This Week in the Mercury
Tom Bissell Writes What He Wants
Magic Hours: Essays on Creators and Creation Is a Book of Essays About Things!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Build Out Burnside's Galaxy Karaoke Lounge To Be Demolished
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Wed, Dec 29, 2010 at 3:24 PM
Local history and architecture blog Portland Preservation pointed out today that one of Portland's funniest looking buildings is scheduled for the wrecking ball. The Galaxy lounge and restaurant on East Burnside and Ninth Ave will soon become a bland brick-faced restaurant Trio, according to permit paperwork (pdf) filed by the building owners.
It turns out the ol' Galaxy is actually the first Denny's in Portland and Portland Preservation asks whether the building's unique architecture makes it worth saving:
Unless there are irreversible structural issues, why demolish a building only to replace it with something that will serve the same essential purpose and will do nothing to add housing density or other social benefits to the community?... After a little research, it appears that this location was indeed Portland’s first Denny’s Restaurant, opening in June 1963. It was used to promote franchise possibilities for the Denny’s chain, and was modeled after the prototype Denny’s Restaurants founded in Southern California a decade earlier. The “check mark” design is one of those trademark patterns from the era of “Googie” architecture — something that we don’t have a lot of (remaining and intact) here in Portland.I have to admit I've never actually had a drink inside the Galaxy—its got a cool roofline, but a dim, shabby interior. I bet its some peoples' favorite karaoke dive, though.
Trio will be a restaurant, karaoke lounge, and bar with "dance music, you know, like disco disco," says building owner Foo-Hong Foong, who adds that the new one-story building will be split into three big rooms and have a menu featuring three foods served on one plate (because, see, it's a trio!). Asked why it was necessary to tear down the current building, Foong said that the place was old. "We need a new face, a new face will draw more people in," he says.
Check out the opening day ad for Portland's first Denny's below the cut.
Portland Preservation dug up this cool ad for the Denny's that opened in what's now the Galaxy:
- Portland Preservation
2
I used to sometimes play pinball in there, and watch people do karaoke.
I say: preserve it! Who's with me?!
I say: preserve it! Who's with me?!
4
"We need a new face, a new face will draw more people in," he says.
This is what so many businesses think, and they couldn't be more wrong.
This is what so many businesses think, and they couldn't be more wrong.
5
1) The doug fir, across the street, managed to revamp its entire kitchy modernist motel look into one of the city's most acclaimed bars. Does this place really need a new face?
2) The point about density is a big one, to me. This building is pretty closely located to numerous transportation projects (both present and future) and is in the heart of what all of the Portland planners are hoping will be the next significant area for development. I know this is only but one tiny parcel, but this is exactly the sort of place where incentives need to exist to encourage denser development as the older stock is demolished and newer buildings are constructed; Where's those PDC Burnside Bridgehead Urban Renewal bureaucrats when you need 'em? Tearing this down to replace it with a building of the exact same utility is a wasted opportunity, and it also makes Brian Libby and other preservationists throw a hissy fit about the loss of historic architecture (rightly so). Obviously, the owner owns the lot, and gets to do whatever he wants with it, and whatever he can afford with it, but while acknowledging that I don't understand the particulars of this case I feel that it expresses that something isn't working with the way the CoP/PDC/others are encouraging the sustainable, dense Portland I keep hearing about.
Also, it's worth the twenty blocks; if you want karaoke, just walk up to Chopsticks II on 27th and Burnside.
2) The point about density is a big one, to me. This building is pretty closely located to numerous transportation projects (both present and future) and is in the heart of what all of the Portland planners are hoping will be the next significant area for development. I know this is only but one tiny parcel, but this is exactly the sort of place where incentives need to exist to encourage denser development as the older stock is demolished and newer buildings are constructed; Where's those PDC Burnside Bridgehead Urban Renewal bureaucrats when you need 'em? Tearing this down to replace it with a building of the exact same utility is a wasted opportunity, and it also makes Brian Libby and other preservationists throw a hissy fit about the loss of historic architecture (rightly so). Obviously, the owner owns the lot, and gets to do whatever he wants with it, and whatever he can afford with it, but while acknowledging that I don't understand the particulars of this case I feel that it expresses that something isn't working with the way the CoP/PDC/others are encouraging the sustainable, dense Portland I keep hearing about.
Also, it's worth the twenty blocks; if you want karaoke, just walk up to Chopsticks II on 27th and Burnside.
Posted by ($8239f8h248cerfehjf23@&*@ebdjhb23f237OCDBO#BD*(#
on December 29, 2010 at 4:29 PM
· Report
7
Can nothing be torn down in Portland?
Memorial Coliseum? No.
Interstate and/or Sellwood bridge? No.
Portland Storage sign? No. http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/Blogto…
Old Denny's? No.
Old≠historic
Memorial Coliseum? No.
Interstate and/or Sellwood bridge? No.
Portland Storage sign? No. http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/Blogto…
Old Denny's? No.
Old≠historic
8
"We need a new face, a new face will draw more people in"
Worked for me and my new Kenny Rogers-style facelift!
