Tag Archives: Old Town Pizza

Try the Hi-Top Tavern – It’s a “Shoe*-in”

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With so many watering holes to explore just in Portland – other than the standard two visits I try to make as part of my Beerchasing protocol – I usually don’t return to an establishment I’ve reviewed.  There’s just too many great bars and breweries I still need to experience and too little time to accomplish this sudsy journey. (I decided not to quote Robert Frost…)

From 2011 until the pandemic in 2020, which caused a temporary hiatus in my pursuit, I had visited and reviewed 366 bars of which 119 were in Portland.  From that time onward, I’ve added about another fifty of which thirty are in the Portland area.

Although admitting, my post-pandemic count is not as precise, I believe that since starting this journey in fall of 2011, I’ve shown my face in 416 watering holes with 139 or 33% in the Rose City.

And my “return” to the Hi-top Tavern has to be qualified, because my first visit there was in the summer of 2012 when it was named Bottles.  https://thebeerchaser.com/2012/07/06/bottles-the-preferred-alternative-to-a-glass-ceiling/    

Bottles – originally a small Turkish import store – was a nice bar to sample the esoteric inventory of beers and wines which graced its shelves (between 450 and 500 different bottle beers with eight on tap), but it closed sometime in 2019.

Resurrection of the building came with the Hi-top in July 2019 by the Three on a Match Bar Group under the guidance of its principal, Ezra Ace Caraeff. 

I wrote about these bar revivalists in my recent review of the outstanding Holy Ghost Bar – one of five they own and operate besides the Hi-top, the others are the Old Gold, Paydirt and Tough Luck – all of which I still have to explore. (#1)

Bar Revivalists

Bar Revivalists

Memories

Before describing the visit to Hi-top, it gladdens my heart to remember the Beerchasing event at Bottles and County Cork, another Fremont Street bar, on the same day in July, thirteen years ago with colleagues from the Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt Environmental and Natural Resources Group.

Brien Flanagan, is still at Schwabe and a leader in that group. Patty Dost, Laura Maffei and Cheryl Rath, who now practice with other firms, also raised a mug at both of these bars – with dinner at Bottles after toasting Brien’s Notre Dame undergrad alma mater at the Irish Bar.

 All have had distinguished legal careers since that day and their expertise in air, water, hazardous waste and other environmental issues is notable. We’ve Beerchased on occasion since that day including a great reunion at Old Town Pizza in   with a number of other alumni of that group.

Bottles in 2012
Old Town Pizza in 2024

I was always happy that they indulged me when I would spout environmental stories and jokes from bar visits such as the old guy sitting next to me at a dive bar who asserted:

“You know it’s not pollution or industry that is harming the environment. It’s the impurities in our air and water.”

I also remember conveying the contemporary version of an old adage about personal development which got shrugs and moans from my friends:

“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.  Teach him how to fish and he will be dead of mercury poison in three years.” 

The Bar

Hi-top is not going to wow you with its layout or features.  It’s pretty generic although there are some neat smaller spaces, an expansive patio and a long bar with an impressive display of liquor bottles backing it. As stated in a Willamette Week article:

“The first thing you’ll notice in the old Bottles space is its bunkerlike atmosphere, which is both its biggest hindrance and its most admirable quirk. The ceilings are low and the floor plan is segmented into a variety of nooks and crannies, with garage doors and a vast expanse of whiskeys on offer.”

And while you may not come for a unique ambiance, the draw is the superb cocktail choices and an opportunity to taste Single Barrel Bourbon, evidently hand-selected by the staff and flown in from Kentucky.

You won’t see many beers on tap although I liked the concept in their bottled beers including four PBR Tallboys in a shiny bucket for $12 or a Miller High Life Bucket – four in a golden bucket for $12.

The food is also a plus with an excellent sandwich menu and quite a few small-bite and salad options – all at reasonable prices.  You might not be able to resist the $5 Chocolate Chunk Cookie (Brown Butter, Bourbon, Maldon Sea Salt).  I understand it pairs quite well with a PBR Tallboy

* You might wonder about the title of this post and the asterisk after the word “shoe.”  Two reasons – first, I’m doing a lot of reminiscing in this narrative.  And the last and one of the only times I’ve seen “Hi-top” used is in reference to the beloved Chuck Taylor Converse All-Stars. (You can pick up a new pair for only $64.99.) (#2)

A Classic Shoe

A Classic Shoe

As I’ve mentioned in the blog several times, my 1966 Oregon City High School TYV League Championship Team wore those sneakers with pride into the State Tournament where, although decimated in the first round by Lincoln of Portland, we made it to the consolation semi-finals where we lost by one point in overtime to Thurston.

