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According to an OLCC application, the old Reading Frenzy space at 921 SW Oak St. might be getting a new tenant: Kristin Murray, former pastry chef at Paley's Place, Lucier and Fenouil, has put in to open a new spot called Maurice.
Slabtown stalwart (and much-missed Willamette Week writer hangout) Joe's Cellar will be re-opening later this summer at Northwest 21st Avenue and Pettigrove Street, according to a press release; the building will be rehabbed first to meet city code specifications. The building's new owner, C.E.John, says they plans to redevelop the property only after Joe's Cellar owner Jim Hittner retires from running the bar (and, perhaps more importantly, after the Con-Way construction turns the surrounding area into a park and plaza).
The Centennial neighborhood near Powell Butte will be getting a truly epic/crazy kids' play area as of August 10 called the Monkey King Play House (11712 SE Powell Blvd.), which is surprisingly the third unrelated Portland business to use that moniker. The playground will be run by the Qian Kun institute, which provides Chinese cultural education. In this particular case, cultural education involves huge-ass snakes and dragons and painted monkey heads, plus a multi-tier video-game world of fake lush greenery. Sensibly, the play area has applied for a full liquor license.
Moonstruck Chocolate Company is filing for liquor-store licenses at all of its locations, so they can sell their new Oregon Distillers Collection chocolates, which contain liquors from Bull Run Distillery, Clear Creek Distillery, House Spirits, Bend Distillery and Rogue Ales. The chocolates can currently be found at the distillers' tasting rooms.
Looks like the Northwest Heights neighborhood of Portland will be trading cakes for Milk Duds. If the Vinotopia liquor license application is any guide, a Cinetopia luxury movie theater is slotted to move into the location of Sweet Ambrosia Bakeshoppe (2037 NW Miller Rd.) [Update: According to an employee, it'll be a stand-alone restaurant with the Vinotopia brand.]
Fossil and Fawn, a new urban Pinot Noir nanowinery, will be serving up wine out of Enso Urban Winery's space (1416 SE Stark St.).
The Pie Spot (521 NE 24th Ave.) at the Ocean wants permission to serve wine and beer.
A spot called Supa! Is looking to open up in the old Madena in the Pearl space at 432 NW 11th Ave. Supa means "soup" in Romanian, and booze in Swedish. As a clue to which one of those might be going on there: The place will be open from 11 am to 9 pm daily, and has only applied for a beer and wine license.
Geek haven Guardian Games is moving eight blocks south to bigger digs at 345 SE Taylor St.
Steve Michaud, owner of Montavilla sports bar Thatcher's Eating and Drinking Establishment (7906 SE Stark Street) and Scotty's Pub (12122 SW Scholls Ferry Road, Tigard), has applied for a distiller's license at his Montavilla location. According to an employee, plans are still in the early stages.
Simply Vietnamese (2218 NE 82nd Ave.), in mid-transition to a bar with great food from than a great restaurant with a bar, is applying for a full liquor license.
A bar called Nick's Park Rose Food Corral and Pub will be opening up in the former location of Jack of Clubs and Dailey's Inn (11807 NE Sandy Blvd.)
WWeek 2015