Backspace (Portland, Oregon)

Former coffee shop and music venue

Backspace

Logo

Exposed brick wall, Backspace interior, 2013

Address| 115 Northwest 5th Avenue
Location| Portland, Oregon, United States
Coordinates| 45°31′27″N 122°40′33″W﻿ / ﻿45.52408°N 122.67575°W﻿ / 45.52408; -122.67575
Owner| Eric Robison
Opened| July 2003 (2003-07)
Closed| 2013

Backspace (sometimes Backspace Cafe) was a coffee shop, gallery, Internet café, and all-ages music venue located in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, in the United States. The venue opened in mid 2003 and closed in 2013.

## Description and history[edit]

Owner and painter Eric Robison opened Backspace, which was located at 115 Northwest 5th Avenue in Portland's Old Town Chinatown neighborhood, as a coffee shop in July 2003.[1][2] He was inspired by two nearby stores within the same neighborhood, operated by Katsu Tanaka: Compound, a gallery, and Just Be Toys, a Japanese-themed toy and DVD rental store.[1] Robison and his brother Kris had considered operating the business in the Pearl District, but were "attracted to the edginess" of the building.[1] He recalled, "People said, 'Dude, you're insane,' when I told them where it was. I saw the exposed brick, and the whole cyberpunk feel that we could pursue. It was a little too frou-frou in the Pearl."[1] Robison also recalled fending off drug activity outside the store by barring dealers and users from entry.[1] The building that housed Backspace was renovated by the city and Portland Development Commission.[1]

The establishment had been described as a gallery, a computer gaming and Internet café,[1][3] and an "oft-beleaguered" all-ages music venue.[2] It was one of several businesses in the neighborhood, including Ground Kontrol, geared towards young people who worked in the technology industry.[4] According to Willamette Week's Matthew Singer, Backspace "[evolved] into the epicenter of Portland's underage music culture" because of a one-off Thermals performance in 2007.[2] The space hosted a variety of events, including Portland Development Commission meetings (2007),[3] an anti-bullying event called "Frank Conversations: Speaking Out on Bullying" (2010),[5] and a concert by Dustin Ruth, the Battle Ground, Washington-based singer-songwriter and frontman of the band Ruth (2011).[6][7]

### Closure[edit]

Interior art display, 2013

Beginning in the late 2000s, Backspace had a string of financial difficulties. The business almost closed in 2008, but was able to continue operating after the Oregon Liquor Control Commission permitted Backspace to serve beer and wine while hosting all-ages events and performances.[2] In 2012, Robison began raising funds to help eliminate $10,000 in "delinquent late fees for past-due rent and licensing" from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI).[2] Robison decided to relocate when the city pass an ordinance requiring nightclubs in older buildings to install sprinkler systems. One of the property investors said the building's owners elected not to renew the cafe's lease because "music [was] not compatible with rest of tenants in the building".[2]

Interior wall, 2013

In September 2013, Robison confirmed that he wanted to relocate the business to a larger space before its lease expired in November. He originally planned to move Backspace to a building along Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. When plans fell through, he considered relocating to a different location in northeast Portland. However, this plan meant Backspace would not be able to reopen until the spring season of 2014 because of ongoing renovation efforts.[2] In October, Robison said Backspace would stop hosting live performances after its Halloween celebration and would remain open temporarily as a coffee shop. He told Willamette Week: "The one thing we want to do is build it right. Backspace was all patchwork and chewing gum. We want to build something that will last."[2] Robison hoped to host one final concert in Backspace's original location on New Year's Eve, 2013, featuring a "big-name local act, pending landlord approval".[2]

In his 2014 article "RIP: 11 Shuttered PDX Bars and Restaurants We'll Miss", Thrillist contributor Drew Tyson wrote, "We'll miss dancing in this boisterous bar/gallery that was decked out like a geeky Internet cafe with a photo booth, pinball machines, a treehouse, and... wait! It was a geeky Internet cafe that whole time?!"[8]

After sitting vacant for over a year, the location was remodeled to accommodate an expansion of the Ground Kontrol video game and pinball arcade and bar located in the same building.[9]

