AUGUST 21 2009
WEST CAFÉ
NORTHBANK TAVERN
Owners: Doug Smith 8 Sean Conconnon
Years in Business: 3
Address: 1201 SW Jefferson St.
Web: www.westGafepdx.com
Owners: Brent Bartling 8 Darrell Spoon
Address: 106 W Sixth St.. Vancouver. WA
Years in Business: 20*
Web: www.m/space.com/thenorthbank
Simply Inspired Food. This is the rallying cry and focus
of one of Pordand’s premier, gay-owned downtown restau
rants, West Café. It’s hard to go wrong when the first two
words of your ethos double as the bedding for the rest of
your business endeavors, but that’s exactly what West Café
owners/couple Doug Smith and Sean Concannon have ac
complished: a simply inspiring business model.
But West Café isn’t all about the food, per se. Its com
prehensive list of free weekly jazz entertainment—7-10
p.m. every Saturday—features local jazz luminaries like
Carol Rossio or blues staples like David Brothers, and runs
along with its menu of delectable entrees, wines, salads,
organic pies and more for prices that won’t turn your wallet
into a whimpering puppy. The owners even devised a “Bail
O ut” dinner menu with S10 entrees to combat any ill ef
fects stemming from the economy.
“It has been very popular,” says Concannon. “I have to
say we have been enjoying a healthy, slow growth pattern,
allowing us to get to know our guests.”
The cafés downtown locale has seen some interesting
developments, most notably the approximate construction
of the Eliot Tower and the Benson Tower, but the recession
has brought building to a halt since Smith and Concannon
opened their doors.
Concannon admits that his schedule does not permit
him to be as involved as he would like in regard to West
Cafés contributions to Portland’s gay, lesbian, bi and trans
community. Still, their connections do not go unnoticed.
“We [give back] in small, nonchalant ways, but the
formed the current company did
center around giving back to the
community a certain percentage
of our income, both in the form of
in-kind printing and cash spon
sorships,” explains Dickey. “We
cover a pretty broad spectrum,
but we do obviously include the
gay community.”
The company’s connection with Portland’s gay, lesbian,
bi and trans community includes the Gay Men’s Chorus,
Portland Center Stage, and QDoc, in addition to the Hu
man Rights Campaign and Basic Rights Oregon. Dickey
stresses the significance of support within the community
Sean C o n c a n n o n knocks dow n d in in g prices
d o w n to w n w ith W est C a fe s "B ail O ut" d in n e r m enu.
organizations recognize us for caring about their causes,”
says Concannon.
In terms of the entrepreneurial spirit of the gay com
munity, Concannon remarks, “Our plight for equality has
been going on for many, many years. As we gain trac
tion and acceptance, I’d like to believe we do not impose
double standards. Those not in our GLBT community
who accept our values should be embraced and included
without judgment. It only makes us stronger and more
able to move forward.”
- R yan J. P rado
to strengthen it, as well as to set a good example for future
generations.
“We not only should support one another in business,
and try to plow our money back into the community as
best we can, but we should set a good example for the
younger ones coming up behind us, that you can set out
on your own and make a good living and contribute to the
community,” says Dickey. “When you look at the huge,
successful people like Bill Gates, he’s giving all his money
back, huge chunks. Warren Buffett’s doing the same thing.
It plays all the way down to our level, because people want
to do business with the nice people. It’s like a form of
advertising, but it also has a bigger, broader impact.”
- R yan J. P rado
19
As the only GLBT bar in Clark County, Northbank Tav
ern is more than a bar: it’s a community center where the
patrons—gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight al
lies—sometimes feel like family.
“Our atmosphere is different than the bars in Portland,” says
co-owner Brent Bartling. “It’s especially nice for couples who
aren’t looking to hook up. I have a lot of people here who feel
it’s part of their duty to be greeters if they see someone new.”
Karaoke is a big hit with customers and Bartling plans to
offer more mic nights in an effort to boost sales cut by the reces
sion. Northbank is also well
known for Lipz Cabaret,
which performs on the
second and fourth Satur
day of the month. They’ll
be involved in October’s
grand opening of Scream
at the Beach. In fact, their
drag queens love the holi
day so much they put on
several Halloween cabarets
throughout the year.
Northbank also hosts an
nual fundraisers for Martha’s
Pantry, a local nonprofit pro
viding food and essentials to
people living with HIV and
Brent B artling believes a
AIDS, and Saturday in the
frie n d l/ atm osphere is on
Park, Vancouver’s only Pride
ta p a t N orthbank Tavern
event.
Bartling, who is Saturday in the Park’s board president, and
his partner Darrell Spoon bought the Northbank Tavern in
2002 because they didn’t like seeing their community bar slip
into nonexistence. For the couple, this tavern holds a special
place in their lives—Bartling and Spoon first met each other
here 13 years ago. They were also the victims of a 1999 attack,
the only major act of homophobic violence in the bar’s his
tory. But Bartling is quick to downplay the drama. Incidents of
harassment are rare, especially in the seven years Bartling and
Spoon have owned the bar.
“There will always be those who are never accepting, but
we have to deal,” says Bartling. “Most of the neighborhood
downtown has been pretty accepting of us. The employees from
other bars and restaurants come down and hang out and bring
their friends—it’s a non-issue for so many people, especially
younger people.”
- J enny F urniss
Want to try
Acupuncture?
C o ven try
C ycle (V W o rk s
N o w ’s the time!
Five Element Acupuncture,
Facial Rejuvenation, Pain Management,
Cold & Flu, Stress
Jewel A. Robinson,
abr
B ’z illio n D o lla r .Proriuccr
Keller Williams Realty
700 N E Muhonmah, Suite. 950
Portland O R 97232
Cell 503.708.9508
Fax 503.748.8277
jewelrocks@gmail.com
Firm a ll Portland arta listings a t
w ww.jewelArobinson. com
AND ALL WHO
LOVE
REAL ESTATE BROKER
Drago n 's¥ Dream
ACUPU N CTURE
13765 NW Cornell Rd STE 150 Portland, OR 97229
503 568 4508
by a p p o in t m e n t o n ly
Jo nathan J. Dailey, L.Ac.
www.dragonsdreamacupuncture.com
-» ■
3106 NE 64,h Avenue. Portland
(On the corner of Sandy Blvd i 64th)
503-280-8080. www.itsmypleasure.com
Recumbent Bikes & Trikes
Folding Bikes
...and More!
Mon-Sat 10-6 (Thur 10-7), Sun 1-5
2025 SE Hawthorne
(503) 230-7723
ww w.covont rye yc la.com
MARTY DAVIS
OREGON S GAY/LESBIAN/Bl/TRANS NEWSMAGAZINE