JANUARY 19. 2007
David Fones, co-owner of Scandals, says staying on Stark Street was a
deliberate move.
“At the end of the day, we thought that it was important that
we build in a part of the city that is in transition, that needed
stimulus for growth, and I think there’s a lot of activity there that’s
consistent with us,” said Gene Sandoval, ZGF partner and princi
pal designer of the new building.
Since ZGF’s announcement, its would-be neighbor, the Eagle,
has announced its reluctant plan to move from the location at
1300 W. Burnside St. by the end of February. “Because of the
nature of what’s happening around there, I’m sort of forced to
make a facelift of the building so it fits with the overall area,”
explained Craig Henderson, whose corporation, CHF LLC, owns
the building.
He says that Eagle owner Karl Wilgus has been a great tenant
and that he’d be glad to rent to him again once the remodel is
finished, but he will have to raise the rent on the space at least 35
percent to 40 percent.
“I don’t care if that’s a gay bar or what—as long as they pay the
rent and I don’t have to support the building with my own money,"
said Henderson, a father of three who is anticipating sending two
children to college in the near future.
As for Wilgus, he’s moving on. “If I can find a spot, I may reopen
the Eagle, probably down in Old Town,” he said.
Wilgus has recently run into problems holding onto the name
“Eagle,” which signifies a gay leather scene to people all over the
United States. Pat Lanagan, owner of Urge, a gay bar in North
Portland, recently registered the name after Wilgus allowed his
registration to lapse last summer. Wilgus announced in a fiery
e-mail to the media Jan. 9 that he’s reregistered the name, referring
to Lanagan as a “bottom dweller” and claiming Lanagan tried to
steal the name.
Lanagan changed the name of Urge to the Eagle on Jan. 10.
Lanagan, who chalked the maneuver up to a business move, said
he’ll be issuing Wilgus a cease-and-desist order before the Eagle
closes its drxirs.
Meanwhile, Wilgus has announced he’ll be opening a new
club called Casey’s, which he describes as “all-inclusive." He
wasn’t specific about the locale but said the new place will be near
C.C. Slaughters in Old Town. He hopes to open Casey’s by the
end of February.
Wilgus said he sees a trend in the gay community toward Old
Town.
“[It] seems to look pretty attractive to me. You’ve got a variety
of clubs down there. [Gay establishments include Darcelle XV,
Hobo’s, the Fox & Hounds, Gail’s Dirty Duck and Shanghai
Steakery.] It offers a lot of different venues for people,” he said. “As
a business, you typically get a larger and less expensive space.”
Mitchell, whose properties reside on the south side of Burnside
Street, takes a different tack. “As a business operator I would think
very carefully before opening any bar in Old Town based on what
is currently happening down there. Have you been over there at
night lately? It is like a circus on the weekends,” said Mitchell.
Continued on Page 22
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