The latest victim of Portland’s changing landscape is longtime downtown staple, Veritable Quandary, which will close after this summer.
The Oregonian reported this morning that VQ owner Dennis King announced the impending closure in a news release, saying he’d “explored a number of alternatives with the county” before deciding to shutter the 45-year-old restaurant.
King owns the building housing the VQ, but Multnomah County held the deed to the property on which VQ’s popular patio sits. When the county announced they’d chosen the vacant lot next to VQ for the location of the new courthouse, King, several VQ employees, and lot of loyal VQ patrons testified to the county commissioners that they didn’t know if the restaurant would survive the change.
Multnomah County purchased King’s property, though no one is talking about how much the county paid. In August, the county bought Jefferson Station (which is attached to VQ) and announced plans to refurbish the building and incorporate it into the new courthouse construction.
The $250 million $300 million Multnomah County Courthouse will be large enough to accommodate the District Attorney’s Office, the 36 courts currently housed at the 100-year-old courthouse, as well as high-volume courts, such as traffic and probate court.
The VQ is just one of many popular Portland establishments closing in the name of development. Just last month, Starky’s Restaurant and Bar was razed to make room for apartments. And The Farm Cafe served its last meal on New Year’s Eve.
What does VQ have in common with the current courthouse?
A: Both will be rubble in a major earthquake.