My long-time friend and former teammate, John Davidson (#30) who went on to have an excellent run in hoops after high school at Grays Habor Junior College ,and I reunited last fall when he flew up from San Diego to have a free-throw contest at a local grade school. (None of the kids wanted to scrimmage with us.)

It was followed by Spanish coffees at Hubers’ Restuarant and an outstanding steak and martini dinner at Portland’s legendary Ring Side Steakhouse, where John worked part-time when he was a junior-high teacher years ago.

And to conclude on a Hi note, I have to mention my Beerchasing companion at the Hi-top – another long-time friend dating back to the 80’s (I think) when she was a research intern for the City Club of Portland and I was on the Research Board.

Hillary Barbour is one of the smartest and most industrious people I know, having graduated from Reed College, working for many years on the staff of Congressman Earl Blumenauer and then as the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Burgerville.

She is now

Hillary is a Beerchasing regular, having visited the Sandy Jug, the Jolly Roger, the Vern and Mad Hanna on previous Beerchasing experiences. (It was a coincidence that the first two initials of her first name are the same as that of the bar….)

Going to the Hi-top was actually inadvertent in that I thought we were going to another bar – the Top of the Hill Tavern – a classic dive on NE Glisan only 3.6 miles or eleven minutes away. 

I’d driven by this bar a number of times and thought it would be a great place to add to my list but got confused with the name and address and gave Hillary the NE Fremont address of the Hi-top instead. (We agreed to a future visit to Glisan Street.) (#3)

Hilltop Tavern – A future visit awaits….

In Conclusion

While the Hi-top was an okay neighborhood bar and evoked a lot of great memories, rather than return, I’ll try Three-on-a-Matches’ two other bars – the Old Gold and Pay Dirt – to see how they compare.

And in a final tribute to my Beerchasing colleagues – a bar joke:

“An environmental lawyer and a non-renewable resource walk into a bar and sit down for a couple of pints. After a while, the non-renewable resource orders two more beers. The bartender turns to the lawyer and says, ‘I’ll serve you, but not your friend, he’s getting wasted'”

Cheers

External Photo Attribution

#1. Three-on-a-Match Bar Group (https://www.threeonamatchbars.com/).

#2. Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons  (File:A classic Black pair of Converse All Stars resting on the Black & White Ed. Shoebox (1998-2002).JPG – Wikimedia Commons).  I, the copyright holder of this work, release this work into the public domain. This applies worldwide. Author: Hadley1978 at English Wikipedia – 18 November 2006.

#3.  Yelp site for Top of the Hill Tavern – (Photos for Top of the Hill Tavern – Yelp). Photo by Mark S. – July 28, 2008.

Gino’s Restaurant and Bar – What’s in a Name?

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Courtesy of Sanslartigue – the Silent Camera (https://sanslartigue.com/)

Welcome back to Thebeerchaser. If you are seeing this post through an e-mail, please visit the blog by clicking on the title above to see all of the photos at the end of the post and so the narrative isn’t clipped or shortened. (External photo attribution at the end of the post #1)

Since the pandemic, it’s been discouraging to see the number of hospitality establishments that have struggled or just closed permanently. Exacerbating the situation, is the hardest hit of these enterprises has been the independent or small business owners.

Not that the corporate chains have been untouched by labor shortages, supply-chain issues or just profitability, but they have far superior reserves.  After having it on my list for years, I had lunch at Gino’s Restaurant and Bar in Sellwood, just south of Portland.

And I’m happy to report that Gino’s appears to be thriving, just as Huber’s, (see my recent Beerchaser review) another iconic Portland establishment that’s served loyal patrons for longer than Gino’s, but has some similarities which make both eateries and bars worth visiting – and I might add – “again and again!”

The photo above shows the name as “Original Leipzig Tavern” and I will explain that apparent discrepancy below.

Oh, the History!

I was thrilled to have a reunion after many years with my Portland State University graduate school professor and advisor, Dr. Walt Ellis and his colleague in PSU’s Hatfield School of Government – Dr. Doug Morgan in mid-June.

I’ll relate more about the outstanding careers and reputation of these two gents below, but first a little about the rich history of this Sellwood-Moreland Neighborhood treasure.

From left: Thebeerchaser, Doug Morgan and Walt Ellis

Our visit was enhanced by our wonderful server, Natalie, who right from the start, showed the same attributes of Gino’s staff as described in this review from Trip Advisor in November, 2023:

“This is a wonderful place to eat. Often busy and you may need a reservation. Staff are very friendly and professional, attentive without being intrusive, fast service, always with a smile. Food is excellent. Cocktails and beer, wine list is extensive, appropriate and connoisseurs won’t be disappointed. Go and enjoy.”

