The Jolly Roger Will Be Demolished

This week I learned that Jolly Roger, a “long time Buckman den of fun and frolic” (thank you, Buckman Community Association) will be demolished. What’s coming in its place? Housing.

A new five-story multi-family building will be built in its place. It will have 113 units (rentals, presumably) and 170 bike parking spaces; no car parking is in the plans, from what I can tell. There will also be common-areas—a courtyard and a roof deck.

There’s no indication that this is going to be a mixed-use building (despite the parcel being zoned that way), which would mean no commercial activity on the ground floor, but we’ll just have to see. The development team from the project will attend the Buckman Community Association tonight at 7pm (via Zoom) to share news with folks who are part of the neighborhood association. FYI, here is the sales brochure for the property.

Last time I was by Jolly Roger, I really enjoyed its whole look—the shape of the signage is a nod to a pirate ship and the all-black exterior made me think it was nice and cool in there (I was by during one of our hot summer days). Jolly Roger SE is part of a small restaurant/bar chain: three restaurants, SE PDX, John’s Landing, and Beaverton. The SE location is certainly memorable with plenty of character, and has some history:

“The Jolly Roger was originally located on Powell Blvd until the owner lost his lease, and moved the sign over to its new location on 12 & Madison in the early 90’s. The Cheerful group purchased The Jolly Roger in the Summer of 2002. The partners remodeled the interior, and began the process of turning it into the neighborhood landmark that it is today. In 2004 Rob & Starr Jackson bought out their partners to become the sole owners. There have been numerous remodels since then, including the addition of a patio area.”

It’s a place where you can get a moderately-priced breakfast; a burger and fries; salads and soup; and familiar bar snacks like mozzarella sticks, tots, and wings. Plus a whole menu of hot dogs (interestingly enough, the California Dog, if you were to add fresh salsa and mayo, would essentially become a completo—a Chilean-style hot dog). And plenty of beer and other booze. It’s unfussy in the best way—a place to gather for a meal, watch sports, and hang out. A dive bar/sports bar.

It will be yet another goodbye to a neighborhood local (I still miss you, My Canh).

As far as the housing side of things goes, here’s hoping this new building will help the Portland housing crisis. I also wonder if people will really give up their cars to live there. (And if not, will the surrounding neighborhoods feel the parking stress?) Tonight’s meeting should answer that and other relevant questions.

So, future farewell, Jolly Roger. Sorry to see you go. But let’s enjoy it while we can.

Jolly Roger SE
1340 SE 12th Avenue, Portland
jollyrestaurants.com | Instagram | Facebook

P.S. Seems pirates are currently on the downtrend in Portland—the Sandy Blvd strip club dive Pirate’s Cove recently changed their name back to The Sandy Jug (but shouldn’t it be The Sandy Jugs? Hello SATC reference). Word on the street is that the current owner just isn’t into the whole pirate-theme thing.