Bipartisan Cafe

Bipartisan Cafe is a coffee shop and bakery in the Montavilla neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, United States. Since Hobie Bender and Peter Emerson started the business in 2005, the venue has hosted events that include meetings of civic groups and politicians, and viewing parties for political events. Bipartisan Cafe has garnered a positive reception, and has been named as one of Portland's best coffee and pie eateries. The venue's marionberry pie was included in the American Automobile Association's 2022 list of the ten best regional Western dishes.

Bipartisan Cafe
Graphic of a person holding cups in each hand, along with the text "Bipartisan Cafe"
Photograph of the interior of a building; there are many framed photos on the wall as well as sculptures and other memorabilia
The cafe's interior in 2013
Restaurant information
Established2005 (2005)
Owner(s)Josh Pangelinan
Previous owner(s)
  • Hobie Bender
  • Peter Emerson
Street address7901 Southeast Stark Street
CityPortland
CountyMultnomah
StateOregon
Postal/ZIP Code97215
CountryUnited States
Coordinates45.5193°N 122.5823°W / 45.5193; -122.5823

Description

Bipartisan Cafe is a coffee shop and bakery in the Montavilla neighborhood of Portland, Oregon.[1] The cafe is a community gathering space as its owners intended.[2] The venue has hosted political events, book readings and signings,[3][4] and concerts.[5] In 2008, The Oregonian's Benjamin Brink wrote: "The cafe quickly became a community gathering place, full of young families, longtime residents and students from the nearby colleges bent over laptops."[5] According to Oregon Wine Press, "From day one, the café has been based on building community and 'working with people to try to create a place where they can get along on a real level'."[6] Lonely Planet has said the cafe is "where big ideas are hatched at small tables and the walls are plastered with episodes from US history".[7]

Interior
Photograph of a cafe interior with a menu and a display case
The cafe's interior, 2013

Eater Portland's Brooke Jackson-Glidden described Bipartisan Cafe as "an eclectic space decorated with American historical memorabilia".[8] The interior includes framed posters of James Buchanan, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Martin Van Buren, as well as portraits of Geronimo, Martin Luther King Jr., and Harriet Tubman.[9] There are also posters of Norman Rockwell's 1943 painting series Four Freedoms[10] and other political memorabilia such as ballots, bumper stickers,[11] campaign buttons and pins,[12] and a voting machine from Palm Beach, Florida, that was used in the 2000 United States presidential election.[13][14] Many of the items are from Emerson's personal collection, which he started in 1980.[11]

In 2010, S.J. Sebellin-Ross of The Oregonian wrote, "Bipartisan Cafe has a maroon sofa and soft chairs permanently contoured by a parade of bodies, and a fat hole in the middle of the floor looking into the basement."[15] There is also a play area for children.[16] The same newspaper's Su-jin Yim called Bipartisan "kid-friendly" in 2006.[17]

Bipartisan serves pie, including vegan and gluten-free options, as well as salads, sandwiches, and soups.[18] The menu has also included bagels with lox, and quiches.[19]

Pie flavors have included banana cream, blueberry, cherry, chocolate cream,[20] chocolate orange cream,[21] chocolate silk, espresso cream,[22] key lime,[23] and marionberry,[24] and marionberry mixed with lemon curd or peach.[8] The owner's family recipe is used for the marionberry pie.[25] The triple-berry pie has blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries.[15] Bipartisan has also carried pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.[26]

Bipartisan Cafe serves Water Avenue Coffee.[22] The seasonal eggnog latte has been described as Bipartisan's "most anticipated holiday item".[27]

History
Photograph of the interior of a building; there are many framed photos on the wall as well as sculptures and other memorabilia
The cafe's interior, 2013