An outstanding server

Followers of this blog might remember the name “Accaurdi family” as they were the original owners of Portland’s Old Town Pizza – opened in 1974.  Adam Milne, the current owner, first visited when he was nine and subsequently purchased it in 2003. 

As the review in my 2019 Thebeerchaser post quoted:

“It was in the historic Merchant Hotel in Old Town and a hub for like-minded people with a radical agenda. It stood as a beacon for the local community; a place to break bread and enjoy your neighbor.” 

You will recognize the same theme in Gino’s history.

What is now Gino’s, actually goes back to 1924, when it was opened as a confectionary. The establishment has had multiple names and been in more than one location since that time. The most comprehensive account is a wonderful article, originally published in 2023 in the Sellwood Bee:

“In the summer of 1924, Peter and Helen Leipzig finally attained their lifetime dream….(they) purchased the well-known confectionery store at East 13th and Spokane from Mr. Brink, and are now in possession….

 ‘The Leipzig’ was seen as the first coffee shop and lunch counter in Sellwood.”  (#2)

The Sellwood Bridge over the Willamette River today

Then came the Accuardis…

According to one apparently knowledgeable writer in a May 2008 Yelp review:

“Within Sellwood itself, stood a bar known as the Leipzig, and for years this was one of many watering holes on the southeast side near the bridge. Years later, the original owner would sell the Leipzig to its current owners, with one caveat, the Leipzig sign was to remain, and so it does to this day.”

There are a number of accounts as to the name issue – Gino’s versus The Leipzig Tavern – according to current owner, Gino Accuardi, in our phone conversation detailed below. He said that one of the senior members (obviously unmarried) of the Leipzig family was the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Portland.

“He was very irate when the confectionary turned into a bar because he was against drinking.”  (#3)

The article in the Sellwood Bee continues:

“Marc and Debby Accuardi bought the Leipzig Tavern in 1996, opening “Gino’s Restaurant and Bar next door”, and using the old Leipzig Tavern as an additional bar for their customers. Much as Peter and Helen believed in back in 1924, they built a place ‘where friends and neighbors could gather to enjoy quality food and wine’”.

I had a very nice phone chat with Gino, who picked up the phone when I called for additional information. Our conversation started like this:

Gino:  “Gino’s Restaurant and Bar. This is Gino.”

Beerchaser: “You mean the Gino?”

Gino: “Yep, my grandfather named this place after me when I was twelve. Since I was from a third – no I guess a fourth-generation restaurant family, I guess I knew I was going to own a restaurant someday.”

“I’ve heard many versions of why the Leipzig sign is still there, but keeping it just made common sense. It has a great legacy.”

The Bar Section

The establishment is divided into two distinct sections.  One walks into the bar which has an older-time ambiance including a beautiful backbar and a number of booths. This is aptly described by Willamette Week in their 2019 review:

“Gino’s survives as a Corleone-fueled fever dream simmering in old country charm. The mahogany-lined restaurant sits underneath signage advertising the long-dead Leipzig Tavern, and serves inspired renditions of defiantly unreconstructed Italian classics…..

Today the attached restaurant is known as Gino’s. The bar inside was salvaged from a Chicago warehouse by the current owner and adds a more authentic old-world touch to the atmosphere of the bar (the brass seal from the manufacturer is still on the bar today).” (emphasis supplied) 

This touch harkened me back to some of the great bars and backbars in both Oregon and the western US where I have Beerchased. 

Take a look at these Portland area all-stars from my past visits – clockwise from left to right: McNaulty and Barry’s – Oregon City, the Double Barrel, Buffalo Bills – Beavercreek, Cassidy’s Restuarant and Bar, Hubers Cafe and Multnomah Whiskey Library

And the western US, most notably Montana and Colorado bars, where taxidermy and weapons often complement the historic ambiance.

Clockwise from left to right:  Blue Moon Saloon – Columbus, Montana; Gold Pan Saloon – Breckenridge, Co.; Montana Bar – Miles City, Montana; Oxford Saloon – Missoula, Montana; Saw Mill Saloon – Darby, Montana; Trapper’s Saloon – Eureka, Montana.

(I have to admit that I’ve only seen one alligator hanging over a bar – at the Blue Moon Saloon in what is purported to be Montana’s longest bar.  It’s not as scary, however, as the polar bear in an adjacent glass enclosed case.)

The Dining Room at Gino’s

Gino’s dining room also has character.  It’s reported to have once been a silent movie theater. There are interesting and colorful murals, antique furniture and scads of knick-knacks and mementoes from years past.

We had great sandwiches at our lunch and the dinner menu beckons for a return visit – it has variety and very reasonable prices.  Read the following account from a 2018 Portland Eater  article with Gino’s mom, Debbi recounting their favorite meal (and as remarkable as it seems these days, it’s still available for only $23 – see “Grandma Jean’s” on the menu).

https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/2018/02/we-asked-20-portland-chefs-and-foodies-what-tastes-like-home

“When Marc and I first opened our Italian restaurant in 1996, we lived upstairs, and every Christmas Eve we would have all the Accuardis in for a potluck—that was about 120 people.

