PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — If you’ve lived in Portland since the early 2000s, you probably remember the once popular hotspot The Greek Cuisina. The giant purple inflatable octopus that spilled out of an awning at Southwest Fourth and Washington has been a landmark for 36 years.
It was shut down in 2010 after the owners were put on a list of code violations.
This once-bustling corner, located across the street from what became known as the open-air drug market, is now dormant.
However, the sweet sounds of music and people are about to fill the space once again.
Portland native Chris Pheifer, head of 404 Entertainment, recently reopened 1905 Jazz Club and signed on to the project to revive the old Greek food space in 2021.
The project is finally coming true. He is converting two floors, one into a jazz club with a speakeasy feel and the other into a concert venue that can hold up to 300 people.
He said the goal is to open, hopefully within the next year, perhaps starting with the basement jazz space and moving up to the main floor soon after.
We plan to start with two venues, but we hope to expand to several floors in the future. “The idea is to create a music block that feels like Nashville has a lot of things lined up vertically to create a space where someone can come see a jazz show or a rock show,” Pfeiffer said.
The building was completely renovated from the inside out, including seismic, electrical, and support beams.
Pfeiffer believes activating more spaces downtown will encourage more people to come, whether it’s for evening entertainment or daytime events.
The opening date is scheduled for late spring 2025.