Hobie Bender and Peter Emerson opened Bipartisan Cafe in 2005.[23][28] The business is housed in a space that previously accommodated a hardware store.[29] Emerson has said he "wanted a place where there was political discourse and ... where you could have opposing views and have a civil conversation".[30] Bipartisan has hosted political candidates for public office, including Ben Cannon in 2006,[31][32] Jefferson Smith in 2012,[33] Ted Wheeler in 2016,[34] and Jo Ann Hardesty in 2018.[35] The venue has also hosted viewing parties for political events, including acceptance speeches by John McCain and Barack Obama in 2008,[36] President Obama's 2011 State of the Union Address, and the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[37][38] For the 2008 viewing parties, Emerson displayed life-sized cutouts of Hillary Clinton, McCain, and Obama.[36] Bipartisan Cafe has also hosted meetings for civic groups. In 2009, a group from City Club of Portland held a meeting about the 1980 Portland Comprehensive Plan that featured urban historian Carl Abbott and city planners as speakers.[39]

In 2014, Emerson opposed Portland City Council member Steve Novick's proposal to set a street fee based on trip generation data; Emerson stated the proposal would place Bipartisan Cafe "in the same category as a global powerhouse".[40] In 2015, Emerson supported a statewide paid sick leave bill, after initial skepticism.[41] Emerson has expressed support for minimum wage increases.[42] In 2016, Portland Tribune reported Bipartisan Cafe had 25 employees, the longest-tenured of whom were paid $10.50 an hour. The newspaper noted Emerson's desire to pay $15 per hour, which he said he was unable to offer because the restaurant operated "on a narrow 5 percent profit margin". To compensate, Emerson said he had hired more workers to reduce stress, provided free food to employees, and worked to accommodate staff members' schedule conflicts.[43]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bipartisan Cafe operated a take-out window[44] and raised funds via GoFundMe to stay solvent.[45] As of February 2022, unvaccinated patrons could enter the restaurant for take-out orders but proof of vaccination was required for indoor dining for people aged 12 and older.[46] Marcia Fornataro was the baker as of 2022.[25] In 2023, the business was sold to former employee Josh Pangelinan.[47]

Reception

The book series Walking Portland (2012–2013) describes Bipartisan Cafe as a "stellar" family-friendly coffee shop with "fantastic" pies and pastries.[16][48] Portland Monthly included Bipartisan Cafe in a 2013 overview of Portland's best pie shops. The magazine called the business the "unofficial community center" that "practically demands that you slow down and share a slice of pie and a steaming mug of Water Avenue Coffee with a friend". Portland Monthly also recommended the venue's espresso cream pie.[22]

Nathan Skidmore included Bipartisan Cafe's cream pies in The Oregonian's 2008 overview of the best desserts in Portland.[49] The same year, The Oregonian's Seth Lorinczi said "the pies are benchmark; the crust thin, flaky and unadorned, the fillings fresh and abundant".[19] In 2010, S.J. Sebellin-Ross called the triple berry pie's filling "dull", and the crust "pale" and "overworked". Sebellin-Ross also called the curd in the marionberry lemon pie "cloyingly sweet", and the Chantilly cream "perfectly whipped and rich".[15] Lizzy Acker ranked Bipartisan Cafe third in The Oregonian's 2018 list of the city's best chocolate cream pies and said the cafe's "chocolate cream had generally good texture, good flavor, but too much cream for many of the pie eaters, and a somewhat problematic crust".[20] In 2023, the newspaper's Michael Russell said, "Before the rise of Lauretta Jean's, Random Order and Bipartisan Cafe were the go-to cafes for Portlanders seeking good pie."[50] In 2010, Patrick Alan Coleman of Portland Mercury wrote: "The huge selection of pies is what makes this Montavilla hangout so popular for politicos of all stripes."[51]