And this was the dish: red sauce with pork ribs, stewed beef, and pepperoni (served over penne at Gino’s). The thing was, everyone—every aunt, uncle, and cousin—had their own version, and there would be huge arguments about the right way to make it. It’s all about when the herbs go in, basically.

This is a dish that goes generation to generation.” (#4)

I asked Gino how business was during the pandemic and he stated:

“If I would have known at the beginning, what I know now, I might have thought twice, but we were both lucky and agile as we adjusted some things and tried new ideas that worked. We cooperated with the City and closing part of the street was really helpful.

We have a great clientele from all over the city, but especially our neighborhood. I live six blocks away and my daughter goes to school in the neighborhood. We focus on being a neighborhood establishment and they rallied for us.”

The spacious patio adjacent to the bar affirms Gino’s comment above.

In Closing, I Can’t Forget my Beerchasing Companions and the Hatfield School

I’m happy that my two lunch companions – both Gino regulars – Walt, from the date they opened – suggested Gino’s.  We had great sandwiches and a good bottle of wine for lunch.

This August 2023 Trip Advisor review shows why Janet and I will return there for dinner:

“Wonderful experience. This is a magnificent restaurant. Great atmosphere, lovely Italian food, attentive staff. Not too noisy. Seasonal Caprese on the menu just now, is superb. Good bar, excellent and extensive wine list. The wines by the glass are first class and reasonably priced. Beers varied to suit all tastes.”

But let me tell you about the Hatfield School and the Master’s of Public Administration program at Portland State University.  It’s dear to my heart and was a great help to both Janet and me during our careers in both the public and private sectors.

In the mid-seventies, I was working for Clackamas County and enjoying my work in local government. Based on the reputation of the MPA program at PSU, I applied and was admitted:  

“The Mark O. Hatfield School’s degree, certificate, and continuing education programs are shaped by three overarching values: the importance of public service, the pursuit of social justice, and the quest for effective innovation in service delivery.” (#5)

I had a demanding job (and a bachelor’s social life) and grad school began a long journey of taking one class per quarter for the next five years – usually on a weeknight from 6:00 until 9:00, if I remember correctly.   

There were numerous papers occupying many weekends, but I was often able to integrate them into my job for the County Commissioners. The professors were first-rate and the classes practical and interesting.

Walt Ellis was my advisor and not only a great professor, but a wonderful and caring human being. His “Organizational Theory” class was of considerable use to me not only while I was in the public sector, but for the next twenty-five years in legal management. 

Because of work demands (or at least that’s what I maintain now…) I took an incomplete with one major paper to complete to get credit. At that time, there were not personal computers and I typed some of the papers and hired a typist as well.  There is a time limit on incompletes and that was tolling. 

I had the paper completed, but only 50% typed on the last day to submit it. I knew where Walt lived so I drove to his house, knocked on his door with my paper in the late afternoon. Walt answered the door and I was prepared to beg for mercy – but I didn’t have to. He took the paper and said to his wonderful wife:

“Rosemary, don’t we have enough spaghetti for Don to join us for dinner?”

(It was a wonderful meal and I ended up with an A in the course.) You won’t believe it, but I still have two papers from Walt’s classes in 1978 – from the “Organizational Theory” and “Administrative Theory and Behavior” courses.

Walt also informed me that if I didn’t finish my two remaining courses in the next two terms, PSU was going to start deducting credits.  This was right when I had started dating my future wife – Janet Dancer, who was working as the Assistant City Manager at Oregon City. (We met at a Planning Commission meeting.)

On our first date to a Portland Trailblazer game, I successfully lobbied her into enrolling in the MPA program. Janet had majored in Public Administration at the University of Oregon and, interestingly enough, had taken a course from Walt Ellis when he taught there.

(Her dad, the late Joe Dancer, was the City Manager of McMinnville, Oregon for twenty-seven years and has a park named after him in the city.) (#6)

Following a legacy in Public Administration

We married shortly afterwards and Janet and I took two terms of Data Analysis together – which came close to ruining our marriage and not just because she got a much higher grade on the first linear regression exam then I did. (#7)

(She had a better grasp of linear regression.)

walt ellis

Does the guy in the pew look familiar?

We used to flip a coin to see who would drive to the now century-old Shattuck Hall on campus and stand in line to have the punch cards run through the mainframe and who would clean the bathrooms. (The winner got to clean the bathrooms.)

Our forty-four-year marriage survived Data Analysis and other challenges and we both got our MPA’s – although Janet in a much shorter period.

