Top 5 Posts on Bridgetown Bites, June 2024

This month I have better news than last month’s: we almost doubled our traffic in June. Over 17,000 unique visitors made it over to Bridgetown Bites, and they generated over 21,000 page views (vs 8,800 and 11,000, respectively). The strategies I put into place made a difference.

Top posts in June are mostly about restaurants (and a future food cart pod), but strawberry shortcake certainly grabbed attention. And why not? It’s delicious and wholesome.

A always, thanks to all who visited, read, and shared stories on Bridgetown Bites!

5. Ole Frijole Has Closed

Ole Frijole's exterior in the Concordia neighborhood in Portland, OR. It closed as of May 4, 2024.

Earlier this week a Bridgetown Bites tipster emailed me news that Ole Frijole, located on the northwest corner of Killingsworth and NE 42nd Ave, has closed. They wrote, “My neighbor mentioned that she just read a sweet message to customers posted on their door saying that they closed and the property has been sold.” Looks like the closure was one month ago on May 4.

4. Food Cart Pod Opening on NE Fremont Street: Update

The mostly empty lot that will become a food cart pod on NE Fremont Street in the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood in Portland, OR.

Formerly the location of Barrett Automotive, and soon to be a food cart pod, this property on NE Fremont Street in Beaumont-Wilshire is now a mostly empty lot. I often drive or walk by the property and always gawk at it. The first major phase of demolition has happened already, and I wanted to know what’s next. I chatted with Daniel Silvey of DBS Group, the firm that is developing the pod, to get some updates, and I’m sharing them here.

3. Northport To Open in Old Swift & Union Space

The bar at Northport, located in the Kenton neighborhood in Portland, OR.

At the end of last year, Swift & Union closed their doors after nine years in Kenton. That space looks like it is going to welcome a new tenant: Northport, opening on Wednesday, June 26. (Note: this post has some updates since originally published.)

2. Strawberry Shortcake Week Is Coming

Strawberries from Pablo Munoz Farm, purchased at the Rocky Butte Farmers Market in Portland, OR.

Strawberry Shortcake Week is almost upon us! All next week, from Monday, June 10 to Sunday, June 16, enjoy various interpretations and variations of the strawberry shortcake around Portland (with a few spots in McMinville, Oregon City, and Salem). Produced by the James Beard Public Market, it is now in its third year.

1. The Wooden Chicken Pub Is Closing