PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The co-owner of Portland’s oldest restaurant has died.
Huber’s Cafe recently announced that James Kai Louie, who owned the eatery alongside his brother David and sister Lucille, died on Monday morning. He was 79 years old when he passed away in Beaverton, an obituary shows.
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Huber’s first opened in 1879. Louie’s great-uncle Jim began working for the restaurant in 1891, nearly 10 years after he immigrated to Portland from China, according to the Oregon Historical Society. He later purchased half of the business from the namesake owner for $1. He then sold the business to his nephew Andrew, but it wasn’t until 1991 that his great-nieces and nephews took over.
In the social media announcement from Huber’s, longtime employee Roxanne Lau highlighted Louie’s contributions to the restaurant and Portland community over the years…