Portland’s Cafe Olli Is Recovering After an Alleged Arson

It’s been a tough stretch for Cafe Olli, the celebrated cafe and restaurant. The staff was already dealing with the stress and financial strain of having to repair equipment along with a general slowdown in business (something many Portland restaurants are struggling with). Then, earlier this week, someone set Olli’s woodshed on fire right after a load of new firewood was delivered, resulting in a loss of $2,000, according to the business. “Financial impact aside this has been a real blow to us, it’s one more instance in a long line of tough circumstances we’ve been dealing with here,” wrote Olli’s owners on Instagram. “We do want to recognize that there are a lot of horrible things happening in the world and we are very fortunate that this wasn’t worse but it has been really hard over here and this one feels different, it feels personal and has left us feeling totally defeated.”

On Wednesday, July 30, police arrested a suspect in connection with the fire, a man who is accused of starting a string of fires in Northeast Portland, including a half-dozen fires set after he was initially arrested, then released. The fire at Olli was put out quickly, says general manager Cassandra Petersen, but the chemicals used by firefighters to extinguish it made all the wood unusable.

Olli has bounced back, however. The cafe had enough wood in reserve to open for lunch and dinner following the fire, and diners showed up to support the business. Co-owner Siobhan Speirits started a GoFundMe campaign to help offset the cost of the fire and other difficulties Olli has had, and in just three days has raised nearly all of its $7,000 goal. “We’re just grateful that we had a bunch of friends and the community come together and donate and show up for service,” says Petersen.

RingSide reopens next week

In happier fire-related news, nearly four months after being forced to close due to a kitchen fire, storied steakhouse RingSide will officially reopen on Monday, August 4. It shouldn’t be any worse for wear. “The team has worked carefully and intentionally to preserve everything guests know and love about the RingSide. Guests will find the experience largely unchanged, just as warm, familiar, and timeless as ever,” a RingSide spokesperson said in an email. “[The owners] made it a priority to maintain the spirit, look, and experience that generations of Portlanders have come to treasure.”

Rage room opens inside brewery

You ever get so angry you want to break something? Either work it out with your therapist or else actually break something at Portland’s newest “rage room” inside StormBreaker Brewing in St. Johns. This is a place where guests can break glass, ceramics, electronics (a la Office Space), or stuff they bring themselves. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased here; the brewpub also offers axe throwing.

Vancouver’s Elbow Room has relaunched

Big news for Vancouver’s bar scene: Veteran bartender Toby Maloney — the guy behind famed, now-closed Chicago bar Violet Hour — has taken over the Elbow Room, the bar connected to long-running restaurant Paul’s. As the Portland Monthly reports, the businesses opened in 1970, and over the years the Elbow Room acquired an unenviable reputation. “Its main draws were its early hours and cheap booze,” the Monthly writes. But after the old owners sold both bar and restaurant to married couple Paul Rosenbluh and Monique King last year, the new owners brought aboard Maloney to spruce the bar up while retaining its unpretentious character. “Maloney will stick around for a bit before jetting off to his next bar project,” the Monthly reports, “but don’t worry if you miss him this go-around — he’ll be here regularly to check in and change up recipes.”