Save Dan & Louis Oyster Bar from closing forever!

Dan & Louis Oyster Bar has been open for 113 years. The business has been passed from father to son for four generations and the fifth generation can be seen working around the restaurant when they are not in school. We have seen two world wars, the Great Depression, two major floods, the Korean War, and Vietnam, but Covid-19 is what might actually close our business forever. After being closed for three months in the spring, we quickly lost all our remaining profits set aside to make it through our slow time, which is fall and winter. Unfortunately, this year there was no spring business and our summer business was like winter business... not busy! Now as we go into winter after another two week closure, with new guidelines from the governor of only takeout and outdoor dining, in a downtown with almost no people (covid closures), in a city that rains most days and is only 40 degrees, and just a small amount of borrowed money left, we worry that we will not make through this winter. And what if next summer is slow like last summer, as predicted? We have borrowed all we can at this point. Our credit has run out.

Please help us save this Portland landmark since it seems the government will never be able to compromise enough to pass a bill that will help the restaurant industry. All donations will be used to employ our staff, buy covid safety precautions like tents and heaters for outside, pay bills, and pay our downtown (expensive) rent.

It’s hard and embarrassing to ask for help but we want to continue doing business in Portland for the next 100 years and with your help that can happen. We love Portland, it’s people, it’s culture, and of course the beer! Help us keep serving up ‘cold ones’ and oysters well into the future.

Covid has changed our world but together we can make sure some things never change. Dan & Louis Oyster Bar is more than just a restaurant, it’s like stepping back in time. It’s where grandparents dated in the 50’s, where kids eventually bring their kids, where multi-generations have worked (owners AND staff), and where we want to keep serving our customers for many years to come.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. If you can’t donate please share or invite friends to the fundraiser... or just stop by to eat when we reopen after we figure out this outdoor dining thing. We miss our customers!!