Missing U, Blog, Plus Sortis Article

Did I ever tell you that in a previous life I worked at a wholesale Madeleine bakery in Emeryville, CA? This is the brand—I spotted these at a corner store a couple blocks from where we were staying in SF in early November. You can probably get them at Peet’s or Starbucks up here.

I’ve been a big quiet here on the blog—not because of anything breast cancer-related, which has historically taken me away for extended times. It’s that … it’s been a good time to be an editor, with client copyediting taking up the bulk of my time. I also went on vacation to SF to see my favorite band pay at The Fillmore. And then I got sick from a cold virus on the flight home; I’m still recovering but definitely on the mend.

My hope is to parse out my time better and spend more time here.

In the meantime, I wanted to point you toward a recent Willamette Week article about Portland-based Sortis Holdings, which owns a lot of familiar restaurants, like Bamboo Sushi, Sizzle Pie, and Water Avenue Coffee. I spoke to Nigel Jaquis, the author of the article, specifically about the story I wrote about Water Avenue opening a location in the Hollywood District. That was over a year ago and things still haven’t progressed. I drive by often and try to check to see if any movement has happened—I’ve also peeked in the windows—and it’s been pretty much zilch for months. From the article: “Loar says Water Avenue’s parent company, Portland-based Sortis Holdings, failed to pay rent for October.”

Will they open eventually? Here’s hoping.

What the Struggles of a Holding Company Mean for the Popular Brands it Bought, Including Bamboo Sushi and Sizzle Pie [Willamette Week]