Goodbye Holy Goat Social Club, Hello Pho Bar 405

As I was driving home from a couple of morning errands, I noticed some “coming soon” signage on the building on the northeast corner of Fremont and NE 15th. A new Vietnamese restaurant, Pho Bar 405 is going to open up in that space that was previously occupied by Holy Goat Social Club.

Holy Goat Social Club

As you may know, the kitchen in Holy Goat Social Club caught fire back in June 2022, almost a year ago. It never recovered; Holy Goat’s last social media post in 2022 was right after the fire happened … until today. Today, they announced their closing:

“Unfortunately, we must share with you that our restaurant will be closing its doors at its current location. This decision was not an easy one to make, but we have decided to take a well-deserved break and explore new opportunities for our business.”

They loved their community and are sorry to say goodbye, but there is room in their message for the possibility of opening elsewhere, and “We look forward to staying in touch and sharing any updates with you.”

Pho Bar 405

Initial research via state records indicates that Pho Bar 405 is from the same people that run Mojos Sushi, located right next door. Mojos, “a place where you can experience the art and culture of Japanese cuisine,” is a popular spot in the Sabin neighborhood. As for the “bar” in “Pho Bar,” I wonder if they are taking the “sushi bar” blueprint and applying it to Vietnamese food. Small plates? Cocktails with Vietnamese flavors and ingredients? Or maybe it will be more like a ramen bar—noodle heavy. It’s fun to speculate. I’ll keep an eye on it.

Right now there is a permit alive allowing them to replaces finishes and repair any parts of the interior—especially the walls—from the fire in 2022. Its status is “under inspection.”

It will be nice to have some activity on that little corner. I hope Pho Bar 405 is a smashing success! Best of luck to the owners as they do the repairs and get the place ready to open.

Pho Bar 405 [opening summer 2023]
1501 NE Fremont Street, Portland