The Morgan – Ellis Family Endowment

I will conclude with a final accolade to these two outstanding academicians with an excerpt from the Spring Newsletter of the Hatfield School with a quote from Masami Nishishiba, Ph.D, Director.

“We were thrilled to announce the establishment of the ‘Morgan Ellis Family Endowment for Community-Centered Education, Scholarship, and Governance.’

This incredible initiative was kickstarted by two Emeriti Professors, Dr. Doug Morgan, Former Chair of the Department of Public Administration and the Founding Director of the Center for Public Service and Dr. Walt Ellis, Former Associate Dean of the College of Urban and Public Affairs. Their generous donation of $100,000 set the foundation for this endowment.” (#8)

Director Nishishiba, Walt and Doug

These two guys definitely walk their talk!

Cheers

External Photo Attribution

#1.  Sanslartigue 2 – Sanslartigue 2: The silent camera continued.

#2. Wikimedia Commons (File:New Sellwood Bridge in September 2016.jpg – Wikimedia Commons)  Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.  Author: September 2016

#3.  Ginos Restaurant and Bar Website (Gino’s Restaurant & Bar (ginossellwood.com)).

#4.  Gino’s Restaurant and Bar Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/ginossellwood/photos_by).

#5.  Wikimedia Commons (File:Sign at entry to Portland State University (2004).jpg – Wikimedia Commons)  Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.  Author:  Kkmd at English Wikipedia – 20 October 2004.

#6. All Trails website (Photos of Joe Dancer Park – Oregon | AllTrails)  Author: Paul Turchan.

#7.  Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (File:Linear Regression – it.svg – Wikimedia Commons). This work has been released into the public domain by its author, I, Berland. This applies worldwide. 28 October 2008.

#8. Portland State University website (What’s New in the Hatfield School of Government | Portland State University (pdx.edu). 

Optimism in Old Town

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Welcome back to Thebeerchaser. If you are seeing this post through an e-mail, please visit the blog by clicking on the title at the top to see all of the photos so the narrative is not clipped or shortened.  (External photo attribution at the end of the post. #1 – #2)

Adam Milne is an optimist.  He had a vision as a youngster.  And now he has another vision. 

As I’ve related in two previous posts about Old Town Brewing and Old Town Pizza, Adam first became enamored with Old Town Pizza when he visited at the age of nine in 1979 when it was owned by the Accaurdi family.  They originally opened it in 1974.  He then purchased it when he was thirty-three in 2003.

I’ve mentioned how Adam’s unceasing optimism kept his business going after some significant challenges in the early years, during his trademark fight with the City of Portland and as the global pandemic raged in the last few years shuttering many business – especially those in the hospitality sector permanently.

And when I say optimist, it’s not a frivolous compliment. From my previous encounters with Adam, given his buoyant spirit, I would not be surprised to see him start a new diet the week before Thanksgiving. 

He’s so positive about the future, he’s probably committed to stay in Portland during the NBA Western Division Playoffs to see the Trailblazers – 14th out of 15th in the West with a current record of 19 – 49.

Okay, you get the idea, but possibly the following quote from one of Oscar Wilde’s plays is most appropriate to explain his new vision:

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” (#4)

292645873_443199184482919_6816994385099299300_n

Looking to the Stars….

Take a look at some of the articles about Portland’s downward spiral in the last few years – not only Oregon publications, but in major papers throughout the country.  They single Portland out among major cities for lingering pandemic related issues.

“Downtown in distress: Portland’s core is unsafe and uninviting, residents say in new poll, threatening city’s recovery.”  Oregon Live 5/24/21

“What’s the matter with Portland? Shootings, theft and other crime test city’s progressive strain.”   Los Angeles Times     2/10/23

“Fighting for Anthony – The Struggle to Save Portland Oregon.”   New York Times  7/29/23  (#5)

But That’s Not Adam’s Mentality

The pandemic decimated many breweries who either closed permanently or shuttered to comply with State mandates or just because there were few, if any, patrons.  Old Town Pizza was no exception:

“At one point in late 2021, his receipts in the original location for the day were $17 and he made the difficult decision to temporarily close that location.  After eighteen months, it reopened five days per week in 2022.  The NE Pub continued to operate during that hiatus.” 

Thebeerchaser https://thebeerchaser.com/2024/01/13/head-downtown-to-old-town-pizza-and-brewing/   (#6 – #8)

Old Town Pizza located in the historic Merchant Hotel Building in Old Town
The Brewery and pub in NE Portland

Carson Bowler, a Sigma Nu fraternity brother of Adam’s at the University of Oregon and a Portland lawyer and I joined Adam for a beer in Old Town in July 2023 to hear about Adam’s new vision.

