Scandals Reopens with Healthy New Focus in Northeast Portland

The iconic LGBTQ+ bar has moved locations and shifted its business model to emphasize community, affordability, and New Mexican cuisine.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 2:50am

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After 46 years at the heart of downtown Portland's gay nightlife scene, the iconic Scandals bar has reopened in Northeast Portland with a new focus on healthy, affordable New Mexican food and creating a more inclusive, community-oriented space. The new Scandals East location is a shared bungalow with Carioca Bowls and Good Life Wellness Center, allowing for a mix of daytime and evening offerings. Owner David Fones has worked to reduce the emphasis on alcohol and create a welcoming environment for a wider range of clientele, including families and adults who may have felt less comfortable at the previous venue.

Why it matters

Scandals' move represents a shift in the LGBTQ+ bar scene, prioritizing community, health, and accessibility over the traditional bar model. In a rapidly changing city, the reinvented Scandals aims to preserve its legacy while adapting to better serve a diverse range of patrons, including those who may have felt excluded from the previous iteration.

The details

The new Scandals East location features a customizable menu of healthy New Mexican fare, including vegan rice and beans, proteins, and toppings like avocado and cheese. The bar setup has also been simplified, moving away from a 'frat party' vibe to a more 'drinks with dinner' atmosphere. Scandals East also offers an outdoor patio and a raised deck for guests over 21, where Fones plans to continue the tradition of the Scandals Pride block party.

  • Scandals operated at its downtown location for 46 years.
  • Scandals East reopened in Northeast Portland in 2026.

The players

Scandals

An iconic LGBTQ+ bar that has operated in Portland for over four decades, recently reopening in a new Northeast location with a focus on healthy, affordable New Mexican cuisine and creating a more inclusive community space.

David Fones

The owner of Scandals, who has worked to reinvent the bar's business model and shift the focus to food, community, and accessibility.

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What they’re saying

“I'm trying to develop healthy New Mexican fare and have more of my focus be on good, healthy, inexpensive food.”

— David Fones, Owner, Scandals

“Scandals was always just perceived as a 'guy bar'. We got a lot of grief—probably well deserved—from other parts of the community that felt like you don't get service at this bar unless you're a certain type of person. That was the perception. I'd love, love, love to break that stigma.”

— David Fones, Owner, Scandals

What’s next

Fones plans to expand the Scandals East menu and continue the tradition of the Scandals Pride block party on the new outdoor patio and deck.

The takeaway

Scandals' reinvention in Northeast Portland represents a shift in the LGBTQ+ bar scene, prioritizing community, health, and accessibility over the traditional bar model. The new focus on affordable, healthy New Mexican cuisine and creating a welcoming space for a diverse range of patrons aims to preserve Scandals' legacy while adapting to better serve the evolving needs of the local community.