The People’s Courts; Portland’s new indoor/outdoor multi-bar and recreation center
An elevated beer, tavern, dining and recreation destination called The People’s Courts brings a one-of-a-kind concept to Portland.
The People’s Courts is a beer adjacent, recreation and drinking establishment opening in outer northeast Portland this Saturday, August 25th, 2023 at 2700 NE 82nd Ave. The intersection of beer and sports, or beer and exercise, has never been stronger than it is today with the predominance of beer running clubs, adult kickball leagues, and active/lifestyle beer and adult beverage brands. The People’s Courts could be the new premiere destination for such pursuits if you enjoy batting balls around turf with a local craft beer, cocktail, wine, in hand.
The People’s Courts is a 48,000 sq. ft indoor and outdoor venue set up to be a destination location for Pickleball courts, Bocce Ball, Ping Pong, Cornhole, a 9-Hole Disc Golf putting course, an arcade, and two great restaurants. The indoor portion of the venue is set up like a bowling alley with the entry level, two bars/restaurants an arcade and a pro-shop on a main level with the rows and rows of courts on a sunken level visible from the hospitality side. Of course, the People’s Courts was in fact once an AMF bowling alley, and most recently operated as ‘The Lumberyard’, an indoor BMX bike park.
The central focus of The People’s Courts is arguably the five full-size Pickleball courts, two "skinny singles" courts and a “dinkum” court, all housed indoors. The outside yard, located across the street and with a view to McDaniel High School and Athletic Fields, has six additional Pickleball courts and a covered seating area for eating, drinking, and socializing. Pickleball is reportedly America’s fastest growing sport, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association trade group reported that the number of people playing pickleball grew by 159% over three years to 8.9 million in 2022.
But the new active entertainment center is not limited to the currently trending new sport, they also have five Bocce Ball courts, six to ten Ping Pong tables, and six to ten Cornhole courts. When we visited for a preview, they were still touching up a one-of-a-kind nine-hole putt-putt style Disc Golf course that will be located on a basement level.
If you are reading this now, you are probably wondering why we haven’t said much about the beer and the food yet. Patience padewan, because The People’s Courts does not skimp out or phone it in in this respect. It’s true that similar to a bowling alley they have two counter service style options, one more family friendly and one more adult leaning. But instead of just going with some standard cartons of nacho cheese, popcorn, and frozen burgers, they have partnered up with two of Portland’s greatest kitchen and bar all-stars: Brian Spangler, and Nate Tilden.
On the far west side of the length-wise upper level above the courts, there is “The Parlor,” a pizzeria from none other than Brian Spangler of Apizza Scholls fame. The southeast Hawthorne pub Apizza Scholls has been consistently rated as not only the best pizza in Portland, but one of the best in the country. At “The Parlor” at "The People’s Courts, Spangler is doing an even more approachable and easy to eat tavern-style pizza different then Apizza Scholls. Think of it as kid friendly elevated pub pizza in thinner slices with plenty of toppings and enough crunch and consistency to almost be a finger food without worrying about your slice going limp or toppings and oil slopping onto a beautiful bocce ball court.
The Parlor allows you to build your own pizza with veggie and meat options, and a choice between marinara or a pesto sauce base. They feature four signature pies: The Madison South - house fennel sausage, green pepper, and mushrooms with tomato sauce & mozzarella. The Roseway - pepperoni, Calabrian chili, and basil with tomato sauce, mozzarella & parmesan reggiano. The Montavilla - oil cured olives, torpedo onion, and fresh arugula with basil pesto & peccorino toscano. The Great Debate - Canadian bacon, pineapple, and pickled jalapeño with tomato sauce & mozzarella. On our recent visit they were also highlighting the family friendly classic Pepperoni pizza and a cheese pizza. Also to stimulate the kids (or adults for that matter), soft serve ice cream served in cones or cups, select your own toppings, or even add a magic chocolate shell.
On the far east side of The People’s Courts you will find “The Kitchen” with a bar and grill menu designed by Nate Tilden, the owner of the late-great Clyde Common and Olympia Provisions Co-Founder and Culinary Director. This area has a larger footprint and more private back booth area for groups looking to hide away a bit for all the whiffle ball action across the hall. Unlike the pizzeria side, “The Kitchen” has an overhang thatched roof and mini lantern lit tables that stretch out further over the courts for a better view of the action. It also has a completely different food menu with more hearty and filling fare, classic gastropub food with a variety of influences.
“The Kitchen” focuses on sandwiches, burgers, brats, big salads and full bowls. With culinary director Nate Tilden’s involvement with Olympia Provisions, it is not surprising they feature three different wrapped dogs: Portland Dog - an all beef frankfurter spicy mustard, red onion, kraut. Bratwurst - served with kraut, whole grain mustard. Kasekrainer - cheese stuffed sausage red onions, yellow mustard. Chicago Dog - all beef frankfurter on a poppy seed bun with yellow mustard, neon green relish, cucumber, celery salt, sport peppers.
