Goings On at ¿Por Qué No? - Bridgetown Bites

Photo credit: ¿Por Qué No?

This morning I got a tip that “Por Que No may be expanding into the former Black’s Dry Cleaning space next door.” I found that possibility tantalizing, so I did some poking around .

First, ¿Por Qué No? has a couple of locations: 4635 SE Hawthorne Blvd and 3524 N Mississippi Avenue. They are a very popular, and at this point I think you could say, Portland institution (full transparency: I have not eaten there so I have no personal opinions about the food). I appreciate that on their website they are open about allergens (e.g., gluten, soy) and whether or not they have them in their food. They also source their food as locally as they can. But anyway, about what’s up.

SE Hawthorne

The Hawthorne location is definitely going to see some changes in the form of a commissary kitchen. Here is the summary of the results of the Design Review from last November:

Design Review approval additions and alterations to the existing buildings on the site to include:

Revisions to the previously approved single-story addition to the west elevation of the easternmost building on the site fronting along SE Hawthorne.
Alterations include reducing the height and window pattern of the proposed structure and removing the previously proposed eco-roof. This addition will continue to serve as an enclosed patio space and will consist of a cast in place concrete base with heavy timber beams and large areas of operable multi-lite windows and doors.
The large windows are proposed to be constructed with wood sashes and muntins [Ed: muntins are “a strip of wood or metal separating and holding panes of glass in a window”] with glass in-between the wooden frames. The base of the building includes integrated board-formed concrete planters.

Permit activity that is explicit about the commissary kitchen was set up last summer and is still in “under review” status: “New tenant, no change of occupancy. Change of use from dry cleaning to commissary kitchen.” They also want to remove and relocate a bathroom and install new long-term bike parking spaces.

N Mississippi

Along my research journey led me a permit that was set up last week (still in “under review” status) for the North Mississippi location of ¿Por Qué No?: New structure with attached covered walkway to create space for additional seating for restaurant. Fire rated exterior wall. New retaining wall.” The owner of this location is “MISS AVE HQ LLC 4635 SE HAWTHORNE BLVD,” which is ¿Por Qué No? even though the address is listed as 3530 N Mississippi Avenue.

Again, from the Design Review:

Design Review approval additions and alterations to the existing buildings on the site to include:

A new single-story detached patio structure behind an existing structure with a covered walkway that extends towards N Mississippi Ave.
The detached patio structure will consist of a heavy timber beam structure and large areas of operable multi-lite windows and doors consisting of steel frames infilled with wood framed windows and doors and limited corrugated metal panels.
The proposal also includes the demolition and replacement of an existing concrete retaining wall and stair along N Mississippi to be replaced with a new board-formed concrete retaining wall and new concrete stair.
New patio and walkway paving and stormwater planters are also proposed.

So what does that mean for the average ¿Por Qué No?-loving Portlander? Hopefully an enhanced dining experience re: the space, especially on North Mississippi. And with a commissary kitchen in a different building, maybe that means more seating can be installed at the SE Hawthorne location. Despite my speculations, I wish the ¿Por Qué No? folks all the best as they roll with the punches that come with infrastructure improvements.

¿Por Qué No?
4635 SE Hawthorne Blvd and 3524 N Mississippi Avenue, Portland
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