Bars, Restaurants, & Taverns
OLD WIVES TALES
History/Story: Owned by Holly Hart, who had been publishing feminist articles in the Willamette Bridge, then came out as a lesbian and started writing about gay issues as well. Soon, the Bridge carried numerous articles on gay dignity, written by gay people. Holly and John helped organize Portland’s GLF which met weekly at a Portland coffeehouse. At the second meeting, John met Dave Davenport, who became his partner for life.
Holly went on to law school, then came back to head Governor Robert Straub’s Commission on Gay Civil Rights. She also established Old Wives’ Tales Restaurant; a family-friendly community favorite still going strong today. John left Oregon in the late 1970s and became an AIDS activist in California. He currently lives in Washington where he was a pioneer in that state’s marriage equality movement.
“Over the past 40 years, the Portland Gay Liberation Front evolved into the large LGBTQ movement we have today. While our quest for equality and dignity is far from complete, it is much easier being an LGBTQ Oregonian today than it was in 1970. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who took the first steps.” [where did her description come from? GLPAN website?] see newspapers
THEN…
Owner Confirmed: Old Wives’ Tales Closing May 4th by PDX Food Dude Last Update May 5, 2014
Confirmed: signs about the closure are now posted at the restaurant. The building will be razed for apartments.
According to a tip, long-time SE Portland restaurant, Old Wives’ Tales is closing on May 4th. The restaurant which opened in 1980, was one of the front-runners in the local vegetarian movement, featuring low-salt, healthy options, a long salad bar and a variety of soups – the Hungarian soup was well-known in our area. In later years, they expanded into a 90% gluten-free menu. https://portlandfoodanddrink.com/rumor-mill-old-wives-tales-closing-may-4th/
AND
OLD WIVES’ TALES Kraig Scattarella, The Oregonian
This kid-friendly, mostly vegetarian restaurant off of East Burnside Street, which opened in 1980, was known for its hippy vibe, extensive salad bar and Hungarian mushroom soup (made with an astonishing three pounds of butter per batch!). When the restaurant closed in 2014, owner Holly Hart said her goal had been to create a feminist restaurant that could double as a gathering place for gays and lesbians that wasn't a bar. The building was demolished to make way for apartments.
https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2016/12/tasty_memories_97_long-gone_po.html#0
1300 E Burnside St, 238-0470
Years: August 1, 1980 – 2014
Photo above from the NW Fountain newspaper February 1982
Article from City Week newspaper, December 28, 1987
Ad in Cascade Voice September 1982 issue, page 7
Ad from Just Out newspaper September 1986
Ad in 1990 Right To Privacy Program
Photo by Ross William Hamilton, The Oregonian
Exterior before demolition
citations & references:
1982 Per Pat Young’s Sept 11, 2000 draft for GLAPNtimeline The Bisexuality Exploration Group begins in 1982 as a non-political social/support up. In 1985 the group changes its name to The Bisexual Community Forum and holds bi-monthly discussion meetings at Old Wives’ Tales Restaurant in Portland.
Oral history interview with Holly Hart - Archives West (orbiscascade.org)
Cited in Cascade Voice October 1982 under Taverns – Lounges
Cited in handout Majestic Hotel and Club Baths of Portland presents PORTLAND 1983 with connotation of R – restaurant
Listed in Orange folder FALL 1983 and revised in 1987– Answering Service – possibly like the resource directory developed by the Counseling Center for Sexual Minorities Referral and Resources Book and what has been used with their revised April 1, 1980 edition. This place was cited under Restaurants
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1983 – (M) (L)(R – restaurant)
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1984 – (M) (L)(R – restaurant)
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1985 – (M) (L)(R – restaurant)
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1986 – (M) (L)(R – restaurant)
Cited in City Week newspaper Feb 14, 1986 page 5, “Women, Full Lunch & Dinner Menu”
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1987 – (M) (L)(R – restaurant)
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1988 – (M) (L)(R – restaurant)
Ad in The Just Out Pocket Book June 1988 Page 45
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1989 – (M) (L)(R – restaurant)
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1990 – (MX, MW) vegetarian
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1991 – (MX, MW) vegetarian
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1992 – (MX) vegetarian, multi-ethnic
Do not possess Damron Address Book 1993
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1994 – (GF, WC) vegetarian, multi-ethnic
Listed in Damron Road Atlas 1994 Under: Restaurants and Cafes
Listed in Damron Address Book 1995 Under: Restaurants and Cafes
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1995 – (WC) vegetarian, multi-ethnic
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1996 – (WC) vegetarian, multi-ethnic
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1997 – (BW,WC) vegetarian, multi-ethnic
Listed in Fodor’s Gay Guide to the Pacific Northwest 1997 Under: Eats
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1998 – (BW,WC) vegetarian, multi-ethnic
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1999 – (BW,WC) vegetarian, multi-ethnic under restaurants
Listed in Damron’s Men’s Travel Guide 2000 Under: Restaurants
Listed in Damron’s Men’s Travel Guide 2007 Under: Restaurants
listed in Damron’s Men’s Travel Guide 2010 Under: Restaurants
Lost Restaurants of Portland, Oregon | The Southeast Examiner of Portland Oregon