## See also[edit]

* Coffee in Portland, Oregon
* List of defunct restaurants of the United States

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g Chuang, Angie (December 3, 2003). "Galleries Sprout Up in Portland, Ore.'s Old Town as Young People Move In". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016. Note: This article is also credited to Knight Ridder of Tribune Business News.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Singer, Matthew (October 29, 2013). "The End of Backspace as We Know It: The Portland all-ages music institution is ceasing live performances, still searching for new location". Willamette Week. Portland, Oregon: City of Roses Newspapers. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
3. ^ a b Graf, Tyler (October 31, 2007). "Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland Public Market spar over 511 Building". Daily Journal of Commerce. Portland, Oregon: The Dolan Company. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
4. ^ Bjork, Nick (July 25, 2011). "Grove Hotel in Portland set to become hostel". Daily Journal of Commerce. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
5. ^ Albrecht, Bob (November 21, 2010). "Sixth-grader launches refrain against bullying". The Columbian. Vancouver, Washington: Columbian Publishing Co. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
6. ^ "Bits 'n' Pieces: Musicians songs heard on MTVs Teen Mom". The Columbian. April 11, 2011. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
7. ^ "Musicians songs heard on MTVs Teen Mom". The Columbian. April 19, 2011. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
8. ^ Tyson, Drew (January 8, 2014). "RIP: 11 Shuttered PDX Bars and Restaurants We'll Miss". Thrillist. Thrillist Media Group. Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
9. ^ Eder Campuzano (April 13, 2017). "Ground Kontrol opens Fifth Avenue expansion as work begins on Couch Street". Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Backspace (Portland, Oregon).

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Coffee in Portland, Oregon

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Music venues in Portland, Oregon

Current|

* Aladdin Theater
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Defunct|

* Analog Café and Theater
* Backspace
* Berbati's Pan
* Blue Monk
* Brasserie Montmartre
* Candlelight Cafe & Bar
* The Dude Ranch
* Jimmy Mak's
* The Know
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* The Liquor Store
* No Vacancy Lounge
* Paris Theatre
* Satyricon
* Tonic Lounge
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Related|

* Portland's Centers for the Arts

* v
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Old Town Chinatown, Portland, Oregon

Buildings|

* Blagen Block
* Glisan
* Greyhound Bus Station
* Haseltine
* Hoyt Hotel
* The Hoxton
* Merchant Hotel
* One Pacific Square
* Oregon Cracker Company
* PAE Living
* Paris Theatre
* Roseland Theater
* Smith's Block
* Star Theater
* Tuck Lung
* United Carriage and Baggage Transfer
* Wachsmuth
* White Stag Block
* Wong Laundry
* Yamaguchi Hotel

Business|

* Baes Fried Chicken
* CC Slaughters
* Dan and Louis Oyster Bar
* Darcelle XV Showplace
* Deadstock Coffee
* Dixie Tavern
* Ground Kontrol
* Kells Irish Pub
* Kinboshi Ramen
* Lechon
* Old Town Pizza
* Pine Street Market
* Portland Chinatown Museum
* Portland Saturday Market
* Raven's Manor
* Republic Cafe and Ming Lounge
* Shanghai Tunnel Bar
* Silverado
* Voodoo Doughnut

| Defunct|

* Alexis Restaurant
* Backspace
* Bijou Cafe
* Davis Street Tavern
* Dirty Duck
* Embers Avenue
* Fong Chong
* Gilt Club
* Hobo's
* House of Louie
* Hung Far Low
* Mi Mero Mole
* No Vacancy Lounge
* Ping
* The Queen's Head
* Satyricon
* Via Tribunali
* X-Ray Cafe

|

Geography|

* Ankeny Plaza
* Japanese American Historical Plaza
* Lan Su Chinese Garden
* Portland New Chinatown/Japantown Historic District
* Portland Skidmore/Old Town Historic District
* Shanghai tunnels
* Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Public art|

* Cairns
* Chinatown Gateway
* Driver's Seat
* Festival Lanterns
* Friendship Circle
* Nepenthes
* Packy mural
* Sculpture Stage
* Skidmore Fountain
* The Green Man of Portland

Transit|

* Broadway Bridge
* Burnside Bridge
* Northwest 6th & Davis and Northwest 5th & Couch stations
* Old Town/Chinatown station
* Portland Downtown Heliport
* Portland Union Station
* Skidmore Fountain station
* Steel Bridge
* Union Station/Northwest 6th & Hoyt and Union Station/Northwest 5th & Glisan stations

Related|

* 24 Hour Church of Elvis
* Portland (steam tug)
* White Stag sign

* Category

* v
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Restaurants in Portland, Oregon

Current

* 3 Doors Down
* Abigail Hall
* Abyssinian Kitchen
* Akadi
* Alberta Street Pub
* Alibi
* Amalfi's
* Ambassador
* An Xuyên Bakery
* Andina
* Anna Bannanas
* Apizza Scholls
* Assembly Brewing
* Astral
* Ate-Oh-Ate
* Atlas Pizza
* Ava Gene's
* Baby Doll Pizza
* Back Stage Bar
* Baes Fried Chicken
* Bar Cala
* Bear Paw Inn
* Beastro
* Bella's Italian Bakery
* Behind the Museum
* Ben & Esther's Vegan Jewish Deli
* Berlu
* Besaw's
* Bing Mi
* Bipartisan
* Birrieria La Plaza
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* Blossoming Lotus
* Bollywood Theater
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* Republic Cafe and Ming Lounge
* República
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* The Richmond Bar
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* River Pig Saloon
* Rose City Book Pub
* Rose VL Deli
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* Sayler's
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* Screen Door
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* Urban Farmer
* Victoria Bar
* Viking Soul Food
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* Virtuous Pie
* Von Ebert Brewing
* Water Avenue Coffee
* Wei Wei
* White Owl Social Club
* Xiao Ye
* XLB
* Ya Hala
* Zach's Shack
* Zuckercreme

