After 35 years, McMenamins’ Rams Head pub is closing in Northwest Portland.

Published 11:30 am Monday, February 17, 2025

Hey passporters, looking for a McMenamins Rams Head pub stamp to complete your Passport?

Now is the time.

As announced via an Instagram post on Monday, Feb. 17, McMenamins is closing its Rams Head pub location, at Northwest 23rd Avenue and Hoyt Street, this summer.

“Don’t worry, the lease isn’t up until June, so you have the next few months to say your goodbyes to this iconic NW 23rd gem,” the company wrote on social media.

After 35 years, the company decided not to renew the lease.

Housed in the historic Campbell Building, Rams Head was formerly the dining room of the space, known to be one of Portland’s largest speakeasies, according to the McMenamins website. Once serving cocktails discreetly in coffee cups and hiding liquor shipments as vegetable deliveries.

As with many McMenamins locations, its history is rich.

While there’s still time, folks are encouraged to stop in an check out the “best designed and most handsomely detailed” pub, in the words of the National Register of Historic Places.

The company was started in 1983 by brothers Mike and Brian McMenamin. Now there are about 60 locations spanning Oregon and Washington.