Denizens Cafe Soft Opening June 1

Photo credit: Denizens Cafe

I saw over on Instagram that Denizens Cafe, a new restaurant/eatery from the folks behind Rocky Butte Coffee Roasters, will launch their soft opening tomorrow, Thursday June 1. The cafe is going in where the OG Ben & Esther’s bagel shop was in Roseway.

Picking up where the Rocky Butte Espresso Bar left off, Denizens Cafe will offer far more than coffee drinks and the delicious baked goods that were available at the Espresso Bar. (Lately I’ve gone straight to the source—Ville Velo Bakeshop—to get my hands on their excellent quiches—maybe these quiches will make a comeback at Denizens. Seriously, they are massively delicious and were one of the few things I was able to enjoy when I got COVID last summer.) The Cafe will be open for breakfast lunch and dinner, and offer some of the following at each meal:

Breakfast: breakfast sandwiches, meat and vegan options
Lunch: deli sandwiches, salad, rice-based bowls
Dinner: sausages, mac & cheese, fondue, and boards (cheeses, sausages, hummus)
NB: They have created something called Citizens Sauce for breakfast and Denizens Sauce for lunch. I’m very curious about this.

Coffee will still play an important role in the cafe, and yes, they will be using Rocky Butte Coffee Roasters beans. As per a report from a neighbor, “No espresso at this location due to limited space, but their excellent coffee is available in a medium and dark blend to go as drip coffee or ground or whole beans.”

As for the name, in the words of James & Co., “a ‘denizen’ is more than just an inhabitant – it’s someone who declares a place their true home.” They are denizens of east Portland central NE PDX, truly dedicated to making a positive impact on their community—I saw it whenever I stopped into Rocky Butte Espresso Bar. And at Denizens, they plan to expand and strengthen their community for the foreseeable future through food and gatherings.

At the writing of this article, it looks like Denizens Cafe will be open at 8am tomorrow morning. I look forward to stopping by soon!

Also: you can still invest in the business through Mainvest. Minimum investment is $100.

Denizens Cafe [opening June 2023]
6912 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
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Updated June 1, 2023