Rocky Butte Espresso Bar to Close End of 2022

Last night as I opened my Instagram app, I saw the news from James Helms, owner of Rocky Butte Coffee Roasters: “We are being evicted from our espresso bar on 12/31.” I could hardly believe it. The espresso bar is an important part of the Madison South community, it’s hard to imagine it not being there.

On their website they posted some more details behind the closure:

“A few months ago, we hired a broker and attorney to help with negotiations for a long-term lease. We initially thought that we were going to reach an agreement with our landlord. When we received the actual lease to sign, we realized that it contained many troubling details that were new to the conversation, and when we tried to clear things up, we were abruptly evicted. Effort to work toward agreement was stonewalled.”

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Personally, I love stopping by for a tasty latte, their pastries—including the wonderful, flavorful quiches (from VilleVelo Bake Shop)—and a chat with James or whoever is the barista there at the time. Sometimes there’s live music. The (physical) community bulletin board is filled with positive messages, announcements about meetings, business cards and other ephemera. Community is a big deal to James and his staff. More on that:

“We are experiencing some big emotions about this change. From the beginning, we have been about building up this community, and we loved how the espresso bar was not just a coffee shop, but also a place where people—our highest value—could gather. Coffee was just a means to make that happen. In the last few months, we were hopeful about lease negotiations and made big plans for our future in the current space—we are having to let go of those dreams, and it is highly disappointing.”

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Part of me still can’t believe this important place is unable to continue at their current location. However, they are looking for a new location (“This is not the end.”), and if you have any ideas or know of a space that would work, you can email James at james@rockybuttecoffee.com.

You can also head to their online store to start a coffee subscription. Subscriptions have been part of Rocky Butte Coffee Roasters’ offerings for quite some time, so the process is smooth and in place. Hannah, their Office Manager, explains, “this is a fast and tangible way to help us meet payroll and generate revenue we hope to put toward a new espresso bar—all while getting something delicious in return.” Read about other ways to help, too.

I wish James and his staff all the best as they do the sad work of shutting down over the next week and a half. I plan to stop by before the 31st; I hope you will, too. And I look forward to seeing the Rocky Butte Espresso Bar, like the mythical Phoenix, rise again.

Rocky Butte Espresso Bar [closing December 31, 2022 in current location]
Rocky Butte Coffee Roasters
8505 NE Fremont Street, Portland (espresso bar location)
rockybuttecoffee.com | Facebook | Instagram (espresso bar) | Instagram (roasters)