Shari's Cafe & Pies Restaurant Closures Widespread Across Oregon and Clark County

Shari's Cafe & Pies, a chain of 24-hour restaurants with a presence in six western states, has suffered a significant blow with the abrupt closure of all locations in Oregon. Further, two Vancouver locations in Clark County have also shut down, citing failed lease renegotiations. A worker at the 117th Avenue Shari's location, which remains open, expressed confidence that it will continue to operate, but acknowledged the challenges the chain has faced, including struggles to pay bills, rent, taxes, and other expenses.

Key Takeaways:

• Shari's Cafe & Pies has closed all locations in Oregon due to financial struggles, including inability to pay bills, rent, taxes, and other expenses.
• Two Vancouver locations in Clark County have also closed, with the Thurston Way location being open as recently as earlier this week.
• The 117th Avenue Shari's location remains open, but a worker expressed concerns about the viability of the location due to the decline of the Shari's brand.
• The Oregon Lottery shut down its Shari's terminals and removed them from all Oregon restaurants earlier this year, contributing to the downward spiral of the Shari's restaurants.
• Numerous legal actions have been filed against Washington Shari's locations and its corporate owners, including debt collection cases in 11 Washington counties.
• Shari's Management Corp. or Shari's Non-Oregon Holding LLC are listed as the corporate owners.
• The Shari's chain, founded in 1978, grew to a total of 95 locations in six states in the West.

Statistics:

• 95: The total number of Shari's locations in six states in the West at its peak.
• 6: The number of states in the West where Shari's locations were operated.
• $34 million: The approximate amount of lottery revenues generated by Shari's locations in Oregon in 2023.
• $7.45 million: The amount of commissions earned by Shari's locations in Oregon in 2023.
• 11: The number of Washington counties where debt collection cases have been filed against Shari's locations since 2020.
• 2020: The year when debt collection cases against Shari's locations began to be filed in Washington counties.
• 29 years: The amount of time a worker has worked at the 117th Avenue Shari's location.

Sources:

• "Shari's restaurants in Oregon shut down amid financial struggles" by KGW (Portland TV station), August 2023 (reported finding Beaverton, Ore., offices empty and getting no response from Texas offices)
• "Shari's to close all Oregon locations" by The Columbian (Vancouver, Wash.), October 2024 (reporting closure of multiple locations in Oregon and Clark County)
• "Shari's Management Corp. or Shari's Non-Oregon Holding LLC" by The News Tribune of Tacoma (referencing legal actions against Shari's locations)
• "Restaurant Business magazine" (referencing numerous legal actions against Shari's locations)
• Shari's Cafe & Pies website (reporting number of locations and founding date)
• The Oregon Lottery (reporting on Shari's terminal shutdown)