In a move that has stirred both curiosity and controversy among Portland residents, the city has given the official nod to a new Chick-fil-A outlet to be situated at the former site of a strip club marked by recent violence. The Venue Gentleman’s Club, whose SE Stark location is notorious as the site of an April 1 shooting homicide, will soon trade its exotic dancers for chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, a drastic shift in the neighborhood's landscape.
According to a report from The Oregonian/OregonLive, the fast food franchise had already pulled the necessary permits last year to transform the ex- gentleman’s club into their restaurant, despite the location's violent history punctuated by the recent shooting where two men were shot, one fatally, in the parking lot of the establishment. City plans approved in October include a redesign of the building's roof and facade, along with the reconstruction of the main entrance and the addition of landscaping to that same parking lot.
Further details elaborated by KPTV reveal that the 0.85-acre site, originally built in 1984 and currently occupied by The Venue Gentlemen's Club, is set to be completely demolished. Expectations are set on the construction of a new 4,991 square foot establishment; the planned Chick-fil-A will feature 98 indoor seats, 12 patio seats, creating an entirely different atmosphere from what the site previously offered.
While some community members have raised eyebrows at the juxtaposition of the site’s unsavory past and its future as a fast food venue known for its conservative roots and closure on Sundays, others see it as a positive step towards restorative development in the area, despite the site's recent history marred by gun violence it seems the future focus will be on the family-friendly dining experience rather than the darker elements that once plagued the site, city officials and Chick-fil-A representatives have remained optimistic about the establishment's potential to serve as a catalyst for further positive change within the community.
The upcoming opening date for the Chick-fil-A has not yet been announced, but Portland residents will surely be watching closely as this unexpected chapter in the city's ongoing narrative of change and revitalization unfolds.
