One of the first casualties of Barpocalypse 2014 was Eastside institution Produce Row, which closed down last September to the great chagrin of long-time natives and recent transplants alike.

Personally, I was very sad to see it go, as it one of the better food options in Central Eastside, and I’ve never met a bourbon and beer pairing there I didn’t like.

Barpocalypse unfortunately has continued to be A Thing well into 2015, mostly recently with the impending closure of Besaw’s. More and more venerable restaurants and bars are being forced to make way for new housing and new development. Losing old stomping grounds has become a staple of the Portland experience. Which is why I was so surprised when I heard last week that one of our longtime staples was making a comeback. That’s right: Produce Row is back, baby!

Produce Row reopened this week in their old location (!) with a minimum of fanfare, but they were still doing brisk business when my friend and I ventured down for Happy Hour on Tuesday.

When a bar reopens, invariably people want to know if it’s going to be the same bar in name only. In Produce Row’s case, I’m happy to report that it’s very much the same establishment that we bade farewell to, eight months ago. The restaurant itself has been spruced up, but you still have the same dining area and the same (awesome) patio space. The menu features some new items, but many of the old favorites are still the same. And most importantly, they still have a great tap list and an awesome selection of bourbon & beer pairings.

I’m sure more Barpocalypse casualties are still on the way, but for now, we can relish the fact that we’ve gotten one of our institutions back. Welcome back, Produce Row.

Produce Row Cafe (ProduceRowCafe.com)
204 Southeast Oak Street, Portland, Oregon