Pacific Avenue Grill remodels, attracts more student business
Frankie Guros
Issue date: 10/4/07 Section: Life
- Page 1 of 1
This summer the Pacific Avenue Grill turned from a barely-noticeable stop on the way to McMinnville to a hotspot for the Forest Grove community.
When Whitney Bangs bought the Pacific Avenue Grill this past March from previous owner Sally Montgomery, it was open only four days a week and for limited hours. Now its open seven days a week, has begun to serve breakfast and stay open later.
The quantity of items on the menu has increased at least threefold, and according to Bangs, the quality of the food has been greatly improved.
The most significant addition is the new bar, which has taken the place of an empty building bordering the restaurant. This has changed the restaurant from a barely-noticeable stop on the way to McMinnville to a bustling business.
Now live music is performed at least three nights a week, including local bands such as The Jack.
"This place was full when The Jack played. Also, because the location of the band is close to the front of the store, you don't have to be 21 to hear the music," said Bangs.
Bangs, 34, has been in the restaurant business since she was 12 years old. She and her husband live in Portland. Until several weeks ago they owned Café Center in Lake Oswego, but they sold it to concentrate on the Pacific Avenue Grill.
"We've always wanted to own a bar and restaurant," said Bangs. "This place had a good customer base, and we felt the community had a need that we could fill."
The need that Bangs identified was a place that she would be prefer going to: "I'm from more of a middle-class setting and this is the type of atmosphere I would look for in a restaurant."
Bangs points to the fact that the average price of the newly built homes around Forest Grove have gone up, meaning there are more restaurant-seekers with middle-class salaries and higher expectations for where they eat.
The previous owner had told Bangs that she did not cater to Pacific students. Bangs, however, is actively trying to find ways to make the Pacific community more comfortable in her restaurant.
"We want to cater to everyone. I've been talking to the Chamber of Commerce and Pacific University and trying to find ways to be more active in the community," said Bangs.
Already the response from Pacific has been positive. Bangs estimates that 10-20 professors have been sitting down to eat during the lunch hour, which is also when Pacific students have been coming most frequently.
Bangs has more community events planned: Pacific Avenue Grill will be hosting six bands on Halloween and has coordinated with the Forest Grove Movie Theatre to play "The Rock Horror Picture Show" that night.
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The Pacific Avenue Grill isn't the only restaurant hoping to attract a few more Pacific students with a remodel. Check out next issue (Oct. 19) for our look at the new Jordy's Pub and Grill!
When Whitney Bangs bought the Pacific Avenue Grill this past March from previous owner Sally Montgomery, it was open only four days a week and for limited hours. Now its open seven days a week, has begun to serve breakfast and stay open later.
The quantity of items on the menu has increased at least threefold, and according to Bangs, the quality of the food has been greatly improved.
The most significant addition is the new bar, which has taken the place of an empty building bordering the restaurant. This has changed the restaurant from a barely-noticeable stop on the way to McMinnville to a bustling business.
Now live music is performed at least three nights a week, including local bands such as The Jack.
"This place was full when The Jack played. Also, because the location of the band is close to the front of the store, you don't have to be 21 to hear the music," said Bangs.
Bangs, 34, has been in the restaurant business since she was 12 years old. She and her husband live in Portland. Until several weeks ago they owned Café Center in Lake Oswego, but they sold it to concentrate on the Pacific Avenue Grill.
"We've always wanted to own a bar and restaurant," said Bangs. "This place had a good customer base, and we felt the community had a need that we could fill."
The need that Bangs identified was a place that she would be prefer going to: "I'm from more of a middle-class setting and this is the type of atmosphere I would look for in a restaurant."
Bangs points to the fact that the average price of the newly built homes around Forest Grove have gone up, meaning there are more restaurant-seekers with middle-class salaries and higher expectations for where they eat.
The previous owner had told Bangs that she did not cater to Pacific students. Bangs, however, is actively trying to find ways to make the Pacific community more comfortable in her restaurant.
"We want to cater to everyone. I've been talking to the Chamber of Commerce and Pacific University and trying to find ways to be more active in the community," said Bangs.
Already the response from Pacific has been positive. Bangs estimates that 10-20 professors have been sitting down to eat during the lunch hour, which is also when Pacific students have been coming most frequently.
Bangs has more community events planned: Pacific Avenue Grill will be hosting six bands on Halloween and has coordinated with the Forest Grove Movie Theatre to play "The Rock Horror Picture Show" that night.
---
The Pacific Avenue Grill isn't the only restaurant hoping to attract a few more Pacific students with a remodel. Check out next issue (Oct. 19) for our look at the new Jordy's Pub and Grill!
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