Gossip Sports Bar and Restaurant takes over Nine Ball building
On Thursday, September 11, the Oregonian reported, in its Business section, that a company called NNT, doing business as Gossip Sports Bar and Restaurant has leased the 6,920 sq. ft. building at 11340 N.E. Halsey Street, formerly occupied by Nine Ball Sports Bar.
The 6,920 foot building was originally built for a chain restaurant, Carrow’s, that operated for decades in Mid-county before closing.
In a conversation with Tony Truong, Gossip Sports Bar and Restaurant new owner, he said he and his partner are in the application process with both the Oregon Liquor Control Commission and the Oregon Lottery; hoping to have the doors open before 2009.
Truong, no relation to former Nine Ball owner Phuong Truong (or PT as everyone knew her), said he has no experience in the bar or restaurant business. Truong also said they (he and his partner) are committed to being “good neighbors,” and “good owners for the area.”
Since Carrow’s closed in the mid-90s, that building has had a spotty history. When it re-opened in 1998 as Eight Ball Sports Bar, it rocked the neighbohood as it quickly became the popular, cool place to see and be seen at for young people. Young people from the entire Metro area, or so it seemed.
Yes, it became the hot spot in east Portland. It was the place for young and even underage partiers to get acquainted with the drinking and partying world. Many fights, much public drunkeness and all sorts of wild and crazy stuff went on there.
Eventually the OLCC stepped in restricting the operation which compelled the original owner, Scott Detweiler, to sell to PT.
Nine Ball inherited the restrictions, lived with them and if it weren’t for the advent of the lottery in Nine Ball, the place would have closed long ago. They had decent food and decent pricing, it’s just after the legacy of Eight Ball the place never really re-cohesed (that a word?)
We wish the new owners the best of luck. We’ll report back as thet get closer to opening.