Defunct

* Acadia
* Alexis
* Altabira
* Analog
* Arleta Library
* Ataula
* Aviary
* Aviv
* Baby Blue Pizza
* Bailey's Taproom
* Batterfish
* Beast
* Berbati's Pan
* Berlin Inn
* Bijou Cafe
* Bistro Agnes
* Bit House Saloon
* Biwa
* Bluehour
* Blueplate
* Bombay Cricket Club
* Botanist House
* Brasserie Montmartre
* Bridges Cafe
* British Overseas Restaurant Corporation
* Byways Cafe
* Cafe Azul
* Candlelight Cafe & Bar
* Canlis
* Carriage Room
* Castagna
* Century Bar
* Chez Machin
* Circa 33
* Clyde Common
* Country Bill's
* Cup & Saucer Cafe
* Davis Street Tavern
* Der Rheinlander
* Dick's Kitchen
* Dig a Pony
* Dime Store
* Dóttir
* Egyptian Club
* El Gallo Taqueria
* Esparza's
* Everybody Eats PDX
* Fat Head's Brewery
* Fenouil
* Fish Grotto
* Fong Chong
* Genoa
* Georgian Room
* Gilt Club
* Greek Cusina
* Grüner
* Gypsy Restaurant and Velvet Lounge
* Handsome Pizza
* Henry Ford's
* Henry Thiele
* Hobo's
* Holy Trinity Barbecue
* House of Louie
* Hunan
* Hung Far Low
* Industrial Cafe and Saloon
* Irving Street Kitchen
* Isabel Pearl
* JaCiva's
* Jackknife Bar
* Kenny & Zuke's
* Kornblatt's
* La Carreta
* Lazy Susan
* Le Bistro Montage
* Lincoln
* The Liquor Store
* Little Bird Bistro
* Local Lounge
* Lonesome's Pizza
* Lovely Hula Hands‎
* Lucier
* Malka
* Mama Đút
* Marukin Ramen
* Masia
* The Matador
* Mi Mero Mole
* Ned Ludd
* Nel Centro
* New Copper Penny
* NOLA Doughnuts
* Ocean City Seafood
* Organ Grinder
* Original Taco House
* Overlook
* The Pagoda
* Paragon
* The Parish
* Pazzo Ristorante
* PDX671
* Pearl Tavern
* Pied Cow Coffeehouse
* Ping
* Pink Feather
* Pok Pok
* Portland Penny Diner
* Portobello Vegan Trattoria
* Purrington's Cat Lounge
* The Queen's Head
* Radar
* Raven & Rose
* Red and Black Cafe
* Revelry
* RingSide Fish House
* Roman Candle
* The Roxy
* Saucebox
* Seastar Bakery
* Shift Drinks
* Shine
* Shizuku
* Shut Up and Eat
* Southeast Grind
* Stanich's
* Starky's
* Sunshine Noodles
* Sunshine Tavern
* Tails & Trotters
* Tapalaya
* Tasty n Alder
* Tasty n Daughters
* Tasty n Sons
* Three Sisters Tavern
* Tilt
* Toro Bravo
* Touché
* Vault Cocktail Lounge
* Veritable Quandary
* Via Tribunali
* Victory Bar
* Whiskey Soda Lounge
* Wildwood
* Wong's King
* The Woodsman Tavern
* Xico
* Yaw's Top Notch
* Yonder
* Zefiro

Chains

| Current|

* Afuri
* Blue Star Donuts
* Boxer Ramen
* Bunk Sandwiches
* E-san Thai Cuisine
* Elephants Delicatessen
* Grand Central Bakery
* Henry's Tavern
* Hot Lips Pizza
* Laughing Planet
* Little Big Burger
* McCormick & Schmick's
* Migration Brewing
* Mike's Drive-In
* The Original Pancake House
* Pastini
* Pine State Biscuits
* Salt & Straw
* Sizzle Pie
* Slappy Cakes
* Stacked Sandwich Shop
* Straight from New York Pizza
* SuperDeluxe
* Sweet Hereafter

|

Defunct|

* Macheezmo Mouse
* Typhoon
* Victoria Station

Related

* Coon Chicken Inn
* Cooperativa
* James Beard Public Market
* Pizza in Portland, Oregon
* Pine Street Market

| Food carts|

* Alder Street pod
* Cart Blocks
* Cartlandia
* Cartopia
* Carts on Foster
* Collective Oregon Eateries
* Hawthorne Asylum
* Hinterland Bar and Food Carts
* Lil' America
* Nob Hill Food Carts
* Portland Mercado
* Prost Marketplace
* Southwest 5th Avenue food cart pod

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