Carson was almost giddy – not just at seeing his old friend – but at the opportunity to down a Shanghai’d IPA – one of their most popular seasonals and consistent with the historical ambiance in which we raised mugs:

“A Toast to Portland – Portland’s Shanghai Tunnels, an eerie section of which lie beneath our Old Town Taproom.  (about 14,000 square feet of it – see photos below)

Lore of unsuspecting laborers being kidnapped via these secret tunnels and sold to ship captains for a crew in the late 1800’s lives on today.”

I quaffed an Old Town Red Ale – one of their flagship brews:

An impeccably balanced malt-driven ale with notes of sweetbread and caramel partnered with a medium hop bite and finish.  (#9 – #10)

Adam told us at that one point during COVID he thought that his dream and his enterprise might not come back.  “Can I recreate a career at 50?”  But he restarted incrementally and continued to rely both on his marketing talent and his positive outlook.

The Old Town location had been down 60% from pre-pandemic sales numbers; however, the pub and brewery in NE Portland had done better.

But as pointed out in several articles, Adam was not going to join the chorus of those essentially viewing Portland as a lost cause.  One of the articles by The Oregonian’s Beer Columnist and Editor, Andre Meunier, entitled “A New Look for Old Town Brewing Shines a Positive Light on Portland and its Icons,” provides an apt description:

“But Milne is a self-described and unapologetic optimist, and where some see a reason to turn out the lights, he sees motivation to add wattage.

I wanted to come out of the pandemic and really be a part of the solution to making Portland better,’ Milne said. ‘So we started with that. How can we be a positive voice for Portland?’”  The Oregonian 2/22/23
 
Unlike many of the elected officials and non-profit managers who seem to offer more bombast than action, however, the article sets forth concrete steps he’s taken to help not only his own business, but fellow merchants and the entire City.
 
  • He extended his lease in Old Town by at least seven and up to twelve years.
  • He reopened the underground tunnel tours in the basement space below his building which gives an amazing historic portrayal of Portland’s rich past – especially in Old Town.

He gave us a tour of the chambers below which required some careful navigation of old staircases, (the ancient elevator is not in working order at the present) but was fascinating including an old bar and drinking area.

For those who have any interest in authentic historical settings, the Haunted Shanghai Tunnel Tour is a must.  And for $38 you get a ninety-minute tour plus some extras – what a deal:

“Learn about Portland’s dark history and hear stories about our resident ghost, Nina. Finish up with a special tasting and 1 pint of our internationally award-winning beer.”

Adams recovery actions continue:

  • He initiated a re-branding campaign for Old Town Brewing

“…that focuses on Portland and the images and symbols that have won the city and region affection for decades. 

A new line of beer cans will prominently display the leaping stag of the widely recognizable ‘Portland Oregon’ sign along the Willamette River and each of Old Town’s five core beers will highlight recognizable images and symbols and present a unique toast to each.”

beer cans

Milne stated, “We believe in our city, and want to be a part of the solution in making Portland even better. That’s why our new cans celebrate the city we love, capturing some of our favorite aspects of the city.”

 Pilsner and the Fremont Bridge

 IPA and the “zoo-bombers” down the West Hills roadways

 NW IPA and the Columbia River Gorge

 Hazy IPA – Pillowfist and Mount Hood

Red Ale and the Lone Fir Cemetery

The Stag is still on the front of the cans as Adam views that as a symbol of unity and pride in the City. (#11)

  • The Brewery is now working with area non-profits, most notably Word is Bond, an organization helping young Black men with citizenship and leadership training. 

Adam will host fundraisers and provide food for their programs and is working with visionary Founder and Executive Director Lakayana Drury..

Drury came up with the slogan “Believe in Portland,” which graces the shirts available on the Old Town website and in stores. $10 of every shirt sale will go to a local nonprofit, with a different one getting the money every month.

Next up was Central City Concern, a neighbor of the restaurant in Old Town.  (#12 – #13)

Word is Bond

Patrons can partake of customized three-course meals throughout March, the traditional period when Portland Dining Month took place:

“Better yet: The breweries are sweetening the deal by throwing in one beer, house wine or non-alcoholic beverage and a $10 voucher for use between April 1 and June 30—a perk you didn’t find at Portland Dining Week.” (#14)

431355795_18419163580053264_1423553663896411479_n

And after wandering through the Old Town’s downtown space and marveling at the alcoves, historic pictures, I checked their website and also discovered that Old Town:

“….  has a beautiful, open lofted level with several semi-private spaces for groups of between 10 and 60 people. Book an event with us and enjoy a full service, buffet-style dinner in the historic Merchant Hotel, plus even more space available at our NE brewery.”

Their Facebook page shows some great pictures of weddings and receptions held recently.