In 2008, Willamette Week included Bipartisan Cafe in an overview of the best places to drink coffee in Portland and said "the standout collection of political ephemera and housemade pies ... almost overshadow the perfect neighborliness" of the venue.[29] In 2015, the newspaper's Jay Horton said the cafe "kickstarted Montavilla's rebirth with nationally acclaimed pies".[52] In 2016, Penelope Bass called Bipartisan Cafe "a neighborhood pillar built of delicate, flaky crust ... where it's easy to while away a day among the neighborhood regulars".[53] In 2020, Nina Silberstein of Southeast Examiner said the cafe "boasts the best homemade pies in Portland".[23] In 2023, Jacob Loeb of Montavilla News said the business "helped launch the century-old downtown main street's resurrection, defining Montavilla, and has served as the community's living room for nearly two decades".[47]

Cheryl Strayed recommend the "lovely" cafe's coffee and pie in her 2019 guide to Portland.[54] Thrillist's Pete Cottell included Bipartisan Cafe in his 2020 list of Portland's best coffee shops with Wi-Fi.[55] In the Daily Hive's 2021 list of seven recommended eateries for pie in Portland, Alyssa Therrien said Bipartisan Cafe had "perfected" the recipes for the cherry and chocolate cream pies.[56] Eater Portland included Bipartisan Cafe in a 2017 list of 18 "hidden gem" restaurants in Portland.[57] The same website's Michelle Lopez included the business in a 2022 overview of venues in which "legit" pies in Portland could be found,[24] and writers included Bipartisan Cafe in Eater Portland's 2023 overview of recommended eateries in Montavilla.[18] The cafe's marionberry pie was included in the American Automobile Association's 2022 list of the ten best regional Western dishes.[25]

