When the freshly renovated McMenamins Chapel Pub, formerly the Little Chapel of the Chimes Funeral Home, held their Grand Opening in 2006 it was to a packed house. That may seem surprising for a week night (it was a Tuesday) opening but according to McMenamins Historian, Jim Hill, "Neighbors and community members had been dropping by, all during the renovation, to say hi and check it out."
Hill admits the part of the draw of the new location is the desire to see just how a funeral home was turned into a restaurant. "We received more press than we could have hoped for or imagined because this was formerly a funeral home," says Hill.
Located on Killingsworth, in the Piedmont neighborhood, near PCC's Cascade campus, Jefferson High School, the North Portland Library and the Peninsula Park Rose Garden, the Chapel Pub offers a neighborhood hangout of sorts to the surrounding community. "There is no real family style pub in the immediate neighborhood and we are hoping to attract PCC and Jefferson High students and faculty as well as area families," said Hill.
The historic Chapel, built back in 1932 during the depression era, was designed specifically as a showpiece including works of art by such craftsmen as former opera singer and preeminent ironworker O.B. Dawson, who is most well known for his ironwork at Timberline lodge. McMenamins Chapel Pub has retained Dawson's ironwork along with fellow Timberline craftsman Fred Baker's chandelier and wall sconces and the original 1925 Robert Morton Vaudeville organ that presided over decades of funeral services and wedding ceremonies. "A lot of people don't realize that this chapel has a history of weddings as well and this great Vaudeville organ that was in a Theater in Seaside before being moved to the Chapel in 1932," Hill added "We asked the organist what was the oddest song ever requested for a funeral service and without hesitation he said, ‘Pop goes the Weasel.'
Mike and Brian McMenamin, the brothers behind this pub dynasty, grew up in North East Portland, their father even attended Jefferson High School so the neighborhood has special significance to them. "They had been looking for property in this area for quite some time and at first looked into the Masonic Lodge behind the Chapel but ultimately felt it was a bit too big. When the Chapel became available they jumped at the chance to purchase the building, which was still in use, "says Hill.
Reaction within the community has been mixed. "We've had people say that they attended a funeral here and that it is too emotional for them to come back to it as a pub, and we can understand and respect that. But we have also had people tell us, ‘I had my father's funeral service here and he liked beer so I'm bringing my dad's urn and drinking a beer with him," intimated Hill.
The Chapel Pub menu features an array of McMenamins favorites including the Ahi Steak Sandwich, Brewer's salad, Dungeon burgers and a variety of house microbrews, wines and cocktails. A meeting room is also available for parties of 20 or less.
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