Top Posts on Bridgetown Bites in 2024

Welcome to our end-of-the-year roundup of top posts on Bridgetown Bites in 2024. Aside from our Thanksgiving article, the top posts were about openings and closings—restaurant, cafe, bar, and food cart news. And topping the list this year is a double-header: East Portland’s Wooden Chicken Pub! It if hadn’t been for this duo, the closing of 3 Doors Down would have taken spot number 10.

From an analytics POV, traffic had a healthy increase from 2023 to 2024. With 205,100 unique visitors up from 106,000 last year, that’s an increase of 93.3%. Page views were 142,000 last year and 265,000 this year, which is an 86.6% increase. I’m proud of the hard work that has gone into nurturing this site, and serving as a quality resource for those interested in Portland food news—all as an independent shop.

And while Bridgetown Bites is run by one person, our tipsters and readers who pass on news are invaluable to my work here, so thank you very much, friends! Additional thanks to all who read the site, comment, share articles, and send feedback. I look forward to continuing to bring you Portland food news and views in 2025.

So without further ado, here are the top 10 posts on Bridgetown Bites in 2024.

10. Northport To Open in Old Swift & Union Space

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.)

9. Flour Bloom Has Closed, but Just for a Month

This morning a reader emailed me about the closing of Flour Bloom, a self described “bakeshop & botanicals” is a shop that sells NY-style baked goods like rainbow cookies, butter cookies, and cannoli. Plus plants and pottery. He wondered what’s up, so I went ahead and asked. I learned that they’ve decided to close their doors for the next month, mostly for production reasons, and will reopen on Thursday, August 29.

8. 1927 S’mores Company Abruptly Closes in Portland

While I was away this past weekend (traveling home from being out of the country where I enjoyed the glory of homemade butter tarts and Old Dutch Ketchup chips), I received more than one email from readers about the closing of the 1927 S’mores Company. The general feeling among the Portland public on this seems to range from astonished to curious to freaking out. Here’s what we know.

7. 1919, a Neighborhood Lounge, Has Opened in SE Portland

Back in April, I learned that there was activity in the old Sessionable location (they closed in July 2023) on SE Division. That activity was from a new bar/lounge called 1919. I reached out to Steve Haubrich, one of the owners of 1919, to learn more. After a series of email exchanges over the past several months, I am happy to share with you some of what Steve has told me about this new project.

6. A Dairy Queen Grows in Portland: An Opening Update

A Bridgetown Bites reader emailed me the following observation about the Dairy Queen (DQ) on SE Division and 55th: “It’s been years since hearing any word on the empty corner lot … yesterday I noticed that preliminary work had been done to level the plot and some new (uninformative) warning tape/signs had gone up.” I’ve got an update.

5. Brooklyn Carreta, a New Food Cart Pod, Will Open SE Portland

Back in August 2022, I reported on a food cart pod that was in development on the former site of the La Carreta Mexican Restaurant. Turns out, it’s happening! They have named it Brooklyn Caretta and the plan is to open the pod in the first quarter of 2025.

4. Thanksgiving 2024 in Portland

Welcome to our Thanksgiving 2024 in Portland list! In it, you’ll find options for poultry and meat orders, desserts, meal kits/takeout, and dine-in.

3. The Mule Bar Opens This Week

Late last week a Bridgetown Bites tipster reached out to inform me that The Mule Bar—the new bar opening in the old Stanich’s space on NE Fremont Street in Cully—will open their doors officially on Friday, February 2 (date updated this morning). There will be a soft opening on Wednesday, January 31. Hot dog!

2. Portland’s Wooden Chicken Pub Returns

As we reported in June, Argay favorite the Wooden Chicken Pub closed after over 40 years in business. But recent paperwork filed with the City of Portland gives indication that this popular watering hole could come back from the dead. In answer to that speculation, I heard confirmation on August 1 that this is indeed true—The Wooden Chicken is returning! Note: This article has major updates.

1. The Wooden Chicken Pub Is Closing

Yesterday afternoon I learned that the Wooden Chicken Pub in Parkrose is closing. Sunday, June 30 will be their final day of service.