Elmer’s will open new restaurant in former Shari’s space near Portland airport

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — What was once a Shari’s near the Portland International Airport will be taken over by another Oregon-founded family-style diner.

According to the Elmer’s website, the West Coast chain plans to open its next Portland eatery on 1135 NE Airport Way. The space previously held a Shari’s up until last fall, when the company shuttered all 17 of its businesses across the state.

Elmer’s already has nearly 20 locations throughout Oregon, including four in its largest city — with its other restaurant in the Parkrose neighborhood located about two miles away from the newest addition.

The outpost near PDX is expected to open sometime this winter. The chain also plans to debut more locations in Tualatin, Hillsboro and Bend later this year.

Elmer’s prides itself on its “home-style cooking.” The family-friendly restaurant is known for its all-day breakfast offerings, such as its hand-rolled omelets and German pancakes.

While Shari’s may have been better known for its pies, the 1978-born chain served comfort food in Oregon — and is continuing to serve food in its remaining locations across California, Washington and other states.

The Hermiston-founded company abruptly closed all of its locations statewide in October 2024. The Oregon Lottery, which supplied the restaurants with video lottery machines, told KOIN 6 that Shari’s had accrued more than $900,000 in debt.

A former employee also filed a class action lawsuit against the chain, claiming she was one of several employees who didn’t receive adequate notice before being terminated from her role. Oregon’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requires employers to give their staff a notice of at least 60 days ahead of mass layoffs.

The Shari’s closures have left room for other businesses to take over the abandoned locations. In-N-Out Burger has proposed a drive-thru in a shuttered Gresham diner.