Ah, Quality Pie. On NW 23rd across from the hospital. In the late 80s I was a wide-eyed, parochial schooled suburbanite. Quality Pie, in addition to Powells and the McDonalds (now Rich’s Cigars) by the Galleria, was my introduction to the city. Sipping coffee into the wee hours, we observed eclectic late night Portland while we shared grilled cheese sandwiches, french fries, or a slice of truly quality pie.
1992. The reprehensible Measure 9 made it to the ballot in Oregon, the Blazers lost to the Bulls in the NBA finals, and the legendary Quality Pie closed. The Willy Week sums it up:
Portland loses another dining institution when Quality Pie, a 24-hour haven for hipsters, scenesters, scamsters, hamsters, rock stars (pre- and post-nova), street people, alcoholics in various stages of recovery, poets, gamers, insomniacs and other assorted creatures of the night, serves its final cup of joe.
But the year wasn’t all bad. The abnormal, wrong, unnatural and perverse Measure 9 was soundly defeated by the citizens of Oregon, I turned 21, and Dot’s started serving up jalapeno cheddar fries.
Other QP memories:
- Late Night on 23rd Avenue – Our PDX
- Northwest Portland sites sit barren amid bustle - Portland Tribune
- quality pie - The Long Way Around
More 30-something Portlander’s Flashbacks:
#1: Sam’s Hof Brau
#2: Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlours.
Related posts:
And right down the street was Rose’s. I’d trudge from school and wait for trimet to whisk me to the safety of Beaverton. But not before going in and buying ‘after eight’ mints.
I don’t remember Quality Pie
but I guess in 1992 I was in the 8th grade in middle school not doing much else beside riding into town (Battle Ground) for a shake and burger at Burgerville and most definitely not hanging out in Portland. I would have never survived.
McAngryPants – I remember Rose’s giant glazed donuts . . . but that’s about it.
VeganFabulous – Think the Roxie or the Hotcake House, but with more space, light, and servers walking around with coffee pots all night.
I love pie. I love cherry pie made with real cherries, not that pie filling stuff. You can’t get good pie anymore unless you make it yourself. And by you, I mean not me, because that would not be good pie.
I heart pie too. Maybe XUP and I can get someone to make us some.