Building Community at the Lombard House

"During his first week in town the two of them took their dogs to a very cozy (read: small) beer bar on North Lombard Street that's festooned with Philadelphia sports fan paraphernalia. At Lombard House, NFL team the Eagles looms largest, and Gritty, mascot for the Flyers NHL team, makes many appearances."

"“I remember the first time coming in and thinking, 'Oh interesting, it's a little sportsy,' which is not my thing in any way, shape, or form. But I was thinking, 'You know, the tap list is great.' Everyone was very kind, very sweet,” Hart recalls. The next time he came in, with the same friend and a guest visiting from out of town, people at the bar recognized him."

"“Everyone was like, 'Oh, welcome in, welcome back.' It was very warm and inviting.... After that, I started poking my head in here solo.” “The set of folks that come on a regular basis are neighborhood folks. I literally met my direct neighbors here before I actually met them at my house. I didn't know who they were, I didn't know they lived next to me, but I met them here,” Hart says."

"Hart, who grew up in Colorado, had always been an IPA guy. Living in Portland, though, has widened his tastes, and he's learned to trust Lombard House owner Brian Koch's curated tap list-even when something doesn't sound like it would be his thing. “For example, there is an orange-peach mimosa hard cider up there right now. Sounds gross. Actually quite lovely. My horizons have opened up a little,” he says."

A newcomer moved from Oakland to Portland and chose St. Johns after knowing one person there. In his first week, he visited a small beer bar on North Lombard Street with friends and their dogs. The bar’s sports-themed atmosphere and friendly staff created an immediate sense of welcome. Regulars recognized him quickly, and he began stopping in alone. He met neighbors at the bar before meeting them at home, and conversations led to lasting friendships. The bar became a place for building community. Over time, he broadened his tastes by trusting the owner’s curated tap list, including unexpected options like orange-peach mimosa hard cider.

Read at Portland Monthly