So I decided to take advantage of that for a Beerchasing Event.  I invited former and current members of the Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt Environmental and Natural Resources Group to meet in the late afternoon last January for beer and pizza.   

There was no room charge, the space was well-suited for our group and the pizza and beer were a hit with all nine of us there.  

schwabe

So what can those of us who love Portland do to support Adam and his compatriots’ vision for restoring Portland to its beauty, vitality and reputation as a prime vacation spot?

Well, you can pay a visit to either the Downtown or NE Portland location, order some beer on-line, buy a t-shirt from the Old Town website, take a Shanghai Tunnel Tour, book an event or just send this Portland leader an e-mail reinforcing what he is trying to accomplish.  https://www.otbrewing.com/contact-1 

And to End this Tome on a Note of Positivity

Speaking of major career decisions, here’s an ending toast to Carson Bowler.  My former colleague and friend for many years is not only a superb lawyer, but a wonderful human being. 

A leading Portland mediator, several years ago who moderated an all-day session in which CBo (as we affectionately called him) represented one of the parties told me the next day:

“Don, that Carson Bowler is the real deal!

Congratulations to him for leaving the large-firm environment at the beginning of 2024 and starting his own firm – Law Office of Carson Bowler. (#15 – #16)

https://bowler-law.com/

Cheers

External Photo Attribution

#1.  Wikimedia Commons (File:Portland, Oregon sign + Old Town tower, 2012.JPG – Wikimedia Commons)  Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Author: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Another_Believer – 8 January 2012.

#2.  Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thanksgiving_Turkey_2021_(cropped).jpg)  Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.  Author: Freshman 404 – 23 November 2021.

#3 – #4.  Old Town Brewing Website (Old Town Brewing (otbrewing.com)).

#5.  Wikimedia Commons (File:Northeast Portland homeless camp tents.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Author: Graywalls  1 March 2020.

#6.  Wikimedia Commons (File:Merchant Hotel building – Portland, Oregon (2016).jpg – Wikimedia Commons) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Author:  Steve Morgan  23 October 2016.

#7 – #8. Old Town Brewing Website (Old Town Brewing (otbrewing.com).

#9 – #11 Old Town Brewing Website (BEERS — Old Town Brewing (otbrewing.com)).

#12 – #13.  Word is Bond Website (WordIsBond (mywordisbond.org)).

#14.  Old Town Brewing Facebook Page ((2) old town brewing – Search Results | Facebook)

#15 – #16.  Law Office of Carson Bowler Website (https://bowler-law.com/).

 

New Energy and Ideas at Old Town Brewing

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Old Town Brewing’s brewery and taproom on MLK Blvd – photo ,courtesy of Old Town Brewing

Notwithstanding the fact that there are many thriving breweries in Oregon, the micro-craft business in Oregon – it ranks fifth in the US for the number of breweries per capita – is extremely competitive.

An eastside mainstay closes its door in early 2019

This is evidenced by the closure of three major players in the Portland brewing scene just in the last several months – Alameda, Bridgeport and Burnside.  (Click on the links on the names of the last two to see Thebeerchaser’s reviews.)

And Widmer Brothers, the Lompoc Tavern and Portland Brewing have also closed their pubs – gone, but not forgotten as good places to raise a mug.

Bridgeport joins the legendary Slab Town in closing its doors in NW

While some not familiar with the brewery business, have a dream of establishing their own operation based on their enjoyment from home brewing, it takes considerable planning, risk tolerance and devotion to long hours and meeting challenges to sustain a successful brewery or pub – and there’s also the initial capital to even open it.

Backwoods Brewings’ second location in the Pearl District

That is why I have so much respect for the entrepreneurial spirit of some of my favorites including Mark Becker of Flyboy Brewing, the Waters family of SW Washington’s Backwoods Brewing and Jim Mills’ from Caldera Brewing in Ashland – and these are just a few.

Add to those, Adam Milne, the founder and owner of Old Town Brewing (hereafter OTB) in Portland.  I had dinner and beer with Adam and lawyer, Carson Bowler, on my second visit to Old Town’s operation in NE Portland – the brewpub and actual site where they brew their six flagship beers in addition to a number of limited batch seasonal brews.

By the way, due to the breadth of the story of Adam Milne and Old Town Brewing, it will be covered in two separate blog posts rather than the customary one narrative.

Adam Milne – young entreprenauer

The original, and now companion location is the well-known historic Old Town Pizza site.  And the story is interesting and fulfills a dream – similar to those of the people mentioned above in their enterprises.  Adam first visited Old Town Pizza when he was only nine years old.  It was owned by the Accaurdi family who opened it in 1974.