Although I didn’t get a chance to try them (all filled up on pizza and a couple slices of dogs) the sandwiches look and sound great: Pickle Burger - smash burger, cheese, caramelized onions, house zucchini pickle, special sauce. Columbia Steelhead Sando - grilled steelhead salmon, lettuce, onions, tomato, and lemon-dill aioli on ciabatta. There are too many options to list, but there is also a double bacon burger, a grilled chicken sandwich, a housemade veggie burger made from beets, turnips, parsnips, and topped with carmelized onions and zucchini pickles. The bowls run the range from Thai style meatballs with cabbage, pickled peppers and pita sauce, to Gochujang salmon loaded up Korean style, a vegetarian Mexican taco bowl, and a Middle Eastern kebab bowl, plus all the salads and sides a heart desires.
Neither “The Parlor” or “The Kitchen” forgot about the drinks. They both run with the same selection of a 18 taps: a dozen draft beers, 2 draft cocktails, 4 x Cooper’s Hall Wine on tap, 4 more housemade cocktails, and 2 non-alcoholic cocktails, plus assorted soft drinks including a soda fountain. The beer list has a little of everything, approachable and easy drinking: pFriem Pilsner, Sunriver Brewing Fuzztail Hefe, Level Beer Sweep the Leg rice lager. Hoppy and/or hazy: Block 15 Fluffhead, Buoy Beer Pacific Pale Ale, Level Beer Skyward Strike IPA, Migration Brewing Straight Outta Portland IPA. More obscure like the nano brewery Yovu Beer’s American Lager. And of course a few for the cheap seats: Modelo, and Coors Light. Cider is not forgotten with taps from Bauman’s Cider and Double Mountain Cidery.
Though the courts and ball games seem designed primarily for adults, the People’s Court knows that kids may be tagging along, so they didn’t forget the arcade. They went all out here with a mix of new and retro games of all kinds. Tabletop seated joystick classics like Pong and Pac-Man. An entire wall of pinball machines, plus the much more analog ski ball. Stand up button smashers, side scrolling and fighting games are here, as even Dance Dance Revolution and an amazing Star Wars Battle Pod you climb in to for a full immersive experience and a claw toy for prizes.
“We are ecstatic for our new neighbors to join the community,” says Adam Skyles, Principal of McDaniel High School which is right across the street from The People’s Courts, and is known for their impressive athletic facilities. “I had an opportunity to take a sneak peek and was amazed! In my conversation with their leadership they are community focused and we look forward to a long and positive relationship.”
People’s Court owners Dave Schrott, Dave Sacks, and Robert Sacks have a long history of investing in Portland’s restaurant and tourism industry – in addition to developing the downtown Ace Hotel property, which they sold last year, the team also owns the buildings that house Coopers Hall Winery and Taproom, Spirit of 77, Oven and Shaker, and other iconic venues. With The People’s Courts, they are creating a unique space for high-quality recreational experiences with a focus on building a fun and social atmosphere.
“After a total interior and exterior renovation, we’re excited to open this unique space for quality recreational experiences, with a focus on building a fun and social atmosphere,” says Dave Sacks, Co-owner of The People’s Courts. “This is unlike any other venue in the country.”
The full list of People’s Court features and amenities:
Pickleball: Five indoor and six outdoor pickleball courts plus two "skinny singles" courts, and a “dinkum” court
Bocce Ball: Five courts
Ping Pong: Six to ten tables
Cornhole: Six to ten courts
Disc Golf Putt-Putt: A one-of-a-kind nine hole putt-putt style indoor Disc Golf course
Arcade with classic and modern games
Pro-Shop with a well-curated selection of equipment and merchandise
Two Restaurants:
‘The Kitchen’ is a bar and grill serving generous burgers, sausages, salads, and rice bowls developed by Nate Tilden of Clyde Common and Olympia Provisions.
‘The Parlor’ serves parlor-style pizza created by Brian Spangler of Apizza Scholls, as well as soft serve ice cream. The beverage menu throughout the venue features local beer, wine, craft cocktails and mocktails, and Deadstock Coffee.
For the Grand Opening Weekend celebrations, The People’s Courts will be open special hours: Friday 8/25 from 5pm - 10pm, Saturday, 8/26 from Noon - Midnight and Sunday 8/27 from Noon - 10pm, with a live DJ, raffles, beer and wine samples, and community connections.
After opening weekend, The People’s Courts (2700 NE 82nd Ave in Portland, Oregon) will be open regular hours of 8am - 10pm Sunday through Thursday, and 8am - Midnight Friday and Saturday.
Play details including fee structures, open play hours, clinics, rental packages for groups and leagues, and more information is available at www.thepeoplescourts.com or contact letsplay@thepeoplescourts.com.
