A new cafe is coming to 1300 SE Morrison—Morty’s Cafe. This location was most recently home to RX COFFEE, but for over four decades prior to that, it was known as the address of Zell’s Cafe.
Who Is Behind Morty’s Cafe?
Micah Fechner is the owner of Morty’s Cafe, and he brings with him a broad range of experiences in the food service industry. He has worked in hotel restaurants, fast food establishments, neighborhood bars, coffee shops, and the event catering industry. “Throughout this time, I’ve found my favorite thing about food service is connecting with customers,” he remarked. “And working behind the espresso bar is an amazing way to strike up unique conversations if you just bother to ask someone how their day is going.”
He adds, “I’ve been a barista for over three years now, and this will be my first coffee shop that I’ve owned.”
Morty’s Cafe: The Name
“In deciding on the name, it was important to me that my customers could easily talk about meeting up at the cafe the way they would a friend’s place,” Micah explained. “Like, ‘Hey are you doing anything tomorrow morning? Wanna swing by Morty’s for a coffee and bagel before the hike?'”
His cat also plays a pretty major part in the name of the cafe: “It needed to incorporate a level of fun, silliness, and also curiosity, so I named it after my fun, silly, and very curious cat,” Micah said.
The RX COFFEE Connection
After Zell’s closed in May 2023, RX Coffee opened later that summer. While they initially got some grief for their name, over the months I heard good things about them more often than not. Last month they posted the following on their website: “RX COFFEE has been sold. Our last day to serve coffee and pastries will be Sunday December 1st. A new coffee house will open in January and they will be posting soon with all the details.”
Of course, that new cafe is Morty’s. And it turns out that Micah has a connection to RX: “I have worked at RX COFFEE for the previous year and a half,” he explained. “During that time I fell in love with the neighborhood, the regulars that I built friendships with, and the physical space of the shop.”
He continued, “When I found out RX was shutting down I jumped quickly on the opportunity to approach the owner and work out a deal for me to take over the space. Having worked at the cafe in this location, I understand the unique opportunity this location provides and the need for a true neighborhood cafe—one with little frills, but containing a unique level of comfort and quality that takes you by surprise.”
The Menu
Their online menu includes coffee/espresso drinks, pastries, bagels, and breakfast burritos. The coffee list contains many familiar options: latte, cappuccino, mocha, cortado, espresso shots, and drip. Alt milks and syrups are available. Look for croissants, muffins, and danishes. I like their option of a breakfast burrito.
“I will have monthly rotating drink specials with unique syrup combinations,” Micah added. “My favorite thing on the menu is our oat milk matcha.”
And while they used Push X Pull coffee at RX, Micah has not decided yet on a roaster or bakery, but are learning toward using Coava for coffee, and Bakeshop or Jen’s Pastries for the baked goods.
The Space
As I mentioned earlier, this location was known for over 40 years as Zell’s. It was much beloved and was even used in an episode of Grimm. “This location has a lot of charm and unique qualities built into the space,” Micah said. “It was once a pharmacy in the 1920s and boasts a beautiful tiled bar, oversized mirror, and prescription shelving. My goal is to not overshadow the beauty of the interior but complement it.”
And he has plans to add to the look and feel of the interior space: “I will be sourcing secondhand furniture such as couches, rugs, accent chairs, dining tables, and lamps that invite customers to settle in and get cozy,” he said.
It’s All About Community
Micah emphasizes how important it is for Morty’s to be involved and connected with the community. He is working with various artists and makers to display their work on a rotating gallery schedule; he’d also like for the artists/makers to be able sell their work there. He is also working to schedule events such as craft days, live music, and restaurant pop-ups.
“My main focus with Morty’s is building community,” explains Micah. “I want the space to be inviting, welcoming, and comfortable. Buckman is a very queer neighborhood, and as a gay man, I really want to cultivate a space that celebrates and supports the unique talents and personalities of the LGBTQ+ community.”
“I have been to many shops that have incredible coffee, but lack the ambiance of the traditional coffee shop,” he remarked. “Morty’s will be a place that you don’t have to compromise between quick service, comfort, and quality.”
They plan to have a grand opening party, “A night to celebrate the wonderful people who helped turn Morty’s from a dream into a reality.” Keep an eye on their Instagram and website for further details. Aside from that, look for them to be open 8am to 2pm Tuesdays through Fridays, and 8am to 3pm on the weekends. Closed on Mondays.
Best of luck to Micah and his team ad they prepare to open next month!
Morty’s Cafe [opening January 19, 2025]
1300 SE Morrison Street, Portland
Morty’s Cafe website | Instagram | Facebook
Updated December 12, 2024.
Meg Cotner
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Morty’s Cafe! What a great name and new opportunity for a favorite friend, Micah Fechner! The neighborhood will love Micah and his great friendly Cafe! Wish I could drop by, but I live in Spokane.. Congratulations, Micah!