Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, September 22, 2010, Page 8, Image 8

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September22. 2010
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Cannon’s Rib Express Celebrates 25 Years
Community
invited to
Sunday concert
On Sunday, S ep tem b er 26,
Cannon’s Rib Express celebrates 25
years of serving Portland’s best ribs
with a free concert with New Orleans
sax legend Reggie Houston from 5
p.m. to 8 p.m. at the northeast Port­
land establishment.
Cannon’s owner Wayne Cannon
invites the community to bring their
families and join him in celebrating
one of the few black owned busi­
nesses in northeast Portland.
Wayne believes it was divine in­
tervention that called him to Portland
in 1993 for an interview at a national
hotel chain. Wayne was reading the
newspaper as he waited for his inter­
view and noticed a BBQ business for
sale. He contacted the owner Chuck
H inton and just like that, he was in the
BBQ business.
It was a small BBQ shop adjacent
to what was then a tavern and liquor
photo by
M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver
Cannon’s Rib Express owner Wayne Cannon (right) with employees Charles Love (from left), Xavier
Clark and Frank Baker.
store on the comer o f Northeast
Killingsworth and 33rd Avenue.
When the entire lot was purchased,
the developer had to review his plans
with the Concordia Neighborhood
Association.
As the story goes, the community
liked the developer’s idea of a phar­
Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church
4009 North Missouri Street, Portland, OR
Pastor Johnny Pack, IV Founder
macy and organic food market. How­
ever, the development plans ne­
glected to include two critical ele­
ments that served the neighborhood
and the community; Cannon’s Rib
Express and the neighborhood liquor
store.
The neighbors blocked the plans
until both businesses were incorpo­
rated into the overall site plan. The
developer revised his plans to incor­
porate Cannon’s Rib Express and the
liquor store and the rest as they say,
is history.
In 2001, Cannon moved into his
current location uniquely designed
by the developer for his business.
In 2003, he met Reggie Houston
through a common love o f Jazz and
BBQ. Drummer Carlton Jackson had
sent Reggie to Cannon’s, proclaim­
ing it his favorite BBQ in Portland,
and once Reggie tried it, he became a
regular customer.
Cannon’s keeps the kitchen radio
dialed to 89.1 KMHD, and when
Reggie heard this he shared that he
sometimes did a Jazz segment at
KMHD. Wayne thought it would be
a good idea if he supported KMHD
during their fundraiser by donating
some o f Portland’s best BBQ to feed
the radio staff and volunteers. He
also thought I would be a great idea
ifReggie Houston would perform live
New Orleans style jazz during the
summer on Sundays to entertain the
customers, families, friends and the
community.
It was a great combination that
became a reality. Portland’s Best BBQ
and live New Orleans jazz, a business
relationship that works perfectly and
you can only get it at Cannon’s.
Being one o f the few black busi­
nesses in Northeast Portland allows
Cannon to hire minority high school
students through internships and
Sax legend Reggie Houston.
“A Pre-Church 23rd Year Celebration!”
1 Afeat'ó
fazionate Meant
^ftuneial Meme
1093 SW Tobias Way
A loha, O regon 97006
(503) 642-4620
(Only 20 minuti*!« from Portland)
Community Funeral Directors!
Providing the best service!
Whether it be a cremation, earth burial, graveside or memorial service, etc.,
we will be there for you.
Io accomodate you the family who have lost a loved one, wc will come to you
so that the arrangements being made will be personalized with compassion.
Theme: You are a Unique Church! Ephesians 2:10
We Offer The Best Prices & The Friendliest Service In Town.
Saturday, September 25,2010 at 3pm
Irvington Covenant Church-4008 NE M.L.King Blvd. Portland, OR
Guest Speaker Evangelist Melanie Pichon-Smith
Forgiven Ministries, New Orleans, LA
Donations....$20.00 per person
Contact Penny Mims at 503-975-5469
Fashion Show, featuring “Penny’s Rags and Riches"!
Margaret Gibbs-Neal, Funeral Director & Owner
Pre Church Anniversary Brunch Invitation
Seating order tickets now availability from mspenny503@aol.com
Licenae#: 0445
Jerome Cox-Tanner, Funeral Director
License #: 0382
‘ Thia Facility it licensed by the Oregon State Mortuary & Cemetery Board
(Certification #8407)
summer hires, allowing students to
learn critical job and life skills while
earning a little spending money. He
has seen many o f his former hires
stop by as young adults married with
kids and all grown up. He wonders,
“My God where has the time gone. I
remember when you couldn’t even
see over the counter.”
Cannon has received numerous
awards including “West’s Best BBQ”
from Sunset magazine. AOL’s City’s
Best BBQ, CitySearch’s Best BBQ
and Willamette Week Pick are just a
few o f the awards. He also received
special recognition from the former
Oregon State Senator Margret Carter
for his tireless support o f the commu­
nity and generosity to the Portland
area.
As part ofhis 25-year celebration,
Cannon would like everyone to come
out Sunday and bring the kids, senior
citizens, friends, family and most o f all
your appetite.
“I want everyone to know that I’m
in Portland through prayer and di­
vine intervention. I want to celebrate
my blessing from God for 25 years o f
business on this comer with every­
one and remind them that ultimately
God is still in control o f our lives, if
you turn your life over to him trust him
and most o f all have faith.”