A new bar called After Ours will officially open today in Northeast Portland. Located in the former Scholar space on NE Broadway, they are a vinyl bar with a modern Vietnamese-influenced menu, “a gathering space rooted in Vietnamese culture and analog nostalgia.”
Previous Tenants: Scholar, Miss Delta, Iconic
In summer 2022, Scholar opened and offered “elevated Italian-inspired cuisine and drinks for the everyday diner.” Before that, it was home to a few other businesses.
I originally knew this location as lounge called Iconic, which opened in 2014. It was named for their efforts to evoke “iconic” American cinema with photos on the walls of famous actors, and cocktails named after people like Rita Hayworth and Elizabeth Taylor.
After it closed in 2018, a second location of Miss Delta’s Barbecue opened for a short time, eventually closing in 2019, I believe. They remain in their original location on North Mississippi, serving up classic southern food and barbecue.
Scholar arrived in August 2022 and closed down in late 2023. There was no real announcement on their social media about the closure, and it turns out the place was run by Aaron Barnes, who also was behind The 1905 and Hopscotch. The 1905 is under new management—Chris Pfeifer (also of the revived pizza joint, Original Dream Pizza); the Hopscotch space is now the location of the popular Phaya Thai Express.
After Ours (I have to admit, I keep typing “After Hours” and scenes from the movie immediately jump into my mind) brings new life to this space and I am happy to see it.
Who Is Behind After Ours
This is a project from three individuals from the Portland Vietnamese community: Mike Nguyen (Index PDX), Richard Le (Matta), and Kim Dam (Portland Cà Phê, Better Days). As you can see, these three have contributed a lot to Portland’s creative, food, and drink scene, and will bring us something interesting with After Ours.
The After Ours Philosophy
Over on Instagram, they wrote a heartfelt post about After Ours. Here is part of it:
“This is a place made in their honor.
A bar, a lounge, a cultural pulse.
Where Vietnamese heritage meets vinyl soul, and late nights feel like coming home. It’s the sound after the song. The light after the shift. The love after loss.”
They also recognize the importance of family, culture, community, their youth, and their parents. All these things have brought them to where they are right now, “A name born from memory / A space shaped by love.”
What You’ll Find at After Hours
You’ll find food and drink; a stylish and down to earth space; a love of vinyl; and late night hours.
Eating and Drinking
Richard Le is the person behind the food. Some of the menu items include a fish sandwich, a burger, furikake fries, garlic noodles, and bò kho tacos (both of which I tried last night). Look for other bowls of food, including late-night pho. They will also serve brunch starting this Sunday. Click images below to enlarge.
Their cocktails include a pandan colada (they can make this NA), Henny-Tini (espresso martini made with Hennessy), Saigon Old Fashioned (also made with Hennessy), yuzu oolong whiskey sour, Da Nang Darling (lychee martini), and Margarita made with a tamarind fish sauce shrub, among other things. And while I am NA all the way, if I was drinking, I’d love to try the Gin & Tonic: gin, Combier d’Apricot, salted lime shrub, tonic, and grapefruit bitters.
That vibrant green color of the pandan is just so gorgeous, plus the flavor is fab. Many thanks to Kevin (the GM, bartending last night), who made me this NA pandan colada.
The Space
I stopped in last night and found the space to be stylish, comfortable, and down to earth in the best ways. The floor is concrete, there’s some exposed brick, shelves for records, a bar on the left as you enter, and other seating. Fun fact: from a photography standpoint, the front of the space has great light for photos.
And since this is a vinyl bar, they will be spinning records there along with serving food, drink, and a fine atmosphere. I’ve heard that they plan to spin a different kind of music genre each night.
Their official opening (they’ve been doing some soft opening times, had a friends and family night, and a media preview so far) is tonight at 7pm. Their regular hours will be 9am to midnight Sunday through Wednesday, and 9am to 2am Thursday through Saturday.
This is going to be a nice addition to this strip of Broadway (which has been recently going through some substantial street changes). Wishing Mike, Richard, and Kim all the best as they open their doors officially tonight!
After Ours [opens August 7, 2025]
2226 NE Broadway, Portland
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Meg Cotner
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Shame about scholar. I ran across it in 2023, noted their extensive amaro list, made a plan to go back 2 weeks later and they were already closed.
It was a cool spot! If you’re an amaro lover, check out Little Bitter Bar and Keys Lounge.
Place and food look amazing and fun. I think I will be bringing my daughter there for her birthday.