Portland institution Besaw's will close May 29 after 112 years in business.
The little corner nook is well known to Slabtown and Nob Hill residents for its vast lines for brunch and always-full sidewalk tables, and for its garden that supplies the kitchen, and for its chef, Michael "Cheffy" Uhnak. In the past 10 years, the cafe also expanded into dinner service, with a busy cocktail hour we could almost see from our office windows at WW.
It's a familiar story. As the nearby neighborhood fills with new construction, from mixed-use condos with fine dining on the bottom floor to a budding New Seasons nearby, Besaw's is closing because their landlord will not renew their lease, say the owners. "While plans for the property are unknown," writes Besaw's, "mixed-use redevelopment is likely." They describe the refusal to renew their lease as "abrupt."
[UPDATE 11:50 am: Both landlord C.E. John and Besaw's owner Flug claim rights to re-open Besaw's, in different locations.]
"There were no terms," owner Cana Flug tells WW. "We just lost our lease." Flug broke the news to her employees Monday night.
Their landlords, C.E. John, could not immediately be reached for comment but told the Portland Business Journal that the Besaw's building would not be demolished. C.E. John developed multiple projects nearby, including the 23rd Avenue Little Big Burger and the building that houses Joe's Cellar.
Flug's not planning to let Besaw's stay closed, however, and says she's "deep in negotiations" already to re-open at the end of this summer at a new space in the same neighborhood, with the same crew in the kitchen. "We're going to move to an urban farming concept, and maintain a community garden," she says. "That'll be a big part of what we're doing."
The planned new space is larger, says Flug, allowing them more flexibility in the kitchen.
"At the end of the day," she says, "We're going to find the silver lining. We've outgrown that building, between having four burners, electric that goes out every other day. You know what? It's really bittersweet. I'm so fond of that corner, and everything about this really beautiful old building, but it's going to be even better. We're going be able to write the next chapter."
The restaurant posted a closing message on its website today. It's reprinted below:
Our Dearest Besawâs Customers, As weâve come to know each other over the last ten years, many of you have become aware of the lease negotiations ever-looming on the horizon at Besawâs. You are a big part of what makes Besawâs special, and it is important to us to let you, our family and friends, know the big news directly that Besawâs, in its current form, will be closing its doors at the end of service on Friday, May 29th. Due to factors beyond our control, the property owners have refused to renew our lease. In its current iteration alone, Besawâs has played host to weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, memorials, marriage proposals, and countless other cherished memories and celebrations that have burned an indelible imprint into our little pocket of Northwest Portland. We have been repeatedly humbled at the loyalty, generosity and passion of our fiercely diehard customers, and we are continually amazed and delighted to welcome new faces through our doors. Whether youâve braved the rain and sleet for forty-five minutes to get a table at Sunday brunch, or sipped a quiet cocktail at the bar on a Tuesday evening, you are, have always been and always will be the reason for our existence. We love the rich history of Besawâs as a neighborhood gathering place, and if it were up to us we would stay in this building for another 112 years. We donât know what the property owner has in mind for this space; at this point we can only control certain things, one of which is our commitment to staying in the neighborhood. Which brings us to the silver lining! We are already in negotiations on a location nearby, and we expect to reopen by the end of summer. Though bittersweet, the truth is weâve far outgrown this space, as well as the many duct-tape challenges that come with such an old building: its antiquated electrical system and 250-square foot kitchen (!) along with many other quirks and kinks. Executive Chef Michael Uhnak and the rest of the management team will be staying on to open our new location, and we are working with other restaurateurs in town to find temporary employment for our 50-plus employees. We wonât lose what makes Besawâs special â the food, the people, fresh ingredients, our commitment to local, organic and sustainable farmers, and our passion for social causes and the community. Without you, we are nothing but old wood and paint. With you, we are a strong and boundless community. To our customers, vendors, neighbors, family and friends, we say: THANK YOU. We hope youâll join us as we take this olâ lady out for a celebratory spin. Come see us for a meal and a cocktail before we close this chapter on May 29th - the best is yet to come! Share your favorite Besawâs memories with us at contact@besaws.com, and join us as we count down to #besawssummerbreak via @besaws on Instagram, twitter & Facebook!
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WWeek 2015
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