Worked for me and my new Kenny Rogers-style facelift!
9
OK, Chùñdy, it's not Independence Hall. But it's an interesting old building, and tearing it down is a bonehead move. Should the owner be forced to preserve it? That's a tough one. If he wants to build something "Ultra Modern" that'll be pulled down in 2057 (if not sooner), maybe he should be allowed to. But I'll happily admit that he's stupid to do so.
10
That building's only two years older than I am, so calling it old isn't entirely painless for me, BTW.
11
Have drinks and occasionally eat there. While dingy and the food leaves something to be desired in terms of interest (so so burgers and greasy Chinese fare), it's a stopgap when the Doug Fir is crowded and when their already abysmal service becomes non-existent. It's what I call a refugee bar. People who are crowded out of more popular or trendy locales flock to it. Now where am I gonna go?
13
That proposed building is so bland. If the owners spent just 2/3rds of their demolition/construction budget on giving the existing building a down-to-the-bones remodel with well-designed retro-modernist furnishings (and kept the structure of the sign!), it'd get a lot of attention. The new building would barely be a blip on the radar.
Though right now I do love that the sign just says "and."
Though right now I do love that the sign just says "and."
14
Oh lord.
Not to impugn the building owner's business sense, but if you think a mere facelift and three foods on a plate (ooooh!) will make that joint successful in a town with pre-existing, popular karaoke joints, tons of good restaurants, Doug Fir across the street then you are destined to fail.
Bringing back a Denny's would probably be a safer idea.
Not to impugn the building owner's business sense, but if you think a mere facelift and three foods on a plate (ooooh!) will make that joint successful in a town with pre-existing, popular karaoke joints, tons of good restaurants, Doug Fir across the street then you are destined to fail.
Bringing back a Denny's would probably be a safer idea.
15
I remember Galaxy for having the most expensive shwill beer I’d ever seen. Someone accidentally knocked over a small pitcher of Bud & I remember someone else shouting “No!!! That crap was $11!”
16
What the fuck is going on in that neighborhood that they're not going to try to put apartments on a second story or something? Is it really economical to bother tearing down the existing building to replace it with slightly more floor area and more expensive shit?
Especially since we just spent a ton of money making Burnside/Couch a couplet. I thought the point was making the area more friendly to people (as opposed to automobiles). We really can't do any better than a single restaurant? Who is the developer on this?
Especially since we just spent a ton of money making Burnside/Couch a couplet. I thought the point was making the area more friendly to people (as opposed to automobiles). We really can't do any better than a single restaurant? Who is the developer on this?
17
I completely agree with Edie Bex. The building should be remodeled, NOT demolished. A "new face" would be achieved by bringing it back to its former mid-century glory. An interior remodel, a fresh coat of paint, and some re-designed landscaping would be a much more welcomed "new face" than an all-too-common-nowadays brick building that resembles a Romano's or Claim Jumper you'd see near a mega-mall. Please take a hint from Doug Fir/Jupiter and RESTORE this historical piece of roadside America, Mr. Foong.
18
Somebody has some deep pockets and no business sense. Just doing a good cleaning would help. An interior remodel would be required at the most. At least they did not tear it down to put pod space for imaginary food carts like SE30th and Hawthorne.
Most Commented on Blogtown, PDX
-
City's "Overnight Sleeping" Program Finds First Host—and Neighbors React in Ugly Fashion by Denis C. Theriault
-
Oh, Did You Think The Great Gatsby Movie Was Going to Be Good? by Alison Hallett
-
Happy World Goth Day! by Marjorie Skinner
-
Feds Dish Out $745.2 Million to the Light Rail by Alex Zielinski
-
Game of Thrones Recap: Calm Before the Storm Edition by Joe Streckert
-
Good Morning, News! by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey
-
Portland Button Works Opens on Killingsworth by Alison Hallett
-
Ye Olde Underground Loo by Alex Zielinski
-
We're Number One! by Alex Zielinski
-
Mapping Destruction: City Releases Locations of Portland Hazards by Nathan Gilles
Our Friends
- UrbanHonking
- Culture Shock
- Portland Roundball Society
- Steph Cassano
- Cort and Fatboy
- Street Roots
- Powell's Books Blog
- Portland Transport
- Portland Afoot
- Bike Portland
- Eater: PDX
- Portland Food and Drink
- Mr. Movie
- Sunday Softball
- BlueOregon
- Sightline Institute
- Ultra: Arts Portland
- Bitch Magazine
- Blazer's Edge
- Reading Local: Portland
- Portland Food Carts
- Stumptown Vegans
Our Enemies
The Handyman Pro - Your Honey-Do Specialist
Don’t let our name fool you. The Handyman Pro, LLC is a repair and remodel service provider with over 25-years experience. We cover all aspects of construction and repairs for residential and commercial clients.
Bands Page
Housing
Jobs
Musicians
For Sale
Wheels
Services
Health
The Arts
Friends 'N' Neighbors
Bulletin Board
Personals
Adult
RSSGoing to Seattle?
Comments (18) RSS