"But with that growth invariably comes closures. While not nearly as brutal as years like 2020 or 2021, last year was marked by lingering pains from the pandemic, high rents, low traffic months, and general economic pains, all of which contributed to the loss of some of Portland's most cherished establishments. Some places, like Deadstock and Hit the Spot, are already planning (or making) a return, while others are seemingly gone for good."
"Shen told press outlets that his Chinese restaurant-which specialized in its namesake xiao long bao, or soup dumplings-was based on the foods he grew up eating with his family. Flash forward to 2025, and that sentiment has been echoed again and again at eateries like Xiao Ye, Matta, and Mémoire Cà Phê. XLB's arrival also predates buzzy Chinese dumpling houses like Din Tai Fung and Dough Zone. Sadly, it served its last bao in spring of '25, citing slow business as the reason."
Portland's restaurant industry evolved in 2025 with numerous new openings, including several Italian restaurants and anticipated venues such as L'Échelle and Bar Nouveau. The year also saw closures resulting from lingering pandemic effects, high rents, seasonal low traffic, and broader economic pressures. Some closed businesses plan returns, while others appear permanently shuttered. XLB, a Chinese soup-dumpling specialist that opened in 2017, closed in spring 2025 due to slow business; Sun Rice replaced it with Filipino brunches and evening snacks. Immigrants comprise 22 percent of U.S. food service workers, and immigration enforcement contributed to Reeva Cafe y Cocina a la Leña closing after founder Roberto Hernandez Guerrero was denied citizenship.
#portland-restaurant-scene #restaurant-closures #pandemic-and-economic-impact #immigration-and-labor
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