Portlanders did not let one of their oldest bars go quietly. After the Wachsmuth family put out a last-ditch Hail Mary plea, crowds packed into Dan & Louis Oyster Bar’s old-school front room, spending enough to keep the 119-year-old restaurant open for now. Co-owners Michelle and Meinert “Keoni” Wachsmuth say the rush has given them a bit of breathing room, but they are clear that the business is still on shaky ground. For many, the Old Town oyster bar remains a living piece of downtown Portland’s dining history.
As reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive, Michelle Wachsmuth said she did not want the restaurant to close on her watch, and the family’s Hail Mary appeal helped avert an immediate shutdown. The outlet notes that the lease on the building runs through 2028 and that Dan & Louis employs roughly 17 people. Three of the Wachsmuth children, all in their 20s, now work at the bar. The owners also told reporters the restaurant still relies on a small local oyster farm that delivers within 24 hours of harvest, a supply chain the family describes as central to the bar’s identity.
The oyster bar traces its roots to 1907 and has stayed in the Wachsmuth family for generations, a history detailed in the Oregon Encyclopedia. That continuity, along with the tight quarters, the signature oyster stew, and the ship-like dining rooms, is what locals say keeps the place special even as downtown foot traffic rises and falls. The restaurant’s status in Portland lore is a big part of why the community showed up when the owners signaled they were in trouble.
How Portland Stepped In
Regulars and first-timers alike flocked to the bar, and the owners added a donations option on their site along with a Venmo link to help cover payroll and bills. The homepage of Dan & Louis Oyster Bar now highlights a “Support Dan & Louis Oyster Bar” section where people can donate directly. That immediate cash, the owners say, helped them keep staff on the schedule and bought time to think through what comes next.
Events and the Road Ahead
Looking past the initial surge, the Wachsmuths are watching downtown events and foot traffic as they search for a path to longer term recovery. That includes Ankeny Alley’s annual 503 Day block party, an event the City of Portland has promoted as a downtown draw. Organizers and business groups believe crowds from events like that can filter into Old Town’s restaurants, but the family stresses that one big night will not erase months of thin receipts. With the lease in place through 2028, they are focused on stacking up steady weeks of business and building a plan to shore up cashflow before that date arrives…