# McMenamins

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Oregon company

For a list of locations, see [List of McMenamins properties](/source/List_of_McMenamins_properties).

McMenamins McMenamins headquarters in Portland, Oregon Type Private Industry Hospitality Restaurants Bars Founded July 7, 1983; 42 years ago (1983-07-07) in Portland, Oregon, U.S. Founder Mike McMenamin Brian McMenamin Area served Oregon Washington Products Hotels, restaurants, pubs, breweries, movie theaters, music venues, golf courses. Revenue US $200 million annually[1] Owner Mike McMenamin (Co-majority owner) Brian McMenamin (Co-majority owner) Number of employees 2,700[2] Website www.mcmenamins.com

**McMenamins** is an American chain of [pubs](/source/Pub), restaurants, hotels, breweries, and other entertainment venues in [Oregon](/source/Oregon) and [Washington](/source/Washington_(state)).[3] McMenamins is notable for rehabilitating historic properties for many of their establishments, and several are listed on the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places).[4][5]

In addition to [pubs](/source/Pub), restaurants, hotels, and breweries, McMenamins also operates movie theaters, music venues, spas, and golf courses, including the [Gearhart Golf Links](/source/Gearhart_Golf_Links), the oldest golf course west of the [Mississippi River](/source/Mississippi_River).[6][7] McMenamins is credited by some for helping with the popularization of [tater tots](/source/Tater_tots) as bar food, which were invented in Oregon and are offered at every McMenamin's location in either regular or 'Cajun' style.[8]

## History

### Foundation and early years

McMenamins was founded by brothers Mike and [Brian McMenamin](/source/Brian_McMenamin), who were raised in [northeast Portland](/source/Northeast_Portland%2C_Oregon).[9] They trace the beginning of McMenamins to the 1974 opening of [Produce Row Café](/source/Produce_Row_Caf%C3%A9).[9] In 1983, the brothers opened their first brewpub on SE Hawthorne. The Barley Mill featured a very heavy barley mill (originally used as a kitty litter grinder) rescued from Oregon’s first microbrewery, the Cartwright Brewery (1980-1982). Then in 1985, McMenamins opened Oregon's first brewpub in [southwest Portland](/source/Southwest_Portland%2C_Oregon)'s [Hillsdale](/source/Hillsdale%2C_Portland%2C_Oregon) neighborhood.[10][*[clarification needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)*] Their first theater pub was the [Mission Theater & Pub](/source/Mission_Theatre_%26_Pub) (1987).[11] By 1997, food accounted for over half of McMenamins' total sales.[12]

### 2020-present

Approximately 3,000 staff were laid off upon the arrival of the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic).[13][14][15] While still primarily family-owned, in May 2020 McMenamins began raising $20 million from private investors in a Preferred Stock Offering to retire short-term debt as a result of COVID-19 shutdowns, to fund "secret projects" and to enable future expansion. This was the first time the company had opened direct investment in McMenamins, Inc. to those outside the McMenamin family.[16] The private equity offering conferred preferred shares at $100,000 each in private placements to 150 to 200 high-income individuals. The shares do not carry voting rights for their holders but McMenamins indicated that investors could expect a 3 percent annual cumulative dividend and a 6.5 percent overall return.[17] The decision to open McMenamins to outside investors was in-part driven by impacts from COVID-19 with total revenue for McMenamins down 50 percent in the first 5 months of 2020.[18]

McMenamins was the victim of a [ransomware](/source/Ransomware) attack in 2021.[19] In 2022, McMenamins had 62 hotels, theaters, and eateries in Oregon and Washington, as well as approximately 2,700 employees.[20] The business was valued at approximately $180 million in 2024.[21]

In January 2024, the [United States Department of Labor](/source/United_States_Department_of_Labor) accused McMenamins of unlawfully requiring servers at its Edgefield and Cedar Hills locations to share tips with assistant managers, totaling over $800,000 over a three-year period from 2019 to 2022.[21] McMenamins disputed the findings, stating that the assistant managers were hourly, non-exempt employees entitled to participate in the tip pool.[21] The Department of Labor requested repayment but McMenamins refused; denying wrongdoing. The department subsequently determined the case was not suitable for litigation, and the fine is not enforceable without going through the courts.[22] [23]

## Notable establishments and properties

Main article: [List of McMenamins properties](/source/List_of_McMenamins_properties)

### Oregon

[Crystal Hotel](/source/Crystal_Hotel_(Portland%2C_Oregon))

[Edgefield](/source/Multnomah_County_Poor_Farm)

McMenamins establishments in Portland include [Back Stage Bar](/source/Back_Stage_Bar),[24] [Bagdad Theatre](/source/Bagdad_Theatre), [Crystal Ballroom](/source/Crystal_Ballroom_(Portland%2C_Oregon)),[25] the [Crystal Hotel](/source/Crystal_Hotel_(Portland%2C_Oregon)),[26] [Kennedy School](/source/Kennedy_School),[27] [Lola's Room](/source/Lola's_Room),[28] [Mission Theater and Pub](/source/Mission_Theater_and_Pub),[29] and [Rams Head Pub](/source/Rams_Head_Pub).[30] The business also operates in the [National Cash Register Building](/source/National_Cash_Register_Building) in the [St. Johns](/source/St._Johns%2C_Portland%2C_Oregon) neighborhood.

