Dear Sandy Will Bring Cocktails and Coffee to NE Sandy and 28th

Photo credit: Dear Sandy

For years, now, I’ve hoped for something to open in this beautiful building on the southeast corner of NE Sandy Blvd at 28th Avenue, and now my hopes have been answered. Dear Sandy, which will offer “coffee, cocktails, and community,” will open there, hopefully before the end of 2022. (Can you believe we are almost to autumn?)

Back in October 2021, when I first got wind of something trying to open up there, I did a little research. First of all, look at this great old photo from 1962 of the intersection—the building in question is on the right-hand side (click to enlarge).

Photo credit: Vintage Portland

The first nine seconds of this video also show the building (again, on the right-hand side of the screen), this time from 1939. The building itself was built in 1915. The building was home to a variety of businesses over the years—stores and flats in 1915; Townsend Creamery sink & soda fountain in 1917; a barber shop in 1922; a dental office on the second floor in 1934; a grocery and a restaurant in 1947; and probably a bunch of other things, too. I believe it’s been empty for quite a while.

And now comes Dear Sandy—can I also confess to you that I keep thinking about Olivia Newton John (RIP), which I see “dear Sandy,” because of her notable role as Sandy Olsson in Grease? Anyway, you can see a lot of the work they are doing on the place via their Instagram page.

The people behind Dear Sandy are Kate Marotta and Kyle Clark. Kate knows a lot about cocktail, bartending, mixology, and hospitality, as well as marketing and sales (recently as account manager representing Diageo spirits.) Kyle has spent time in sales/marketing/project management, too, most recently at Vacasa. The two of them now work together as the hospitality company apostrophe, LLC.

It looks like they plan to be open 7 days a week, early to late (7am to 2:30am). Of course they’ll have food and booze—and coffee, being open that early—with live music plans, as well. Look for a little over 100 seats with 30 of those being outside.

It’s going to be so great to have that building occupied—and for those who might be concerned, they are planning to keep the geometric paint job on the outside. From what I can tell, they are deeply in the buildout phase right now after waiting months and months for permits. Best of luck to them as they roll through the process! I can’t wait to check it out.

Dear Sandy [projected opening 2022]
2808 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
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