“Haunted Grand Opening” party: Friday October 29 at 8pm… Check out the funny video/commercial here!
After a decade hiatus, Hamburger Mary’s is back in Portland! “Yeah, Mary got shanghai’d and we found her in the Shanghai Tunnel,” jokes co-owner Ian Cooke. “But seriously, we thought Portland was missing something like Mary’s, so we got together and decided to bring her back.”
The idea of reopening the Hamburger Mary’s came from a friend, but it’s been a family affair ever since. Ian’s business partners are his mom, Karen, and a brother-sister duo, Jasson Boussard & Emily Quick. “A friend of ours had been to a Hamburger Mary’s and told us about it,” says Jason. “And we figured Portland needed a place for the entire community, gay and straight, to eat and have a good time.”
The partners then did their research and discovered that people still had fond memories of the Hamburger Mary’s that was open in Portland for most of the 1980s-90s. “It’s fun to hear about people’s experiences at the old Hamburger Mary’s,” says Emily. “We’ve had so many people tell us how happy they are that we are back in town, and are excited for us. That has been very special for us.”
Hamburger Mary’s had their “soft opening” October 4 and is already making a name for itself with it’s gourmet hamburgers and friendly service. “At Mary’s, you are gonna have great service with a little sass and a lotta fun,” says Jason. “Oh, and the burgers are awesome, too.” While the original “Mary Burger” (with Mary’s Special Sauce) is a classic, the most popular specialty burgers so far have been the “Barbra-Q Bacon Cheeseburger” (with BBQ sauce, cheddar & jack cheeses, bacon and an onion ring) and the “Black and Blue Boy” (blackened seasoning on the patty, with blue cheese and bacon). There is also a full bar with quite a list of popular cocktails and martinis, each with clever names like “Mangolicious” and “Fuzzy Tea Bag!”
But what’s going to separate Mary’s from other restaurants in Portland isn’t just the food. “We have entertainment and events planned for every night,” says Emily. Indeed, Hamburger Mary’s will have a little something for everyone… from Mary-Oke and Bingo to trivia night and weekend DJ’s. “We’re also looking forward to Mary’s ability to grow in the community,” says Ian. “We plan on being very active in the community and reach out to different charities and organizations.”
Hamburger Mary’s is planning their official “Grand Opening” Friday, October 29 at 8pm. The Halloween-themed party will feature the always-entertaining ChiChi & Chonga, along with special guests Fannie Mae Darling, Tamon Troupe and Tamra Scalan. Two shows, specials, games, contests and giveaways all night!







