This week I came across a new business opening in Portland called Rib City 29 Pub, located in the Parkrose neighborhood on NE Sandy Blvd. I’ve driven by this location many times and it’s always intrigued me. I’m glad to know what’s going on—here’s what I learned.
About Rib City 29 Pub
I reached out to Tim Cobb, one of the owners of the Pub, who sent me a nice reply with a bit of info. He’s a retired ironworker (still a member of Local 29 Ironworkers Union—likely that’s where the “29” comes from in the Pub’s name), who has run a smoked BBQ catering company for some time (Mr. C’s BBQ and Catering). He tells me, “It’s been a long time dream of mine to open a bbq sports pub restaurant—it’s been 15 years in the making.”
At Rib City (I like that pun), they’ll offer “falling off the bone ribs, smoked beef brisket, pulled pork and chicken, all smoked with fruitwoods—apple, cherry, peach, pecan, hickory, etc. And the best homemade sides built from scratch.” They’ll have plenty to drink, too—liquor, beer, ciders, too.
Their hope is to be open mid-March. The plan currently is to be open every day from 7:30am to 2:30am. There’s some seating outside, too.
The Location
As for the location, it seems to be adjacent to the east of two parcels of land currently for sale. And just to the east of the restaurant is a big parking lot that is home to a number of food trucks, etc—the El Yucateco Foodcart (home of pretty good panuchos) is there, having moved in late 2022/early 2023 from it’s previous pod just up the street (that now lies totally empty while for sale); the remnants of Nick’s Pizza Shack remains; there’s a tobacco shack toward the east end of the parking lot; and there’s the Twin Perks Espresso girls at the very east end—I have stopped for a coffee from them and they are the sweetest young women working there, though I worry about them getting cold in the wintertime. Google also indicates that Maudine’s & Irene’s Soul Food cuisine truck is there, as well as the Portland Hibachi Truck.
The building where Rib City 29 Pub will be has been home to at least a couple of places I’m aware of, both considered dive bars: The Motorcycle Public House, a “motorcycle-themed tavern” and Nick’s Parkrose Pub. The latter is owned by Gordon Nichols, who looks like the other owner of Rib City 29 Pub. Nichols was behind the aforementioned Nick’s Pizza Shack and also is the property owner of the three parcels (one, two, three) on the north side of NE Sandy from about NE 116th Avenue to just beyond NE 119th Avenue.
Rib City 29 Pub will join a growing group of diverse food options on NE Sandy Blvd in the Historic Parkrose District: Sandy-Os (American PNW), Fork & Spoon (Filipino) + Chik & Chuck’s Coffee (Cafe), O’Dear (American), El Sombrero (Mexican), Pho Le Nguyen (Vietnamese), and the aforementioned food carts (Yucatecan, Soul Food, Japanese). Best of luck to Mr. Cobb and Mr. Nichols as they work to open up Rib City 29 Pub this spring.
Rib City 29 Pub [projected opening March 2024]
11807 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
Updated February 16, 2024.
Meg Cotner
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What bone does Brisket fall off of exactly?
Ha! That’s a good point. I think he meant the ribs. I’ve edited accordingly. Thanks for pointing that out!
Anyone who’s had brisket or smoked a brisket knows there’s not a bone in a brisket 😂😂😂😂 that’s a funny comment….
Smoked beef brisket doesn’t have a bone hahahaha how funny, brisket comes from the chest of a cow not the ribs…. ( Dan ) have a blessed day everyone 🙏🙏 😊