The Burnside Blog
It's true. McMenamins Snag Silverado Block
The McMenamin brothers have laid claim to a prime hunk of PDX real estate, a tiny triangle-shaped parcel at the confluence of Burnside, Stark and 13th Avenue most recently home to the gay bathhouse Club Portland and the all-male Silverado strip club (Hence the name). Willamette Week’s Byron Beck reported Friday that plans call for hotel rooms and a soaking pool. I also imagine the duo will restore the structure to its original splendor while adding a the healthy dose of the creepy-stylish kitsch that’s as much a McMenamins trademark as a frosty pint of Hammerhead.
Many rumors (Including a 20-story office tower, an extension of the Ace Hotel, a new W Hotel, a restaurant by Kenny Giambalvo) have been circulating regarding the future of the tiny four-story building since it was purchased in 2007. Until last year, it was the site of what may have been the largest gay bathhouse on the West Coast, which operated since 1987, says Just Out Columnist and ex-Willamette Week contributor Stephen Marc Beaudoin.
By Once in a while on Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 11:52AM PDT
I really hope it’s a hotel or a hostel instead of a restaurant. What Portland doesn’t need is another place to get a shitty McMenamins burger.
By stuart on Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 11:56AM PDT
Wow. That came out of nowhere!
By thatsnotwhatiheard on Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 05:19PM PDT
For the longest time the rumor was a certain magazine publisher would take over the entire building turning it in to her private lair/world HQ. Word was that she was going to make sure her good buddy, a well-known restaurant owner, would also have a sweet haute spot on the ground floor where her cosmo would always be ready by happy hour.
By Please Please me on Monday, July 14, 2008 at 09:17AM PDT
Another example of the genderfication of Stark Street. What used to be ground zero for the gay male community has been taken over by those who breed. Goodbye character, hello strollers.
By Pete on Monday, July 14, 2008 at 05:27PM PDT
Haha, I’m a breeder and I find that last comment hilarious!
The audacity of the McMenamin brothers to turn a bath house into… a soaking pool. And a bath house is gay because of the clientele, not the owners.
By Stark Street Maven on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 10:55AM PDT
Um…as a longtime patron of the former tenant of this building, I can assure “Pete” that the owners of Club Portland fully intended Club Portland to be a gay bathhouse. Bathhouses have played an important role in the lives of many a gay man, and unfortunately, they are disappearing from cities like San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle.
By Historic Portland on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 02:22PM PDT
I am happy that the McMenamins are restoring the property. Another teardown would have been depressing. McMenamins have been great about rescuing historic structures. Much better than other Portland developers. I really hope though that they leave the hippy, disney kitsch out. And I hope they give whatever restaurant space to someone other than McMenamins. Their food is crap.
By Mike Thelin on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 02:28PM PDT
I wish I didn’t agree with you Historic Portland. Though I must admit an affinity for the Captain Neon burger. Sure, it’s no Higgins or Clyde common masterpiece, but it’s not seven bucks poorly spent either.
By KC on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 04:20PM PDT
I like the fact that this won’t be razed in favor of another austere glassy tower. Once it’s fixed up, people will understand why it’s worth saving.
By MarkDaMan on Friday, July 18, 2008 at 09:50PM PDT
Isn’t the W hotel proposal on the site of the former Eagle, across the crazy intersection?
Is that off the table now too or is that Skylab designed proposal still moving forward? It was pretty hawt!
By Once in a while on Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 11:52AM PDT
I really hope it’s a hotel or a hostel instead of a restaurant. What Portland doesn’t need is another place to get a shitty McMenamins burger.