Old Pharmacy Cafe – Closed

12 Responses to Old Pharmacy Cafe – Closed

1. nightdoktor says:

   November 20, 2008 at 4:43 pm

   “restaurant apocalypse” is really catchy. I also like “cafe bloodbath” and “restrarmageddon.”

   Reply
2. lmnop says:

   November 20, 2008 at 7:11 pm

   Speaking of closures, I am wondering if anyone knows if all of the McMenamins will survive the recession. I ask because I took an out of town friend to the Chapel Pub last Saturday at 8pm, and the entire place was empty except for one other table. I wondered if they were really open, which they were. We left quickly for Saraveza down the street. How can the Chapel Pub keep going with one table of business on a Saturday at 8pm?

   Reply
3. mczlaw says:

   November 20, 2008 at 8:39 pm

   Old Pharmacy has been papered up for at least a week–maybe more. Probable cause–not much interesting going on in terms of food and too many laptoppers loitering over a single cup of coffee. Helps explain why the closure was only now reported.

   To sound a contrarian note on the depth of the problem : sure, a lot of places are off. yes, there is undoubtedly a recession. But the sky is falling stuff is overkill; in fact it’s kind of obnoxious. How many places that have closed are on your (not you Food Dude, but anybody who pays attention to food media regularly) personal “go to” circuit? For me, the answer is none.

   As with any economic down cycle, things will be tight for a while–and cruelly Darwinian to the unfit. But the strong–the popular and well-managed enterprises–will likely come out of this OK, and probably even stronger for the experience.

   Just one person’s opinion.

   –mcz

   Reply
4. Anon says:

   November 20, 2008 at 8:59 pm

   The Old Pharmacy Cafe isn’t closed for good– It’s undergoing rennovations. No timetable on when it’s going to be open again.

   Reply
5. squeezed says:

   November 21, 2008 at 8:12 am

   “As with any economic down cycle”

   If this were garden variety down cycle your opinion would have more merit.

   Reply
6. reflexblue says:

   November 21, 2008 at 9:02 am

   re: chapel pub: I think that the McMenamin’s administrative offices are in that building. Also, although I’ve never been, whenever I drive by during the day the parking lot is pretty full. I think that if Jefferson High closes maybe that could hurt them.

   Honestly, even without the bad global economy the number of restaurants opening v. closing has felt out of whack to me for a while. I apologize if that seems “anti-restaurant” That’s not my intent. I grew up hearing that half of all restaurants fail in their first year (before easy credit) and get a 30-year mortgage and expect to live in your house at least five years. I realize my views are provincial, not up to date with 21st century financial practices. meh, as the dictionaries say these days.

   Reply
7. Food Dude says:

   November 21, 2008 at 1:40 pm

   So, MCZLaw.. are you saying the economy is “fundamentally strong?”

   Reply
8. mczlaw says:

   November 21, 2008 at 9:35 pm

   Sorry, Dude, not going to play politics. I’ll leave that to others.

   If anyone wants to believe capitalism as such is bad, fine by me. What’s going on currently is part of capitalism. So is the next inevitable up cycle. I’m not prepared to indict the entire economic system, at least in the absence of a better alternative. But I am certainly willing to allow for opposing views.

   To “lookingforwork,” I couldn’t feel worse for those displaced by what’s going on now. At the same time, that doesn’t mean the ship is going down and things won’t get better again. In particular, the evidence is lacking to support claims of a massive wave of restaurant closures. To clarify my previous remark, It’s the fear-mongering and hyperbole that’s obnoxious. For all those currently living with the economic insecurity of unemployment, your concerns are completely understandable and I apologize for any offense caused.

   To “squeezed,” not sure how you would propose to distinguish the current circumstances from a “garden variety” down cycle. To those affected, I’m not sure there is such a thing. Having said that, again, where is the evidence of this restaurant apocalypse? Curiously, new places keep opening in Portland–several in the last 30 days or so.

   –mcz

   Reply
9. cupsncakes says:

   November 22, 2008 at 3:09 am

   I live two blocks away, and this place is perpetually in flux; not to mention pretty lame, huge, and in a fantastic location. Some god willing, it will turn into something better. Paper in its windows is a sign of exactly nothing.

   Becoming quite curious though what the actual stats are on typical number of business/restaurant closings in a year, whether it really is more or we’re all must more paranoid and thus aware.

   Reply
10. quo vadis says:

    November 24, 2008 at 12:44 pm

    We haven’t actually seen capitalism here in the US for a very, very long time.
    So no matter what one thinks of capitalism you can’t blame it for this mess.

    Reply
11. Ben Waterhouse says:

    November 24, 2008 at 2:18 pm

    nightdoktor: I know genius when I see it. Everybody get ready for Restrarmageddon 2009!

    Even with all the recent closures, I still think I’m seeing more restaurants opening than going under. This is a weird town.

    Reply
12. tup? says:

    November 24, 2008 at 6:58 pm

    Squeezed, your post mentions “dozens” of closures. While 24 or more restaurants may have closed over the past few months, I remain curious about how you arrive at that tally. Would you mind sharing specific details on these? I get stuck after four closures…

    Reply