A classic Italian restaurant that reopened in Southeast Portland last year after throwing in the towel in 2024 will close again as soon as the end of the month, according to a news release.
The rising costs associated with running a small, independently owned restaurant are to blame for 3 Doors Down Cafe’s upcoming closure, owner Dave Marth wrote.
Marth encouraged fans “to stop by, share memories, and enjoy a final meal together” before the restaurant closes again in late February or March.
Known for its strong drinks, hearty pastas and stylish storefront just off Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, 3 Doors Down Cafe closed without notice in late 2024 after 30 years in business. The restaurant, which Marth and Kathy Bergin first opened in 1994, returned just as unexpectedly last May.
The reopening marked Marth’s return to 3 Doors Down after he and Bergin sold the restaurant to Michael Galloway and Jeff Saulsbury in 2019.
“We’re looking forward to being back in the neighborhood again,” Marth said at the time.
Loyal fans have long appreciated 3 Doors Down Cafe’s enthusiastic service, thoughtful wine list and simple recipes such as penne alla vodka with mild Italian sausage. Well before the American cocktail revolution of the 2000s, 3 Doors Down Cafe took its martinis and Manhattans seriously, making it an ideal stop before or after a movie at the Bagdad Theater.
Visit 3 Doors Down Cafe before it closes again in late February or March at 1429 S.E. 37th Ave., 971-754-4361, 3doorsdowncafe.com
