Some Updates: Wonderlove, Delta Park Food Carts, and the Old Yen Ha Space

I thought I’d take a look at some stories published here in the past and provide some updates. Interestingly enough, movement on these three places—Wonderlove, Hayden Island, and the old Yen Ha Space all made themselves known this week.

Wonderlove

Last March I published an article on Wonderlove coming to the Central Eastside area of Portland. This is to be a live entertainment/food cart/bar/fun zone. Projected opening originally was “spring 2023.” It took longer, obviously. Currently the launch date is Labor Day weekend 2024 . As of the writing of this article, they have 11 open food cart spaces available—you can apply for a space on their website (scroll down).

They have a site plan (click to enlarge):

Visitors will get to enjoy a variety of seating—open, covered, heated. There are indoor restrooms! WiFi, if you need it. Plus a cocktail bar, TV lounge, party deck, and views of downtown. Besides eating and drinking opportunities, there will be live music and DJs, comedy and games.

Vendors will enjoy a full utility package (including natural gas if they need it), cold and dry storage, security in the form of cameras, lights, and a 12-foot iron fence, plus garbage and recycling. There will also be a day manager there.

I have walked around that area a number of times lately and always think how much potential this area of Portland has. There’s already good energy down there, with Wolf’s Head, the Stumptown roaster location, Wu-Rons, and Coava, plus a bunch of non-food businesses (the new Doug Fir is also not far at 301 SE Morrison Street). Looking forward to hanging out this spring, Wonderlove!

Delta Park Food Carts

1223-north-hayden-meadows-drive-portland-oregon

Photo credit: Google Maps

Back in March 2022 I spotted a permit for a “Pre-Application Conference” with the Bureau of Development Services with the goal to establish a food cart pod in the Delta Park area. Time has passed and last October a permit with the following information was finalized:

“Approval of an Adjustment to Zoning Code Section 33.266.115.B.1 to increase the maximum number of motor vehicle parking spaces for the proposed development from 2 spaces to 37 spaces.” There is a site plan. Other details of note include the requirement to make a “paved, minimum 6-foot-wide pedestrian connection separate from the vehicle [and] the food cart pod and the public sidewalk on N Hayden Meadows Drive.” Implementing two long-term and six short-term bike parking spaces is also a requirement.

In 2024, three more permits are under review indicating this project is in process. Elements of the future pod include:

Eight pods (down from the original 10).
New parking lot with two accessible spaces.
Seating area.
Fire table.
Six new canopies in outdoor seating area.
Landscaping.
Pedestrian pathways.
New trash enclosure.

The previous BDS document resolves to a 404 Page not found, so that’s that. Further research indicated the person/entity that applied for these permits is Jeb Koerner of Devcom NW (minimal website), a company that will “provide owner’s representation, project management, construction management and development management services.”

As for Centerfield Studios’ involvement in this, that is unclear. I’ll see what I can find out.

Old Yen Ha Space

Photo credit: RYU RYU

And finally, the old Yen Ha space. Back in fall of 2019, Yen Ha, a much beloved Vietnamese restaurant and bar, closed their doors after decades in business. For many months, Portlanders have been speculating about Mekha, located a couple doors up from Yen Ha, would take over or expand into their space. Well, something is going on in there, as a recent plumbing permit (January 2024) indicates, “Rough in new fixtures for bathroom / kitchen.”

Both properties—Mekha and Yen Ha—are listed as owned by Chau Tran (the Yen Ha property was sold in January 2020, not long after it shuttered). Additionally, the business in the middle, Nam Phuong Market, has a relatively recent permit (August 2023, though movement on it in January 2024) on the books with some interesting details:

“Tenant improvement for new tenants. Adding a demising wall to create new tenant space. Partial change of occupancy from B to M. New restroom and bike parking. Exterior doors infilled and new access to basement.”

This property is also listed as owned by HUG(E) SALE LLC, which is Kevin Cavenaugh of Guerilla Development, which was a surprise to me. It was sold in March 2022. Nam Phuong Market recently did some improvements to their store.

Bottom line: there’s activity going on in that series of properties and my hope is that the old Yen Ha space will open up again, maybe as a bar or restaurant extension for Mekha. And what the heck does Kevin Cavenaugh/Guerilla have to do with it all?!? I’ll keep an eye on it.

Of course, if you have any info you’d like to share on any of these projects, feel free to shoot me an email.

Updated April 22, 2024.