See also

References
  1. Frane, Alex (25 July 2018). "Where to Drink and Dine in Historic Montavilla". Eater Portland. Vox Media. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  2. Verzemnieks, Inara (6 April 2006). "Trickle Up Effect Tips the Momentum on Stark Street". The Oregonian. p. 12. Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2023. For years, Peter Emerson carried the idea around: a community gathering place much like the town hall of his Minnesota childhood. He envisioned a place where people could sit and talk, since it seemed to him that people hardly talk anymore, and when they do, it is only ever with people who agree with their point of view. As he saw it, what the world needed was a bipartisan cafe. He carried the idea through jobs at the Brasserie and the London Grill, and finally Starbucks, until he realized he just couldn't do that work anymore, and quit. The corner of 79th and Stark was the first space he considered, and he knew he could be impulsive, but something told him that this was the place for his cafe.
  3. "Literary Calendar – Emily Dickinson: Ellen Louise Hart and Holly Springfield". The Oregonian. 20 May 2007. pp. O13. Writers in the Schools: Marshall High School student authors read from their works with writers-in-residence Hunt Holman, Carlos Reyes and JoNelle Toriseva, 7 p.m., Bipartisan Cafe, 7901 S.E. Stark St.
  4. "Passion for Pie Helps Widow Find a 'New Journey'". The Oregonian. 6 April 2012. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  5. Brink, Benjamin (6 April 2006). "J.C. Newell, of Hermiston". The Oregonian. p. 12. The cafe quickly became a community gathering place, full of young families, longtime residents and students from the nearby colleges bent over laptops... When Peter Emerson opened the Bipartisan Cafe, he wanted a place where the neighborhood could meet itself. On Saturday nights, between 7 and 9, people gather to hear Irish tunes by local folks who get together and jam.
  6. "Pi(e) Day". Oregon Wine Press. 13 March 2023. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  7. "Work It: Portland is Paradise for Digital Nomads". Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  8. Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (22 June 2022). "Where to Find Worth-the-Drive Marionberry Pie All Over Oregon". Eater Portland. Vox Media. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  9. "Bipartisan Café". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  10. Butler, Grant (5 May 2011). "Walkabout / Montavilla". The Oregonian. When you step into this neighborhood hangout, the first thing you notice is all of the political bric-a-brac on the walls, which look like the offices of the Saturday Evening Post have exploded all over them. There are Norman Rockwell's famous "Four Freedoms" posters, plus ornately framed portraits of America's lesser-known presidents – James Buchanan and Martin Van Buren never had it so good. Then you notice the sea of laptop computers. On a rainy afternoon, 30 to 40 of them may be purring along while their users sip coffee and dig into croissant sandwiches. Finally, you spy the pie! A case is loaded with old-fashioned peach, marionberry and apple pies, available by the slice for $3.25 or whole for $16.25 (plus a $2 pie tin deposit). Crusts are all homemade, and popular pies have vegan versions available (sweetened with agave nectar instead of honey).
  11. Alexander, Nanine (2 November 2006). "Reverse Polarity". The Oregonian. p. 12. At the Bipartisan Cafe, campaign memorabilia straddles the political divide. If there were a good citizenship award for the Collectibles column, Peter Emerson's political memorabilia would be among the leading candidates. Emerson has been collecting campaign material since 1980, the year of the first general election in which he was old enough to vote. He generously shares his pastime by keeping much of his collection of campaign posters, bumper stickers and related items on display at his Bipartisan Cafe at Southeast 79th Avenue and Stark. 'Stuff my wife won't let me keep at home,' he says with a grin.
  12. Bondarowicz, Marv (2 November 2006). "Political Campaign Buttons Collected by Peter Emerson". The Oregonian. pp. 12–14. Emerson displays his collection of political paraphernalia at the Bipartisan Cafe at Southeast 79th and Stark as a way to inspire friendly political discourse. When a customer complained that his display leaned to the Democrats, he added more Republicans without replacing these memorable politicians, who include 1968 presidential nominee Hubert Humphrey (center, right) and his running mate, Edmund Muskie. From memorabilia of former President Gerald Ford's campaign to that of former Portland Mayor Connie McCready's, Emerson has a taste for all that is political. This Palm Beach, Fla., voting booth was sold after the "hanging chad" controversy that marked the first election of President George W. Bush. Emerson got this "Vote No" flier from his home state --it's from Polk County, Minn. --by accident when he purchased a group of things on eBay.
  13. Fitzgibbon, Joe (24 January 2008). "Night on the Town; Out With the Kids". The Oregonian. p. 16. For a bite to eat, slip out to the Bipartisan Cafe, where you'll find comfy tables, lively company, a venue that encourages discussion and a selection of coffees, pies, soups and sandwiches. Political memorabilia includes posters, campaign buttons, ballots and a voting machine.
  14. Hershey, Edward; Laufe, Anne; Fitzgibbon, Joe; Rubin, Lauren; Rumler, John (27 May 2007). "Southeast Snapshots". The Oregonian. pp. S03. Stark Street buzzes with small restaurants, cafes and different businesses, such as the Bipartisan Cafe (7901 S.E. Stark), where you can take your coffee with a dash of politics. An impressive array of memorabilia includes campaign pins, posters and one of the notorious Palm Beach (Fla.) County voting machines from the 2000 presidential election.
  15. Sebellin-Ross, S.J. (27 August 2010). "Sweet Dreams of Portland Pies". The Oregonian.
  16. Ohlsen, Becky (2013). Walking Portland: 30 Tours of Stumptown's Funky Neighborhoods, Historic Landmarks, Park Trails, Farmers Markets, and Brewpubs. Birmingham, Alabama: Wilderness Press. p. 105. ISBN 978-0-89997-681-5.
  17. Yim, Su-jin (15 June 2006). "Theater Helps Parents Catch a Flick, Breather". The Oregonian. p. 15. Nearby business owner Peter Emerson of the kid-friendly Bipartisan Cafe says the theater has made a huge difference to the neighborhood and boosted his business.
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  32. Green, Susan (25 October 2006). "Business Alliance Names Chief Lobbyist for Area". The Oregonian. pp. C02. The candidates for House District 46 plan a roundtable discussion this week. Ben Cannon, Democratic; William Cornett, Republican; and Paul Loney, Pacific Green will be at the BiPartisan Cafe, Southeast 79th Avenue and Stark Street, from 7 to 9 p.m. today. The public is invited.
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