McMenamins operates at [Imbrie Farm](/source/Imbrie_Farm) in [Hillsboro](/source/Hillsboro%2C_Oregon) and in the [Boon Brick Store](/source/Boon_Brick_Store) in [Salem](/source/Salem%2C_Oregon). [The Grand Lodge Hotel](/source/The_Grand_Lodge_Hotel) and [Hotel Oregon](/source/Hotel_Oregon_(McMinnville)) operate in [Forest Grove](/source/Forest_Grove%2C_Oregon) and [McMinnville](/source/McMinnville%2C_Oregon), respectively. Edgefield operates at the [Multnomah County Poor Farm](/source/Multnomah_County_Poor_Farm) in [Troutdale](/source/Troutdale%2C_Oregon). McMenamins also operates the [Old St. Francis School](/source/Old_St._Francis_School) in [Bend](/source/Bend%2C_Oregon).[31]

### Washington

In Washington, McMenamins operates in the [Anderson School](/source/Anderson_School_(Bothell%2C_Washington)) in [Bothell](/source/Bothell%2C_Washington),[32] the [Olympic Club Hotel](/source/Olympic_Club_Hotel) in [Centralia](/source/Centralia%2C_Washington),[33] and the [Elks Temple](/source/Elks_Temple_(Tacoma%2C_Washington)) in [Tacoma](/source/Tacoma%2C_Washington).[34]

