Captain Billy Bangs in the Watertower.

When will all this misery end?!

It was only matter of time once Saito left the neighborhood...

Oh the humanity.



Will Cweaklie be attending the wake? Or are we too late?

Say it isn't so!

huh?

Wow

I believe I actually once signed a contract there. Good times.

I will always mourn this moment. At least Cassidy's is hanging on.

Cassidy's has been on thin ice since Minckler left town...

Another corporate radio related disaster.

Did he lose his job or pass away??

Yes. Details of Billy can be found here: http://www.billybangs.com/about.html

This is very sad news. All of my siblings celebrated our 21st birthdays over the years at Captain Billy Bangs. We celebrated the 21st birthdays of our son and daughter there. We even celebrated a belated 21st birthday party for my wife a few years ago so she too could share in the family experience at Captain Billy Bangs. Her gifts included a disco ball, 1970's Cosmo magazines, and a pet rock.

In recent years we've managed to get over to the Water Tower and hang out at Billy Bang's only 2 or 3 times a year for a drink or a bite to eat after taking care of business downtown.

Captain Bill Bangs will be missed.

But is Stanich's still nearby?

Rich, Stanich's is still here and ready to close those arteries down completely.

The original Stanich's on Fremont is better.

I have some questions about Billy Bangs. Did the owners over pay for the Billy Bangs property? Did they buy up too many additional restaurants? Did they try to automate the waiters and waitresses to save money? If so,then yes this topic belongs on a radio message board.

Molecular remnants of many a radio liver and vanquished brain cells still float around at Billy Bang's. That's why it belongs on a radio board.

ya gotta think that if country bob belonged on the radio message board himself he woulnt have to make snide remarks about Billy Bangs belonging on a radio board.

Billy Bangs is gone?? That's not right.

If the Buffalo Gap goes under, lemme know. I'll protest.

We still have one of the best one - two drinkable punches anywhere in the country:
Cassidy's and Scooter McQuade's.

Total class right next to total sleeze. Perfect.

To those who may not be aware, Cassidy's is the restaurant where a sizable number of successful promotions were hatched on cocktail napkins. Several formats as well.

Of course, it was also the birthplace of way more really stupid ideas that never saw the light of day.

Phil Stanford used to sit at the bar trying to overhear media conversations for his columns. Not sure he ever picked up any info worth a mention.

Then there was (is?) Frank Peter's place off the east end of the Morrison Bridge that always made really good homemade soup at lunch. Dwight Jaynes used to hang out there.

And of course, there's always Jake's.

Great places to read the day and do show prep.

Mink,
I also believe Cassidy's is the finish line of the fastest elapsed time dash from 1501 SW Jefferson. Hold on...I think Cassidy's was the starting line and the drive went the wrong way on a one-way street. So much for brain cells.

SW 14th is one-way?

Ask Dirkx. He was the lookout for the eastbound streets when we hit those intersections.

It's a wonder that those of us still living are...still living.

Can I hear a shout of for Captain's Corner? And what was that Mink, "It's so nice out I think I'll leave it out?"

I worked on Macadam Avenue for several years -- from 1999-2000 at Blackeye Design (a website design firm) in John's Landing, and then volunteered from 2001-2008 at Oregon Public Broadcasting further south.

Does anyone remember the Pacific Rim Restaurant down near the Willamette? Their Sunday brunch was exceptional, but that restaurant went out of business and the building was torn down years ago. My children don't even remember eating there in the mid-1990s.

We still go to Shanghai Noble (Chinese restaurant) in the Water Tower because they are in the 2009 Entertainment Book. There have been so many restaurant turnovers on Macadam that it makes my head spin.

My 39-year-old son is in the restaurant business in Salt Lake City, Utah. He's been working in the restaurant field since he was 14. Now he manages a company-owned Chili's "store" (that's what they call them). I spoke with him on Super Bowl Sunday, and he said his company is riding out the storm. But I worry a lot about his security. I can't think of a business that is LESS stable. He's been with Chili's for seven years and has two children to support.

Cordially,

Ellen Kimball
Portland, OR

http://ellenkimball.blogspot.com

Steve sold the Stanich's south of John's Landing and it has been remodeled and recently reopened as a Jolly Roger's location. I wandered in there without looking, thinking it was still Stanich's and found the place looking better, but no outstanding burger menu any more.