This Week in the Mercury
Monday, September 29, 2008
Food Not So Bleak
Posted by Patrick Alan Coleman on Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 8:27 AM
Okay, I guess I got a little hysterical there. But not being vegan, I thought that the loss, or restructuring, of two big name vegan joints, would mean a tragic loss for the vegan community. Silly me. I know you could just go back to the comments section and read some of the recommendations for yourself, but that post was, like, days ago. And who can be bothered with scrolling?
So, thank you for the VegPortland.com link. The folks at that site look like they are doing fantastic work. A quick survey of their restaurant list revealed a wealth of vegan options that were previously unknown to me. Then again, I could have just searched the Mercury's Restaurant listings for vegan/vegetarian options. Hindsight and all that. The meat is obviously affecting my brain/vision.
Since Friday's post I received some more tips:
Red and Black Cafe has gone all vegan. They claim to have the best vegan Reuben in town, which intrigues me, because I love myself some Reuben, vegan or otherwise.
From music editor, Ezra, word that chef Aaron Adams, formerly of Junior's Cafe, is planning on opening a vegan Italian restaurant. Again, my lack of experience with vegan food makes me think that this will be difficult. Though, now that I think about... pastas, sauces... okay. I'm just wondering what's going to replace the pork products the Italians love so dearly. I'm actually pretty excited about this. Can't wait to try it.
Anyway, thanks for not getting your cruelty-free panties in a bunch. I'll admit that I'm still learning about vegan foodways in Portland. The fact is, I love learning about new food. Learning is delicious. And the folks that I've met in the vegan community seem eager to teach. As always, I'm open to suggestions.
2
On The Sly is a Portland based news aggregate for vegans. Get the straight story on why Veganopolis is closing down.
3
http://portlandveganreubens.blogspot.com/
4
patrick, it would be lovely if you could include in your reviews if the restaurant has any vegan or vegetarian options. i think i've noticed you mention it before, but not always. though that could mean the place doesn't have any.
6
Veganopolis had HEALTHY sales and we passed two desired close dates spring and summer because we were so damn busy .
One partner never fully recovered after one nasty random assault last spring ..Police collected the offender. We were long decided to leave PDX but that definately was the day we fast tracked it.
see www.myspace.com/veganoplispdx for more
Broke daily sales records several times this last 6 months.
( Hint..to someone else who wants to open a pro vegan establishment nearby our old location, go for it.
Just don't choose our previous building owner ..another story many poliice and customers were aware of.)
We weathered GREAT local resistance since day ONE for whatever reason ..do not care to look back.
We were in talks/meetings for almost two years with our choice of a global franchise company/team.. We suffered FAR too much crime and honestly ..constant harassment. Yes, close your eyes and pretend it doesn't happen in Portland but fact is it does.
We were urged to 'drop that troubled Portland location",return to Chicago and move forward with the global. Very sound advice we agreed with long ago but lingered because we had wonderful large and fun regular audience.
Stay in PDX and suffer the severe crime another year, unable to have our sandwich line in the 6+ stores because of contstant trouble?
OR Move back to our hometown/Chicago-near our franchising staff and partners and go global??
I recall a local biz consultant we had in a few times just for assessment purposes and consultation. He suggested the same.
Larger city and expand. and he added 'I would be interested in a franchise looking at thios database' We have several people interested in a franchise and they have watched our PDX troubles
from afar and have been waiting for this move.
So thank you, we enjoyed our servce to our lovely customers.
We exit at a perfect time economically to align and move late 2009.
A long thought out decision, long in planning.
Ask ouir first manager..he knew what was on the table for real.
And yes..we honed 47 page very real biz plan prior to signing the lease. We constantly ran numbers and reports and adjusted all along.
So the ON THE SLY blogger is very wrong. Without speaking with us for FACTS she ranted on in error about our company. You wouldn't last 4 years in that touchy PDX economy, in a location like ours without a a solid and lengthy business plan.
HINT- Starting business of anykind without a 3-5 year full plan
honed to the last detail is akin to cooking blindfolded. Okay.
If you dare you will not enjoy the full revenue you would with
a REAL plan.
So don't sit back and lie and slander and GUESS..find the facts ..or
it is actually libel about a company you knew ZERO about the inner daily workings of, budget and all else.
Oh and thanks PDX for all the hate mail , calls and cyber bullying from the unwell. I often posted them for staff laughs in the end.
WE WILL MISS OUR PORTLAND FRIENDS/CUSTOMERS.
Come to Chicago when we open late 2009 We'll buy you lunch!
We are dedicated to bringing cruelty free food to as many people as possible.There are many, many examples of long established vegan restaurants around the world. And great ones I might add.
Enjoy and stop jumping down one anothers vegan throats.
PEACE AND GOODWILL IS A GOOD THING.
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