## Passport program

McMenamins has a passport program where visitors get stamps from each McMenamins property. Once all the stamps in a general area are collected, visitors can redeem a prize.[35] People who visit all McMenamins properties are called "Cosmic Tripsters," (or "Tripsters,") and are entitled to certain benefits, discounts, and special parties.[36]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-About_McMenamins_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-About_McMenamins_1-1) ["About McMenamins"](http://invest.mcmenamins.com/about-mcmenamins.html). McMenamins.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-McMenamins_ransomware_attack_2-0)** ["McMenamins ransomware attack breached employee records going back 23 years"](https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2022/01/mcmenamins-ransomware-attack-breached-employee-records-going-back-23-years.htmll). The Oregonian. January 3, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Pubs, Breweries and Historic Hotels in Oregon and Washington - McMenamins"](https://www.mcmenamins.com/). *www.mcmenamins.com*. Retrieved 2025-05-01.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Andrews, Garrett (2024-08-12). ["McMenamins Buys Taft Home for $1.5M"](https://oregonbusiness.com/mcmenamins-buys-taft-home-for-1-5m/). *Oregon Business*. Retrieved 2025-05-01.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["McMenamins crafts a unique restaurant empire in the Pacific Northwest"](https://www.nrn.com/independent-restaurants/mcmenamins-crafts-a-unique-restaurant-empire-in-the-pacific-northwest). *www.nrn.com*. Retrieved 2025-05-01.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Gearhart Golf Links"](https://www.mcmenamins.com/gearhart-hotel/gearhart-golf-links). *McMenamins Gearhart Hotel*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["About Us | The Oldest Golf Course on the Oregon Coast"](https://gearhartgolflinks.com/about-us/#:~:text=With%20this%20history,%20Gearhart%20Golf,Monte%20Golf%20Club%20(1897).). *Gearhart Golf Links*. Retrieved 2025-05-01.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Oregonian/OregonLive, Ben Waterhouse | For The (2015-09-07). ["The secret history of totchos"](https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2015/09/the_secret_history_of_totchos.html). *oregonlive*. Retrieved 2025-05-01.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wweek98_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wweek98_9-1) [Over One Million Served](http://www.wweek.com/html/covera051398.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20031227095553/http://www.wweek.com/html/covera051398.html) 2003-12-27 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), a May 13, 1998 article in *[Willamette Week](/source/Willamette_Week)*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Portland breweries"](https://www.travelportland.com/article/portland-breweries/). *[Travel Portland](/source/Travel_Portland)*. 2013-06-20. Retrieved 2019-02-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Mohan, Marc (2014-06-07). ["First look: McMenamins Mission Theater re-opens after renovations, focuses on second-run movie screenings"](https://www.oregonlive.com/movies/2014/06/mcmenamins_mission_theater_re-.html). *oregonlive.com*. Retrieved 2019-02-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-pbj97_12-0)** [Crystal ball forecasts McMenamins' future](http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/1997/02/03/story2.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20020714143850/http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/1997/02/03/story2.html) 2002-07-14 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), a January 1997 article from the *Portland Business Journal*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["McMenamins lays off 3000, closes Oregon and Wash. locations due to coronavirus"](https://katu.com/news/local/mcmenamins-lays-off-3000-closes-oregon-and-wash-locations-due-to-coronavirus). *KATU*. 2020-03-17. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201202171032/https://katu.com/news/local/mcmenamins-lays-off-3000-closes-oregon-and-wash-locations-due-to-coronavirus) from the original on 2020-12-02. Retrieved 2025-02-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2020-03-17). ["Pacific Northwestern Hotel and Restaurant Chain McMenamins Lays Off Thousands of Employees in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic"](https://pdx.eater.com/2020/3/17/21184527/mcmenamins-closure-covid-19). *Eater Portland*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231002145253/https://pdx.eater.com/2020/3/17/21184527/mcmenamins-closure-covid-19) from the original on 2023-10-02. Retrieved 2025-02-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Rogoway, Mike (2020-03-17). ["McMenamins will lay off 'almost everyone' amid coronavirus outbreak"](https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2020/03/mcmenamins-will-lay-off-almost-everyone-amid-coronavirus-outbreak.html). *The Oregonian*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241001171911/https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2020/03/mcmenamins-will-lay-off-almost-everyone-amid-coronavirus-outbreak.html) from the original on 2024-10-01. Retrieved 2025-02-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["McMenamins Seeks $20 Million from Private Investors to Help Keep the Music Playing, Beer Flowing and "Secret Projects" Coming for Years to Come"](https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-business-music-portland-f59c69e0d8474c2eab7ba8c8237761c5). *apnews.com*. 2020-05-19. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230605165908/https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-business-music-portland-f59c69e0d8474c2eab7ba8c8237761c5) from the original on 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2023-06-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Romeo, Peter (2020-05-20). ["McMenamins looks for $20M equity infusion"](https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/mcmenamins-looks-20m-equity-infusion). *restaurantbusinessonline.com*. Retrieved 2023-06-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Gusinow, Sander (2020-06-05). ["McMenamins Grows the Family"](https://oregonbusiness.com/19086-mcmenamins-grows-the-family/). *oregonbusiness.com*. Retrieved 2023-06-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Gusinow, Sander (2022-02-15). ["McMenamins Faces Class Action Suit Over Data Breach"](https://oregonbusiness.com/19490-former-mcmenamin-s-employee-files-class-action-suit-over-data-breach/). *Oregon Business*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241002044510/https://oregonbusiness.com/19490-former-mcmenamin-s-employee-files-class-action-suit-over-data-breach/) from the original on 2024-10-02. Retrieved 2025-02-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Rogoway, Mike (2022-01-04). ["McMenamins ransomware attack breached employee records going back 23 years"](https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2022/01/mcmenamins-ransomware-attack-breached-employee-records-going-back-23-years.html). *The Oregonian*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240623215005/https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2022/01/mcmenamins-ransomware-attack-breached-employee-records-going-back-23-years.html) from the original on 2024-06-23. Retrieved 2025-02-25.