| Dixie Tavern | |
|---|---|
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_-_2.jpg) The bar's interior in 2022 | |
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 2005 (2005) |
| Owner(s) | Dan Lenzen |
| City | Portland |
| State | Oregon |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 45°31′25″N122°40′23″W / 45.5237°N 122.6731°W /45.5237; -122.6731 |
| Website | dixiepdx |
Dixie Tavern is abar inPortland, Oregon, United States.
Dixie Tavern is a two-levelbar at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Couch Street thenorthwest Portland part of theOld Town Chinatown neighborhood.[1][2]Portland Monthly has described the business as a "rock & roll tavern" with live music, multiple bars, and regular 80s nights.[3] In 2017, Grant Butler ofThe Oregonian wrote, "This Southern-fried rock and roll bar ... is known for female bartenders who dance on the countertops toBon Jovi andLynyrd Skynyrd – very "Coyote Ugly," circa 2000. Dixie Tavern may not be trendy, but it's one of Old Town's most-popular bars."[4] Lizzy Acker included the bar in the newspaper's 2017 list of "23 places to go dancing in Portland" and said Dixie Tavern offers dancing tocountry androck music.[5]
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Dixie Tavern was established in 2005, opening the space which previously housed Cobalt Lounge. In 2020,Portland Monthly's Margaret Seiler said the bar was "one of the few 21st-century new businesses outside of the South to use Dixie in its name".[6] ThePortland Mercury's Alex Zielinski has described Dixie Tavern as a "country bar" with security staff and without a strict dress code.[7]
The business is owned by Dan Lenzen. In 2020, during theCOVID-19 pandemic, Lenzen worked with the Old Town Community Association to advocate for a "night mayor" to "liaison between hospitality businesses and city government".[8] He said the bar suffered economic loss and the neighborhood saw more crime during the pandemic.[9] He also joined the Rose City Downtown Collective, described byKATU as "a group of downtown Portland businesses and organizations is asking for help in rebuilding 'the spirit' of the city's core, which has been hit hard by months of coronavirus restrictions and protests".[10] In 2021, Lenzen advocated for extended hours,[11] and he and Dixie Tavern employees blocked off nearby streets, a service which had previously been provided by the city for security purposes.[12] He was appreciative of the city's efforts to clean up streets ahead of theMLS Cup. He hoped the work would continue and said, "Here's a plea to all the people in charge of being able to get activation: we need this, what we’ve done today. We all need this. A vibrant downtown is important to the entire region."[13]
In 2014, Drew Tyson included Dixie Tavern inThrillist's 2014 list of "Portland's 10 (Best?) Bad Decision Bars".[14] The website's Pete Cottell included the bar in a 2015 list of "10 Portland Bars You Should Avoid Once You're 30".[15]
Brooke Jackson-Glidden included Dixie Tavern inEater Portland's 2020 overview of "Where to Throw a Bachelorette Party in Portland". She wrote, "Country fans know Dixie is the place to be for dancing, but the bar dips its toes into other styles of music so everyone can have a good time. Plus, Dixie can host big parties, for those looking for their own space among the ruckus."[16]
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Key: † No longer extant or on public display | |||
