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Have a new business opening up or having a special business event you would like the Mid-County community to know about?  We want to hear about it, and publish it in our Business Memo section on a space-available basis.  We prefer e-mailed submissions sent to Dawn Widler, Department Editor at editor@midcountymemo.com

You can also call 503-287-8904, fax 503-249-7672, or send your information to 

4052 NE 22nd Ave, Portland, OR, 97212-1503.

Local inn receives “perfect”

Congratulations to the Pony Soldier Inn, 9901 N.E Sandy Blvd, by N.E. 100th Ave. and Sandy Blvd.  They recently had a Best Western inspection, and the establishment came out sparkling.  They received a perfect - 1000 points, which means they did not lose a single point on housekeeping or maintenance.  Visit this comfortable, clean establishment today.  For more information, please call resident manager John Harrison at 503-256-1504 or email PONYPDX@aol.com.

First year anniversary at Don’s Dugout

Janice and Don Douglas recently celebrated their first year in business as owners of Don’s Dugout Bar & Grill at 11642 N.E. Halsey Street.

Working together, owning and operating a business together has been their dream since they married.

Don, born in Bandon, Oregon, raised in Ketchikan, Alaska met Janice, a Portland native, raised in Estacada, in 1973. One year after meeting they married and in Janice’s own words, “We moved around a lot.”

When the Douglas’s finally landed in Portland in 1985, Don started working construction while Janice stayed home raising their three children.

“Work-wise we always wanted to do something together,” Janice said. “Don always wanted to open a restaurant, I wanted to start a bar, I talked Don into           either buying an existing one or starting a bar and grill.”

They started actively looking for a place two years ago and really liked the building the cocktail lounge The Wagon was operating in. The Wagon was owned by Rene Varin, who also owns the Candlelight Restaurant on N.E. Glisan Street and  the Original Prime Rib Restaurant in Hollywood.

“Rene had remodeled the entire building. It looked good, and felt good to us. We made Rene an offer and the rest, as they say, is history,” said Don of how they ended up owning the Dugout. 

“We’re a full kitchen, full lottery, full service cocktail Bar and Grill open from 7 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. every day of the year. We serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. We’ve been lucky to have found a hard-working, customer-oriented staff that likes the job, likes the  customers and likes working here . . .or so they tell me,” Don joked. He continued, “We run six pool tournaments a week, we have free music, and free pool, all the time. We want our customers to always get more than they expect. Our customers need to feel they can come here and have a good time, anytime.”

In the year since owning Don’s Dugout, the Douglas’s have put many hours of  time and effort into their place. “Many days we went home, slept for four hours and came right back. We’ve made so many new friends, and met so many nice people.” said Janice. She continued, “Everyone has been considerate of us and our business. Our customers they treat us like we’re their next door neighbor. They look out for us, just like neighbors do for each other. We’ve been very lucky.”

Ron Mackay, a long-time Gateway resident, and food service expert, recently had this to say about Don and Janice’s new adventure, “A long time ago this place was called Kenny’s Restaurant, they’re the first people to really make a go of it in this building since then. Mackay continued, There’ve been lots of businesses in this building since then, some of those were money-makers, and some weren’t. They’ll (Don and Janice Douglas) be real successful. They really know what customers want and they give it to them. They run a tight ship.”

On Saturday, May 11 Don’s Dugout will be having a Grand Opening Party. Featuring a dollar per ticket raffle with many prizes, including electronic gear. The Grand Prize is the old antique wagon that sits underneath the new Dugout sign on Halsey Street.

Former Wagon owner Rene Varin generously donated it to their raffle. The Dugout is also featuring a Grand Opening special dinner, at a very reasonable price that day only. For more information call Don’s Dugout at 503-255-1501.