Alu Wine Bar Reopens Under New Ownership and with New Focus

When Alu Wine Bar closed in February, it was a hushed end to a short and quiet life for the Northeast Portland spot. I had driven past it several times myself, wondering what it was, before I finally ventured in. It was an interesting space, and the wine list was not bad, but somehow it just never seemed to take off. Maybe it was the German-influenced menu, maybe it was the first floor lounge, crowded with hulking tables and full of so much underutilized potential, but whatever it was, it came and went fast.

Enter Jeff Vejr and Susan Killoran, a Portland native and a Georgia transplant, respectively, looking to meld their unique experiences into a joint venture in the Portland food and wine scene.

They had been introduced by a friend. At the time, Susan was President of a spirits/wine importer based in South Carolina and soon Jeff was consulting for her company. A friendship grew, and eventually they began talking about opening a wine bar together. Jeff took Susan to Alu as an example of the kind of aesthetic feel he had in mind for their own place. He showed her the den-like first floor, begging for romantic touches like velvet sofas, overstuffed chairs and myriad candles, the upperfloor he envisioned looking like an after-hours speakeasy with vivid accents, an expert bartender, and an inspired chef to make it complete. The outdoor patio was also nearly perfect; all it needed was a little sprucing, Jeff thought. Susan loved both the building and the plan as much as he did, and they hoped to find a place that would be as conducive to making their ideas a reality as this one.

Then, a month or so later, Jeff received word that Alu had closed and was up for sale. Shocked and excited he sent a text to Susan, on vacation in Mexico, and the wheels to buy Alu were set into motion.

"We purchased Alu on May 9th", Jeff explains, "And we have been working on the renovations and improvements ever since, literally every day. It was important for us to put our passions into the place. I think we succeeded in that. It feels very good to do that work yourself. Very satisfying."

Jeff Vejr left the corporate world behind to follow his passion for wine when he became owner and business development director for Vinideus (which, under his guidance went from a single location to three in one year). Vejr was also a distributor of sustainable wines from around the world before he and Killoran decided to revamp Alu. His wine list is serious—they have 26 wines by the glass representing 8 countries—but meticulously user-friendly. They offer an abridged version of the wine list, but if you really want to know more about the wines you're drinking, Vejr has also created an extensive tasting notes menu, available to anyone interested. The regular list also features a key that designates eight different subcategories ranging from vegan wines (yes, there is such a thing, and Jeff will be happy to explain it to you), to biodynamic, organic, sustainable, and more. Each glass you order comes with a stem hang tag that features the name, vintage, and origin of your wine. It's a clever way to be reminded of the wines you like (or didn't like), and might want to try again (or not). The wine list is a reflection of Vejr's personal mission to spotlight lesser known wines (like a sparkling Riesling from the Yakima Valley) and winemakers from around the globe. His commitment to offering sustainable-focused wines is evident.

 

 

Susan Killoran is originally from Georgia, where she first worked in the restaurant industry, but went to college in Los Angeles and spent years working at the Ritz Carlton Hotel—known as the gold standard in customer service. The principles she learned there carried her through her career in wine as well as the founder of a corporate training and coaching company. Her easy, friendly demeanor when greeting guests on opening night is a reflection of her deep understanding of what it means to take care of guests. Her background in food and wine will be an asset to the team, but her ability to anticipate needs before they arise will surely set Alu in the upper echelon of the food service industry. Part of the plan is to also follow in the Ritz-Carlton's footsteps in taking care of its own. Alu will be open on Mondays, something rare in the restaurant scene, to allow restaurant employees from around the city to come and enjoy a glass of wine, cocktail or a bite to eat.

The menu at Alu still features small plates, but of a completely different nature than in its previous incarnation. Smoked salmon and trout, house made bacon, pancetta, and duck prosciutto reflect the creative ways chef Sean Temple is utilizing the outdoor smoker. On my visit, I sampled the honeydew melon, house pancetta and cilantro (also "made" in-house—grown in their herb garden). The mixture of salty and sweet with a hint of pepper and the added freshness of the cilantro and the melon was a perfect complement to my '07 Coeaux du Quercy Rose. I was immediately eager to come back for another taste of the menu, and curious to see how he fares in the micro-sized kitchen at Alu. Temple says he is ready for the challenge of cooking in a small space, and the menu already looks more interesting than many places with work spaces three times as big. With stints at Jean Georges in New York, and as sous chef at Paley's Place, Temple has the experience and inventiveness to churn out French-inspired fare that begs pairing with the tantalizing wine selections.

Get comfy and relax in Alu's lounge

Portland native Lee Watson is also on hand to offer traditional cocktails made with fresh juices served with old school flair. The wait staff also looked quite ready to embrace the Alu vibe—cool and professional, yet attitude free. Susan has obviously been training the staff in the art of customer service.

 Are you kidding us with this patio? Amazing!

Closed only on Tuesdays, Alu will be opened from 4 p.m. until "late"—Jeff and Susan explain that they hope to offer a cool late night spot in an area sorely lacking one. Despite the fact that their location on NE MLK Blvd is not exactly in a bustling district, I have high hopes and belief that this place can really become the cosmopolitan destination it hopes and deserves to be.

View the slide show for more photos of Alu Wine Bar or visit our Flickr gallery: