Change Is the Only Constant
In our early years, folks who hadn’t been in for a few weeks would frequently comment, “Wow! So many changes!” As the years went by, iterations lengthened but our proclivities remained. The remodels in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2020 and 2023 speak to those proclivities. Opening Radii Pi punctuates the most recent chapter. Well… here we go again!
An article this week on the KGW news site tells the story. The article highlights the struggles faced by even the most celebrated kitchens in our region.
Bethany’s Table has never been reviewed by the Oregonian, Willamette Week, Eater or Portland Monthly. Our location with a Northwest Portland address in unincorporated Washington County within Beaverton School District on the north side of Highway 26 seems to provide ample evidence that we do not exist.
The KGW article is focused on the members of our fraternity who have been recognized, relentlessly reviewed and are recipients of numerous nominations, citations and awards. The article opens with:
“But step inside these celebrated kitchens, and a different story emerges — one of razor-thin margins, impossible mathematics and owners contemplating closure even as the awards roll in.”
So where does that leave us backwoods bumpkins?
They call me Swivel Hips, and Janet loves to dance. Thus, nimbly as ever, we tackle another round of change.
Lunch On the Block
Bethany’s Table has been serving a lovely lunch for fifteen years. Many of our lunch regulars have been with us that long. We love our lunch crowd, though crowd may not be the right descriptor in this instance. Here again, our location works against us. We are a little too removed from dense commercial activity to attract sufficient business lunch activity.
Staffing lunch requires one full-time and one part time cook with one server and one support out front. Honestly, I haven’t wanted to take a hard look the numbers because I knew the answer and… we love our lunch customers.
Analyzing recent months, the average daily revenue from lunch I came up with was just under $700 per day. Subtract food cost and labor and we lose a little under $200 per day. I guess the rest goes without saying.
So we ask ourselves, what is trying to happen here?
Pi Enters the Equation
Meanwhile, Radii Pi needs a little more juice. While BT’s daytime business languishes in the red the folks next store at Radii Pi are also feeling undernourished.
Effective July 1st, Pi’s lunch menu will be enhanced by more salad choices, soups and pasta. Seating will be available in the adjacent dining room and wine bar.
We will launch a new point of sale system (oh dread) that will enable us to communicate between the two kitchens. Takeout and delivery customers will now be able to order from both restaurants and pizza will be served nightly at Bethany’s Table.
Folks will still order at the counter. Beer, wine and cocktails are offered. It won’t be the luxury, entrée-driven meals for which we never became famous, but it will be darn good.
We want to offer our gratitude to our loyal lunch patrons. Join us for lunch this week. We’ll strap on some bells and try to make it festive. Unfortunately, Janet is leaving for a stay in Switzerland on Tuesday and regrets that she won’t be here to greet you.
Other News
Save the date! Maysara Winery winemaker dinner July 26th! Janet has slected the wines and designed the courses. She’ll finalize the menu and
I want to let this message about the end of an era pass uncluttered. Watch for a follow-up newsletter later this week that will give you all the details about other changes… good ones. Stay tuned!