“It was in the historic Merchant Hotel in Old Town and a hub for like-minded people with a radical agenda. It stood as a beacon for the local community; a place to break bread and enjoy your neighbor.”  (Old Town Brewery web site)

That visit had an impact and demonstrates this young entrepreneur’s vision since he bought Old Town Pizza in 2003 when he was only in his early thirties – 33 to be exact.

He subsequently expanded to NE Portland on NE Martin Luther King Blvd in 2008, where he built the brewery and pub.  Assistance came in the form of a low-interest loan from the Portland Development Commission in its effort to promote enterprise close-in NE Portland.

It now houses, in 6,000 square feet, an attractive and bustling brewpub in addition to their brewing hardware and canning/bottling equipment.  Adam and his family live in the same neighborhood.  This review will focus on the NE location rather than Old Town Pizza brewpub which is still located on Second and NW Davis Streets.

Those who view the story on the OTB website will see that the enterprise, since that time, has had two major expansions and thus may conclude that it’s been a smooth ride for this native of Marcola, Oregon, but that’s not the case.  He graduated from Mohawk High School – with twenty-one other classmates in his senior class.

In 2003, to raise the capital to purchase Old Town Pizza, Adam mortgaged the equity in his home and sold a rental house to make the down payment.  Only one month into the new venture, their primary refrigerator went out – they had no cash to replace it.  He had to buy all new refrigeration and new pizza ovens.   When I asked how they resolved, Adam chuckled and said, “I suppose that’s what credit cards are for!”

Attractive recovery from the 2012 fire in the second story

Then there was the fire upstairs at the NE brewpub in 2012, which resulted in closure of the pub for two to three months.

Many people are also familiar with Adam’s battle with the City of Portland over the Old Town Breweing trademark – the iconic “leaping white stag” – which was not only stressful, but the multi-year legal battle, resulted in significant attorney fees before OTB eventually prevailed and settled with the City.

Source of mult-year legal battle…

On both of my visits to OTB, I was accompanied by Carson Bowler, a partner at Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt law firm and with whom I had the pleasure of working for a good portion of my 25 years at the firm.

Starting in 1990 and for four years, while at the U of O, Carson lived in the same fraternity – Sigma Nu – as Adam.  Carson also bears a strong resemblance to former Beerchaser-of-the-Quarter, Art Vandely, President of Vandely Enterprises.

https://thebeerchaser.com/2014/01/31/beerchaser-of-the-month-art-vandelay/

Art Vandelay in his executive role has a different legal perspective…

This environmental attorney has enjoyed his friendship with Adam and stated:

“I’ve known Adam for more than twenty-five years.  We were in the Sigma Nu house and his reputation then was that he was the nicest guy in the fraternity.  Unfortunately, that reputation was accurate. 

One could never lie to, or ‘borrow’ from or prank Adam without the everlasting worry that God, Himself would punish any such shenanigans with eternal damnation. 

Adam always had one great idea too many until he didn’t and launched Old Town Brewing.  It was in this enterprise that his ambition, good taste, generosity and entrepreneurial spirit blissfully collided to produce pure-love in a pint.  Adam makes good beer because only good things come from Adam.”

We will get back to Adam in the second blog post, but first let’s talk about their quarters in NE Portland.  The architect was another Sigma Nu at Oregon, Eric Aust, now practicing in Newport Beach, CA and who specializes in custom residential and commercial development.

https://www.austarchitect.com/old-town-pizza

He succeeded in making Old Town Brewing one of the most impressive and comfortable brewpubs I have visited in seven and one-half years of Beerchasing.   Thebeerchaser is not conversant with technical design concepts and themes, but I know what I like and that was definitely the case with the environment at OTB.

While some of the new breweries and brewpubs in the Pearl are sleek and modern-industrial, the OTB building is rustic – large fireplaces, dark wood and a home-grown Northwest ambiance.  And there are interesting historic photos as can be seen below.

For example, most of the wood in the two-story structure is reclaimed from an old tobacco warehouse in Kentucky.  When we were touring,Adam stated, “You can still smell tobacco,” – (well, at least somebody without the sinus issues that plague me probably could….)

The round barrel tables are former sewing machine stands purchased from an antique store in nearby Aurora.  The bar and backbar are very attractive and there are a variety of seating options.

Attractive bar

Okay, ambiance is nice, but what about the beer?  OTB fares very well in that category which is evidenced by the extensive list of awards on their website dating back to 2013:

https://www.otbrewing.com/dock-sales

I will cover the beer in significantly more depth as well as the food and the trademark battle and show some of the pictures from my first visit – this time with two lawyers – the aforementioned Carson (not Washington) and his fellow lawyer in the Schwabe Natural Resources Group – Brien Flanagan, the Group Leader.

Bowler and Flannagan

Old Town Brewing        5201 NE Martin Luther King Blvd