Tomorrow—Friday, January 30, 2026—is a National Shutdown day across the country, in response to the killings by ICE. The campaign’s subtitle is “No Work. No School. No Shopping. Stop Funding ICE.” It’s a kind of general strike.
However, in Portland there are a lot of small businesses that simply can’t shut down for the day, due to economic reasons. And while “no shopping” might mean “don’t spend your money anywhere,” it’s generally understood to mean that shopping at small, independent businesses is ok.
Cider Bite will close. After a decade in business, Portland’s oldest cider house will close; their final day of service will be Sunday, October 19. Founder Jeff Hanneson posted about the closure on their website:
“The decision to close did not come lightly. Like many small businesses, we have faced unprecedented challenges over the past few years-from COVID restrictions, multiple break-ins, and incidents of vandalism, to dramatically rising operating costs and a significant decline in tourism and downtown foot traffic that has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Our beloved city has struggled to regain its vibrancy and to overcome the barrage of negative national media coverage and public perceptions of safety. With our lease set to expire at the end of October and the landlord requiring higher rent and expenses under a long- term agreement, we were unable to secure an acceptable and sustainable extension that would allow us to continue.”
Prior to the closing they will host some special events and will be selling some of the business’s ephemera. Sorry to see them go. 1230 NW Hoyt Street, Portland
I saw the news about the arrival of the new olive oil from Sebastiano’s—the 2025 vintage—and I got really excited. Then I got an email from Dan, one of the owners, inviting me to come by and taste this new olive oil. I was more than happy to do so, and here is what I learned.
The Pig Newtons are back! Photos credit: Jim & Patty’s.
The Jim & Patty’s return. It’s true, they posted the news this week on their socials: “BIG NEWS, PORTLAND!!! Jim & Patty’s Coffee is BACK!! (under new ownership).” From what I can tell, Paul Ceserani, owner of Spielman Bagels & Coffee, is the new Jim & Patty’s owner. They opened yesterday, August 14, at their previous location on NE Fremont. 4951 NE Fremont Street, Portland
Today, June 6 is National Donut Day. It is celebrated on the first Friday of June each year, and as Portland is a big donut town, you can expect to find donut specials throughout the city. Here are some to watch for.
