The Eat. Art. Theater: Is it true that “The Dream of the 90s Is Alive In Portland?”*

Written By Matthew Haggett

In Portland, known for its artistic bent, Milepost 5 may have been inevitable. It sure sounds like something we would have dreamed up in the Portland of the 90s: “You know what this town needs?… A big art community with galleries, theater space, all live work… in neat renovated old buildings… with arts programs, openings…” Truly, Milepost 5 is that major live/work artist community. It has all those things—and even a sizable restaurant / cafe, which opens to a theater (that occupies a repurposed chapel space.) It is a cool venue, Eat. Art. Theater—and it is up for lease.

Milepost 5′s restaurant/performance venue, E.A.T., is an amazing opportunity for the right restauranteur to step into a great space in this one-of-a-kind arts community. The restaurant is for lease as a turn-key operation: it comes with all the furniture and equipment, the name, web presence, even a roster of events based in Milepost 5′s community and arts programming.

I’ve been with the Milepost 5 project since 2006 when it was in planning stages. A collaboration between a nonprofit (Portland Affordable Housing Preservation Trust), a historic-adaptive developer (BEAM Development) and then city councilman (future Mayor) Sam Adams, the goal was to create a mission-based intentional “Community for Creatives,” for artists of all stripes. Six years later and that dream is realized. Around 150 people live, work, and run small businesses here. There is a theater company, a writing lab, design studios, a community shop, two community gardens… the arts programming even has a dedicated Creative Director to oversee gallery shows, events, residencies, and the like.

The restaurant/performance space itself is nearly 4,800 square feet, with a large commercial kitchen (large enough to support sub-tenants doing catering, baking, or other food prep—which it does currently), seating for 100, theater seats for 120, and even outdoor space.

If you are the right person—or know the right person—for this uniquely Portland opportunity, the developers would love to hear from you. Contact Heidi at 503.333.3331 or heidi@beamdevelopment.com. Or follow this link for more information: milepost5.net/restaurant-performance-venue-for-lease/

* Portlandia, season 1 – “The Dream of the 90′s”

Tags: Portland