Navigator Coffee Co. Will Open on Hayden Island in Portland

I recently became aware of Navigator Coffee Co., a new business project from Justin King (it was on his Instagram where I learned about it). You may know him from, among other things, Ben & Esther’s Vegan Delicatessen. Navigator will be situated right on the southeastern edge of Hayden Island adjacent to the Jantzen Bay Marina, where Menjiro is currently operating.

I reached out to Justin with a few questions and here is what he told me.

But First, Menjiro

Menjiro has been in this location for eight years, serving up ramen and rice bowls (“JapaBowl”), among other Japanese dishes. On their website, they published their plans to close. Their final day will be Saturday, March 15. They cited future Island development plans in this area as a reason behind their decision to close.

However, it sounds like they may re-open elsewhere on Hayden Island, so all is not lost here.

Navigator Coffee Co.: Name and Location

I asked Justin why he decided to call the company “Navigator.”

“I thought the name, Navigator, was fitting for my new cafe, because coffee and healthy food is what I use to navigate my day,” he explained. “It’s also an expression of my love for the sea, as an avid boater and SCUBA diver.”

The Location and Space

I also learned that Justin has been part of the marina community on Hayden Island for a while, so opening a cafe here made sense to him. “When I saw this space was coming available, I had to grab it. I’m doing whatever I can to be on the water all the time.”

He describes the space as “tiny and is currently kind of a run down sea shanty.” They will be doing some renovations of the space, making it a welcoming spot for the river community. “We’ll also be building a nice deck off the back overlooking the marina,” he added.

Hayden Island Boat Rentals

In addition to his cafe, Justin is also opening a boat rental company on the Island, so it’s a twofer for him. The company is called Hayden Island Boat Rentals.

“I’ll be renting pontoon boats out to groups wanting to explore the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, and this location is where my boats are moored,” he said. “Hayden Island Boat Rentals will be open as soon as boating season is here. Boats can be reserved now on the Hayden Island Boat Rentals website.”

Coffee & Food at Navigator Coffee Co.

Great North Coffee will be roasting their signature Lazy Jack espresso blend. Great North started out in North Portland and operates cafes on NE Alberta, W Burnside, St. Johns, and Vancouver, WA.

“We’ll be hosting Community Coffee the first Monday of every month,” he added. “This is where the island can get together over a free cup of coffee.”

As for food and other drinks aside from coffee, look for organic smoothies, fresh-squeezed juices, bagels from Ben & Esther’s, a Greek mezza, and healthy sandwiches.

They are currently aiming for a summer opening—hopefully May or June. When they do open, they will have daytime hours from 8am to 3pm all week.

I think this is going to be a nice addition to the Hayden Island community and I look forward to stopping by later this summer.

Navigator Coffee Co. [projected opening summer 2025]
12006 N Jantzen Drive, Portland
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