- EL MUNDO DIABLO: Johnny âDiabloâ Zukle looks to be building a naked vegan empire in Portland. Not only is he planning to finally open the controversial second location of vegan strip club Casa Diablo this summer on Southeast McLoughlin Boulevardâthe venture was the target of neighborhood protests in 2011 and 2012âbut heâs also filed liquor-license applications for two more vegan strip clubs, Sinners Club at 3532 SE Powell Blvd., in the former Glimmers location, and a to-be-named club at the former Crown Room space in Old Town. Zukle doesnât want to leave out the kids, however. At the old location of the Hutch on Holgate at 4515 SE 41st Ave., he plans to open an âall-ages, family-friendly vegan restaurant, lounge and production facility featuring delicious vegan dining, drinks & desserts.â >> In related news, the owners of Roscoeâs beer bar have filed for a liquor license to take back their old bar Agenda at 2366 SE 82nd Ave. The bar had briefly been turned into a strip club, Assets, by Dustin Berkholtz, who also owned the Glimmers strip club now being taken over by Zukle. Roscoeâs owners Jeremy Lewis and Quyen Ly will again name the bar Agenda, but according to the application it looks like the strippers will stay.
- SCENE SURVIVOR: A new sign has gone up at the site of Deanâs Scene, the long-running Northeast Fremont Street speakeasy and home brewery run by Dean Pottle. The speakeasy was shut down in February after a visit by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. The new sign at Deanâs says that while only friends are allowed into Pottleâs home-basement bar, heâll be opening to the public âsoon.â Reached for comment, Pottle says heâs shopping around for a new location for a public Deanâs Scene but hasnât found the right spot yet.
- EX-WIVES: The 34-year-old inner-eastside institution Old Wivesâ Tales closed May 4. Since opening in 1980, the multi-ethnic restaurant at 1300 E Burnside St. became known for its support of progressive causes, its early accommodation of dietary restrictions, its childrenâs play area, and its Hungarian mushroom soup. Via Facebook, owner Holly Hart says she will retire and put out a cookbook.
- DING DING: Jackpot Records has announced it will close its downtown location June 30. According to a statement from owner Isaac Slusarenko, the decision to shutter the long-standing Portland record store, which opened in 1997, is less about economics than it is âa move that will help us focus more energy and resources on other pursuits,â including the storeâs in-house record label. Jackpotâs Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard location will remain open.
WWeek 2015