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DOL_Report_21-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DOL_Report_21-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-DOL_Report_21-2) ["U.S. Department of Labor Says McMenamins Unlawfully Required Servers to Give Managers Portion of Tips"](https://www.wweek.com/news/business/2024/01/29/us-department-of-labor-says-mcmenamins-unlawfully-required-servers-to-give-managers-portion-of-tips/). *Willamette Week*. 2024-01-30. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250131135813/https://www.wweek.com/news/business/2024/01/29/us-department-of-labor-says-mcmenamins-unlawfully-required-servers-to-give-managers-portion-of-tips/) from the original on 2025-01-31. Retrieved 2025-02-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Tip theft at Pizzicato and McMenamins"](https://nwlaborpress.org/2024/02/tip-theft-at-pizzicato-and-mcmenamins/). *NW Labor Press*. February 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["McMenamins withheld $800,000 in tips unlawfully, U.S. Department of Labor says"](https://www.bendbulletin.com/ap/mcmenamins-withheld-800-000-in-tips-unlawfully-u-s-department-of-labor-says/). *[Bend Bulletin](/source/The_Bulletin_(Bend))*. Associated Press. Retrieved May 11, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Hewitt, Lyndsey (2017-10-23). ["McMENAMINS ARTIFACTS TAP INTO HISTORY"](https://www.portlandtribune.com/lifestyle/features/mcmenamins-artifacts-tap-into-history/article_6f75f382-fe8a-59ce-a19b-b92109853f02.html). *PortlandTribune.com*. Retrieved 2025-02-25.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["McMenamins Buys Long-Vacant Taft Home in Portland's West End"](https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/08/02/mcmenamins-buys-long-vacant-taft-home-in-portlands-west-end/). *Willamette Week*. 2024-08-02. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240919044110/https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/08/02/mcmenamins-buys-long-vacant-taft-home-in-portlands-west-end/) from the original on 2024-09-19. Retrieved 2025-02-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["McMenamins Zeus Café Has a New Name to Honor a Beloved Employee"](https://www.wweek.com/food/2023/06/22/mcmenamins-zeus-cafe-has-a-new-name-to-honor-a-beloved-employee/). *Willamette Week*. 2023-06-22. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230909180903/https://www.wweek.com/food/2023/06/22/mcmenamins-zeus-cafe-has-a-new-name-to-honor-a-beloved-employee/) from the original on 2023-09-09. Retrieved 2025-02-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** Major, Cynthia (2016-10-26). ["This Portland Elementary School-Turned-Restaurant Is Haunted By an Undead Boy"](https://www.vice.com/en/article/this-portland-elementary-school-turned-restaurant-is-haunted-by-an-undead-boy/). *VICE*. Retrieved 2025-02-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** ["Every McMenamins in Portland, Oregon, and Its Suburbs Ranked"](https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/2023/09/mcmenamins-portland-oregon-locations-ranked-restaurants-bars-hotels). *Portland Monthly*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241217005852/https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/2023/09/mcmenamins-portland-oregon-locations-ranked-restaurants-bars-hotels) from the original on 2024-12-17. Retrieved 2025-02-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** ["McMenamins Mission Theater Has Become a Staple in the All-Ages Rock Scene"](https://www.wweek.com/culture/2024/07/23/mcmenamins-mission-theater-has-become-a-staple-in-the-all-ages-rock-scene/). *Willamette Week*. 2024-07-24. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250222041511/https://www.wweek.com/culture/2024/07/23/mcmenamins-mission-theater-has-become-a-staple-in-the-all-ages-rock-scene/) from the original on 2025-02-22. Retrieved 2025-02-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** Bicchieri, Paolo (2025-02-18). ["A Truly Iconic McMenamins Portland Pub and Restaurant Is Closing"](https://pdx.eater.com/2025/2/18/24367996/mcmenamins-rams-head-closing-pub-nw-portland). *Eater Portland*. Retrieved 2025-02-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** ABERNATHY, JON (2024-11-04). ["Cheers to 20 years of McMenamins Old St. Francis School in Bend"](https://www.bendbulletin.com/lifestyle/cheers-to-20-years-of-mcmenamins-old-st-francis-school-in-bend/article_969388da-9820-11ef-a2f9-33866c4e1b93.html). *The Bulletin*. Retrieved 2025-02-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** ["McMenamins Anderson School grand opening is Thursday"](https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/mcmenamins-anderson-school-opens-thursday-in-bothell/). *The Seattle Times*. 2015-10-12. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250126000257/https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/mcmenamins-anderson-school-opens-thursday-in-bothell/) from the original on 2025-01-26. Retrieved 2025-02-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** House, Kelly (2012-06-08). ["Rediscovering McMenamins: Olympic Club"](https://www.oregonlive.com/travel/2012/06/rediscovering_mcmenamins_olymp.html). *The Oregonian*. Retrieved 2025-02-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** Crook, Malia Karlinsky & Elizabeth (2019-04-23). ["Inside Tacoma's historic Elks Lodge, now a McMenamins complex"](https://seattlerefined.com/eat-drink/photos-tacomas-historic-elks-temple-reopens-as-mcmenamins). *Seattle Refined*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20191003020400/http://seattlerefined.com/eat-drink/photos-tacomas-historic-elks-temple-reopens-as-mcmenamins) from the original on 2019-10-03. Retrieved 2025-02-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-35)** ["About Passport - McMenamins"](https://www.mcmenamins.com/about-passport). *www.mcmenamins.com*. Retrieved 2025-05-01.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-36)** ["Tripster Parties - McMenamins"](https://www.mcmenamins.com/about-passport/tripster-parties). *www.mcmenamins.com*. Retrieved 2025-05-01.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [McMenamins](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:McMenamins).

- [Official website](http://www.mcmenamins.com/)

- [McMenamins Brewery Collection, 1985-2013](http://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/findingaids/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=177&q=McMenamins+Brewery+Collection)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [McMenamins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMenamins) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMenamins?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.