McMenamins to Open New Hotel in Downtown Portland

The eclectic Northwest hospitality chain is transforming the former Taft Home low-income residences into a new 63-room hotel.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 5:18pm

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McMenamins, the popular Northwest hospitality company, has announced plans to open a new hotel in the heart of downtown Portland. The company has acquired the former Taft Home low-income residences and will renovate the 1907 property to create a 63-room hotel with three restaurants/bars, a gift shop, and a skybridge connecting it to the nearby Crystal Ballroom.

Why it matters

This move by McMenamins represents a significant investment in downtown Portland as the city continues to recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic. The new hotel will add more lodging options and entertainment amenities to the area, which McMenamins refers to as 'rock 'n' roll row' due to its proximity to the Crystal Ballroom and other company properties.

The details

McMenamins acquired the Taft Home property at 1321 S.W. Washington St. in 2024 for $1.5 million. The company plans to renovate the second through fourth floors of the historic building, designed by local architect Edgar Lazarus, to create the new hotel. Two existing establishments in the building - the restaurant Cassidy's and the bar Scooter's - will remain open during and after the renovation.

  • McMenamins acquired the Taft Home property in 2024.
  • The company filed for a permit to renovate the building in 2025.
  • The new hotel does not have an opening date yet.

The players

McMenamins

An eclectic Northwest hospitality chain that began as a brewpub concept in the early 1980s and has grown to over 60 properties across Oregon and Washington.

Mike McMenamin

Co-founder of McMenamins, who said the company was struck by the 'absolute beauty' of the Taft property and saw it as a 'perfect complement' to their other downtown Portland holdings.

Edgar Lazarus

The local architect who designed the 1907 Taft Home building that McMenamins is now renovating into a new hotel.

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What they’re saying

“I was struck by its absolute beauty. It's truly a piece of living history right in the heart of Portland.”

— Mike McMenamin, Co-founder, McMenamins

What’s next

McMenamins has not yet announced an opening date for the new hotel, but the company is currently undergoing renovation work on the historic Taft Home building.

The takeaway

McMenamins' decision to transform the former Taft Home into a new hotel represents a significant investment in downtown Portland's recovery and the company's continued expansion in the region. The project will add more lodging and entertainment options to an area the company sees as a vibrant 'rock 'n' roll row' anchored by its existing properties.