On a typical Sunday morning — when the closure of Interstate 5 has not turned Southwest Barbur Boulevard into a stop-and-go detour — the wait time at the Original Pancake House is about 40 minutes.
As of 9 a.m. this Sunday, however, customers craving a stack of buttermilk pancakes with a side of blueberry compote can breeze to the front of the line. Because there is no line.
“We have empty tables,” reports Chelsea Hansen, assistant manager at the venerable Portland institution that also happens to be off Barbur Boulevard next to one of the closed I-5 onramps.
- The Dutch Baby and fresh-fruit crepes made up a breakfast for two at Southwest Portland's The Original Pancake House in March 2019. Kjerstin Gabrielson/staffKjerstin Gabrielson/staff
The Oregon Department of Transportation is rebuilding a freeway overpass at Southwest 26th Avenue, closing I-5 through 5 a.m. Monday to accomplish the task.
Hansen said folks at the Pancake House support the construction project, but the traffic snarl outside the restaurant has turned some customers away this weekend. Saturday was “very quiet,” Hansen said.
That means anyone brave enough to negotiate the estimated 30-minute detour on Barbur Boulevard is likely to snag an open table relatively quickly on Sunday.
“We’re here,” Hansen said. “We’re toughing it out.”
The Original Pancake House sits off Southwest Barbur Boulevard at 8601 S.W 24th Ave. It’s open Sunday until 3 p.m. Call ahead for more information. 503-246-9007
— Beth Slovic is a deputy editor on the public safety and breaking news team. Reach her at 503-221-8551 or bslovic@oregonian.com.
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