Top Chef finalist Brian Malarkey: After 27 restaurants, I’m betting big on my hometown Portland — and we’re headed for $10 million in sales this year
People told me Portland was a bad bet and I chose to make a big one instead. I'm a chef, not an economist, but I put my money where my mouth is.
At the end of July, chef Brian Malarkey made a large bet on his hometown, Portland. Rather than just leasing a space, Malarkey and his brother decided to buy the building and open a 10,000-square-foot wood-fired steak and seafood restaurant in Portland's Pearl District. This marks Malarkey's 27th restaurant overall and his first in Portland, the city where he was born.
Opening night saw over 450 guests, with the numbers not slowing down since. The young restaurateur believes the city has been given a bad reputation for being a tough investment, but he was drawn to Portland after thorough research, expecting a profit and hoping to contribute to the city's growth. Malarkey's bold move has paid off, with the restaurant on track to generate over $10 million in sales in its first year.
Other notable individuals, such as Chef Michael Mina and Jeff Swickard, are investing in Portland as well, reaffirming the city's potential for growth and development.
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