Blogtown, PDX

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Food Chili’s: Going, Going, GONE!

Posted by Patrick Coleman on Tue, May 27 at 5:24 PM

Chili%27s.jpg
Chili’s: To Go

As I was cruising around the outskirts of Portland today, looking for interesting food stuffs, and maybe a drop-dead amazing brisket sandwich, I drove past the Beavertron Chili’s, or rather, what’s left of it. Turns out that four regional Chili’s restaurants closed for good over the Memorial Day weekend. So, there are no more Chili’s in Lake O, Beaverton, Bethany and Willsonville. For those of you who rarely leave the city limits, those are actual names of actual suburbs where people actually live and work. Unfortunately, an estimated 200 of those people are no longer working, thanks to the closures.

I’m not sure what you think about the awesome blossom, but apparently it was no longer awesome enough for area suburbanites. I’ll just go out on a limb here and risk my credibility by saying: Chili’s sucks. But there is a silver lining for those in Beaverton. The city’s proximity to Hillsdale also means proximity to authentic Mexican cuisine made by authentic Mexican peoples. Is it possible that suburbanites looking for a tortilla chip fix might wander into a less-than-awesome-looking (i.e. not Chili’s) Mexican food joint and have their minds blown, crossing a centuries wide cultural schism by means of enchilada bridge? I hope so. And while I’m hoping things, I also hope those ex-Chili’s employees find a new job.

Oh and I hope that the new proposed light rail bridge IS an enchilada bridge. Yum.

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Comments

I think you meant hillsboro not hillsdale...

it is understandable to make these kind of mistakes in the grieving process

take care

Posted by geography class | May 27, 2008 6:36 PM

Man. Chili's does suck a dick, but you can't fuck with those Southwestern Egg Rolls!

Posted by tron javolta | May 27, 2008 8:39 PM

While it sure is easy to make fun of Beaverton and portray the entire place as a bunch of suburban conservative SUV-driving blowhards, just keep in mind that a lot of Mercury readers live out here because its too fucking expensive to live in the city, and for what its worth, Beaverton is much more diverse ethnically (and socioeconomically) than Portland.

Posted by Aaron | May 28, 2008 12:16 AM

I also heard that beaverton has more population density than portland, but i don't think that's true. Speaking of enchiladas and bridges, what are they doing with all of those old chili's signs? Could you mercury folks get together for a national lampoon's-style midnight prank that involves some sort of over-the-top tomfoolery, topless college girls, and perhaps a "bra bomb" of some kind?

Posted by martin | May 28, 2008 7:28 AM

@4 Why don't you think Beaverton is more densely populated than Portland?

Beaverton is 4665/sq. mile

Portland is 3940/sq. mile

Posted by Matthew Stadler | May 28, 2008 8:41 AM

LOL. You said authentic Mexican food and Hillsdale in the same sentence. Even if you meant Beaverton or Oregon, it still makes me laugh...

Posted by indy | May 28, 2008 10:15 AM

Yup, Lots of SUPER great little local Mexican joints out here. Also, a Falafel joint, a Greek joint, an Italian joint, some BBQ joints. All local, all awesome, all in Tigard.

Posted by Kris | May 28, 2008 10:23 AM

What's next, Applebee's?! The teeming mass of faceless corporate drones wails in anguish. Wherever shall they luncheon-- TGI Friday's?

Posted by roguespierre's fiesta wrap from the future! | May 28, 2008 10:23 AM

i always have to chuckle when the subject of "authentic mexican food" comes up be it in some foodie blog or in the bar where i does my work stuff. it's not because i'm a smug asshole like usual either, it's because when people start arguing about what's "authentic mexican food" they're both usually right. what drives the different stlyes of mexican food is regional cooking because as you may know, mexico is a big fucking place! so while you know your favorite place in wherever, usa makes the real AMF you had in mexico city, you could sound like a total ass for saying so to a person from campeche. fight on!

Posted by Chazz Madrigal (resident mexican) | May 28, 2008 10:52 AM

@5: I'm not sure, and am too lazy to look this up, but I think those statistics for Portland's density include Forest Park. That, and the 7.6% of Portland that is covered by water skews the stats. If I'm wrong I'll eat Arby's. Your choice of menu item.

Posted by martin | May 28, 2008 11:08 AM

I like mexican food. All of it.

Posted by Kiala | May 28, 2008 11:15 AM

@10 No, these are US Census statistics which calculate the "habitable" square miles of the city and exclude parks and water. The relevant links are buried in at least one previous thread on Blogtown. Maybe Matt Davis or someone there could dig them up.

The subject comes up a lot, so I did a lot of research. Still, most people would rather believe Portland is more densely populated, even though it isn't.

I wonder why it is so hard to accept Beaverton's density and heterogeneity, which is to say its urbanity.

Posted by Matthew Stadler | May 28, 2008 12:11 PM

Yes, I did mean Hillsboro, thanks. Also, I'm not trying to denegrate the suburbanites. I'm trying to find common ground through good food, authentic or otherwise!

Now to track down that Chili's sign... and find out what a "bra bomb" is.

Posted by Patrick | May 28, 2008 12:21 PM

Comment deleted: Off-topic, slanderous remark.

http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/2008/03/a_blogtown_notification.php

Posted by ≤≥ | May 28, 2008 4:09 PM

Chili's Texas Red chili was the only good thing on their menu and they took it off years ago. This smacks of "New Coke". Don't fuck with a good thing. This Wilsonvillian will not miss them. The fewer chains the better.

Posted by G | May 29, 2008 11:03 AM