Per “Oregon Leather History Timeline” page 8, June 1979 JR’s Saloon opens. Owners are Ray Southwick and John Phillips. Would later open JR’s West and JR’s Cell Bar – renamed from Carol’s semi-Western theme. And further down August 17-19, 1979 Grand Opening of JR’s Saloon after two months of business.

Article in NW Fountain, October 1980, page 11 EASTSIDE BAR CLOSED

One of Portland’s first gay bars on the east side of the river, Aaron’s, closed last month. For a while it   opened (in April ‘79), it was one of Portland’s busiest bars, certainly the busiest Southeast which was the city’s first eastside gay bar.

Several other bars on the east side went gay during that summer: the Sunnyside (35th and Belmont),  Close Encounters (9th and Morrison), JR’s Saloon (45th/Hawthorne) and The Other Side of Midnight (Hawthorne and Grand Avenue). Several of them closed after finding that a gay bar needs a gay consciousness to make it successful - straights who see busy gay bars making  money are too often tempted to jump to money are too often tempted to jump into the  pile and try for the “faggot money.” The Fountain takes exception to this type of scene and the paper won’t support a straight-owned gay establishment until it has a proven record of working for and with the gay population- gay employees, sponsoring gay charity events, active supporter of the gay community, 100 percent gay management. [article continues] The Sunnyside Tavern and Close Encounters closed soon after they opened; Varsity is now opened; “sometimes,” and the daytime business, though the owners sat it is still gay, 3 appears to be more retired/neighborhood type. And now Aaron’s joins the list of closed Eastside bars. For a good time on the eastside, join some of the winners. JR’s is one of Portland’s friendliest and busiest – and it’s a successful, - pleasant mixture of men and women. The newly-opened Black Hawk, at 14th and Broadway, near the Irvington Theatre and Lloyd Center, is a winner. Also, Other Side of – Midnight (open after 6p.m,weekdays, earlier weekends) is the city’s busiest women’s on weekends) is the city’s busiest women’s bar. All of these are popular with gays; they’re 11 gay-owned and gay-managed, and they support our community with frequent charity events.  [part of the article is listed here]

Fountain/May 1981/page 13 After-hours are back on weekends; they never close from Friday morning opening until 2:30 Monday morning. Pool, games, great people through sleepy. Big plans are coming for JR’s second anniversary, to be celebrated (!) the terminal hangover from last year, give it: a try again this year. The first few months were a struggle until people started finding the SE Portland tavern – now it’s known as Il the place to be, afternoon or night. The food is homemade and tops, and the beer’s air conditioning. 

– building torn down and presently New Season’s Market which also housed The Old Daily Grind owned by Michael Parrott [The store was originally slated to open in the summer of 2009. But after the economic meltdown of 2008, the chain couldn't secure financing for the new type of small store it proposed. It opened in 2010] https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2010/10/hawthorne_welcomes_new_seasons.html 

MORE HISTORY COMING SOON