Their Killingsworth Americana Bar Tomorrow [Updated] | Eater Portland).

#2 Tulip Shop Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1426513856143969&set=pb.100063561036461.-2207520000&type=3).

#3 Tulip Shop Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=335177764527053&set=pb.100063561036461.-2207520000&type=3).

#4. Tulip Shop Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/tulipshoptavern/photos/pb.100063561036461.-2207520000/142666123778219/?type=3).

#5. Tulip Shop Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1132005755594782&set=pb.100063561036461.-2207520000&type=3).

#6. Tulip Shop Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1182866800508677&set=pb.100063561036461.-2207520000&type=3)

#7. Tulip Shop Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1229264675868889&set=pb.100063561036461.-2207520000&type=3).

#8. Tulip Shop Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1228521969276493&set=pb.100063561036461.-2207520000).

#9. Tulip Shop Facebook Page  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=497126849082679&set=a.4971268390826800).