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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 28, 2012)
Supreme evening A special Mary Wilson concert to benefit Portland area non profits and activities See page 10 for details Volume XXXXI ‘City of Roses’ Number 46 www.portlandobserver.com Wednesday • November 28. 2012 Established in 1970 Committed to Cultural Diversity s 7 v / r o "/ * community service M ackand D ub’s Will Bounce Back Arson fire investigated as hate crime C ari H achmann T he P ortland O bserver by photo by M ark W ashington / T he P ortland O bserver James ‘Mack ’ McClendon and William ‘Dub' Travis III plan to rebuild after an arson fire destroyed their restaurant at 3601 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. After a suspected arsonist lit fire to Mack and Dub’s Excellent Chicken & Waffles, leav ing the inside to bum a gaping hole in the roof and much of the place charred beyond recog nition, co-owners James “Mack” McClendon and William “Dub” Travis III are visibly bummed, but say, “We will bounce back.” The good news is that Mack and Dub’s is insured. The bad news is it that once all of the non- salvageable remains are hauled out or demolished; it will take 90 days to six months to rebuild. Opened just this February, Mack and Dub’s earned rave reviews. “The moment they put their sign up, I was there,” said the first review on Yelp from Connie C. of Lake Oswego. “I pretty much always have a hankering for chicken and waffles.” Famed for its southern-style menu, laid- back vibes and late night music, Mack and Dub’s has already been doted a northeast Portland landmark by local media, including the Willamette Week, who called it “the best soul food on Martin Luther King Jr. Boule vard.” The restaurant also got national nods from the likes of BlackAtlas.com, a travel website catered to African-Americans. Sadly, the foundation for their success came to an abrupt stop, the day before Thanks giving. At 5:47 a.m. last Wednesday, a police officer smelled smoke near Mack and Dub’s vicinity, between Northeast Fremont Street and Beech. Travis awoke to a phone call at 6 a.m. His business was on fire and he better get down here the voice on the other end told him. continued on page 4
