Besaw's Restaurant Will Be Allowed to Re-Open in New Location

Restaurant owner Cana Flug reached a settlement to keep to Besaw's name.

The much-publicized dispute over ownership of Besaw's is over. Besaw's restaurant will live on—with the same owner, but in a new location.

Besaw's restaurant owner Cana Flug has reached a settlement with her former landlord, C.E. John, to allow her to re-open the 112-year-old restaurant under the name Besaw's. She plans to re-open in the same Slabtown neighborhood.

In exchange, C.E. John received an undisclosed sum from Flug, which they have promised to donate to nonprofits. C.E. John also retained rights to the name Besaw's for the restaurant's former building, and any apartments C.E. John would build there.

Besaw's closed May 29 after Flug and C.E. John could not reach a lease agreement. Both parties then declared ownership of the name Besaw's, and each filed suit against the other in federal court.

"In the end, I feel good," Flug wrote WW. "We walked away with the name and the integrity and we can put this behind, and move on to something fabulous. And they agreed that all the funds from the settlement go to charity, which I feel great about."

Here's the full text of Flug's letter release:


Portland, OR (June 16, 2015) – C.E. John, owner of the Besaw’s Building, and Tuatara Enterprises, Inc., the owner of Besaw’s restaurant, have amicably resolved their pending disputes and agreed upon a settlement regarding future use of the “Besaw’s”name.

As part of the settlement, Tuatara Enterprises agreed to pay an undisclosed amount to C.E. John. Tuatara has the sole right to use the “Besaw’s” name, sign and logo for restaurant services. Cana Flug, president of Tuatara Enterprises, plans to open Besaw’s restaurant by late summer.

C.E. John has the sole right to use the “Besaw’s”name for the building and to name any apartments or condominiums in C. E. John’s planned redevelopment of the Besaw’s building and adjacent property. All other terms of the settlement are confidential.

“With this agreement, we seek to put an end to this dispute while preserving the Besaw’s name for the building. We are pleased to honor its history and maintain its connection with the Slabtown neighborhood. To that end, we fully intend to proceed with plans for our investment in the development of the Besaw’s Building which will feature a neighborhood restaurant maintaining a tradition that spans the better part of the last 112 years,”said James John of C.E. John Company. “Cana Flug has been an excellent operator of the Besaw’s restaurant for the past 10 years and we wish her well in her new location.”

Flug said, “We’re happy to get this dispute behind us and focus on what matters: our loyal customers and the next chapter in the history of Besaw’s restaurant.” She added, “We’ve called this historic property home for 10 years and I appreciate that C.E. John is committed to preserving the building’s history and neighborhood connection and I fully support their redevelopment plans.”

Flug and John agreed, “With our agreement, the neighborhood community wins. The Besaw’s Building will get needed improvements including another restaurant to serve the NW neighborhood, and the Besaw’s restaurant can live on in a new location.”

All funds paid in the settlement will be donated by C.E. John to several nonprofit organizations in Northwest Portland. 

WWeek 2015

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