To keep the outdoor patio that has become part of its identity, Flying Fish Co. in East Portland must tear into it and rebuild it as a permanent structure that satisfies city code, at an estimated cost of $150,000. The business began as a food truck in 2010 and has been at its East Burnside location since 2020. Its owner is now asking the public to help cover roughly half that bill through a crowdfunding campaign while the patio faces a temporary closure this November for renovations.
The trouble traces back to a code-violation complaint concerning the patio and a fire marshal’s response in fall 2025, according to KGW.
Flying Fish’s patio project also faces neighborhood design requirements. The station’s report notes the proposed patio measures more than 900 square feet, which means it does not qualify for an exemption from design review. The current design also fails several objective standards, including minimum window-area requirements along street-facing facades.
A $150,000 Price Tag and a Six-Figure Fundraiser
Rather than fight the requirement, owner Lyf Gildersleeve is moving to comply. Gildersleeve can apply for design review and a modification of design standards…