3 Doors Down Will Re-Open in Portland

Good news: 3 Doors Down is returning! And along with the re-opening is the original owner, Dave Marth. He is looking at reviving the restaurant in June in their longtime location just north of—and three doors down off of—SE Hawthorne Blvd.

3 Doors Down: An Abbreviated Timeline

Here are the relevant points in the timeline for this article: Their 1994 opening, the 2019 sale, the 2024 closure, and the impending opening this year.

The Early Days

3 Doors Down opened on SE 37th Avenue just north of SE Hawthorne in 1994. “Originally, there were two other shops here,” said Dave. “There was Imelda’s Shoes, a boutique, and we were three doors down from Hawthorne. And that became our location name.”

“[Opening here] was just a great opportunity and we saw a lot of potential in the neighborhood,” said Dave. “At the time, it didn’t have a kind of upscale restaurant, and I wouldn’t say we were upscale at the time either. There wasn’t much here aside from Bread & Ink and Tabor Hill Cafe.”

He added, “It turned out to be a fantastic spot for us for 25 years!” And hopefully for many more starting in June.

The 2019 Sale

In 2019, Dave and co-owner Kathy Bergin decided to sell 3 Doors Down. Dave tells me that the reason behind that sale was that they felt the restaurant had run its course for them. Dave and Kathy also had ambitions to start different businesses, which unfortunately didn’t end up panning out for them (it happens).

Dave mentioned that during COVID, he did landscaping work (something he did 35 years ago in Connecticut), which was a good fit for those times when we were encouraged to spend time outdoors to avoid spreading or catching the virus indoors.

The 2024 Closure

Last year we reported on the closure of 3 Doors Down, with a follow-up conversation with Matthew Stiles, who had worked there since the restaurants early days.

The reasons for the closure of 3 Doors Down in November 2024 had a lot to do with economics. The restaurant was purchased by Michael Galloway and Jeff Saulsbury right before COVID. As we all know, this novel virus had a wide-ranging damaging effect on much of society, and there was no way anyone could have predicted what was to come.

Even today, this virus continues to wreck havoc—in the words of Bollywood Theatre, which closed its SE Division location last week, they suffered from “a lingering hangover” from the virus. Perhaps we could consider it to be another form of Long COVID.

Aside from COVID, other reasons for the closure included issues with renewing the lease, the cost of operating the business, combined with the input from investors. From the article: “Apparently the lease was going to be up at 3 Doors Down—they had a 5-year lease, and Jeff (the owner) wanted to negotiate the next one. But in the end, it did not work out—investors wanted to keep things going, but the costs of running the place became harder to manage.”

The 2025 Return of 3 Doors Down

Honestly, it was a really pleasant surprise to see that liquor license application filed for 3 Doors Down. When I saw it, I reached out to Dave to confirm, and he responded with the affirmative and, “The vodka sauce is rising from the oven!” I know a lot of readers were really bummed out with its closure, so no doubt they will be happy to learn about the re-opening.

Note: Dave is the sole owner of 3 Doors Down this time around.

Changes? No and Yes.

I wondered if Dave was planning any changes to the look of the current space. He says he’s happy with its current state as far as design goes, so it’ll stay pretty much as it is now. He talked more about the menu.

On the Menu

When it comes to the menu and what will be on it, he started with, “Of course, the vodka sauce,” which was very popular. “We’re bringing some menu items back that haven’t been on a menu for a long time,” said Dave.

Some of the things you can expect to see are the brined pork chop (“I don’t think it’s been on the menu for since I left,” remarked Dave); a cauliflower pasta dish with pine nuts and rosemary; meatballs; pastas; chicken liver paté; banana cream pie, and more. “There’s just so many different things,” he said. “It all depends on the season, too.”

On the topic of seasonality, he will offer seasonal specials. It could be on a weekly or monthly basis, depending on what they can get from farmers or fisherfolk. But as far as the stability on the menu, he’ll offer a fish option, a pork or steak option, and there will always be a homemade pasta dish. And yes, the vodka sauce will always be on the menu.

They have applied for a full liquor license, so beer, wine, cider, and cocktails will be available for them to work with.

Positive Pandemic Influences

Dave, like many of us, did a lot of cooking during the pandemic, and he wants to bring some of the things he explored during that time to the restaurant’s menu—Asian dishes, for one. And perhaps some things he learned to bake.

What Makes 3 Doors Down Special?

I asked Dave what sets 3 Doors Down apart from other restaurants—aside from the reputation they have established over the decades. “Our guests know they can get a really solid meal, consistently,” said Dave. “The portion size has always been a thing of ours, too.”

He feels strongly that service is key to success at a restaurant. “I think service is really important in the front-of-house. And finding the right, mature servers that are dedicated and knowledgeable is very, very important for this business. Sometimes it’s not just about the food. It’s about it’s about your experience here, too. And I think that our servers make a big difference.”

He added, “My staff is all set in the kitchen—we’re keeping the same guys. We’re welcoming everyone back.”

When They Will Open

The plan is for 3 Doors Down to open the first week of June, starting with dinner five days a week (Wednesday through Sunday). They’ll see how it goes and if opening another day seems warranted, they’ll consider it.

I’m very happy for Dave and the 3 Doors Down team as they work toward opening. Looking forward to stopping in this summer!

3 Doors Down Cafe & Lounge [re-opening June 2025]
1429 SE 37th Avenue, Portland
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