Double Mountain Brewing partners with the Aladdin Theater on revamp of “The Lamp”

Hood River, Oregon’s 14 year-old Double Mountain Brewing is known almost as well for their pizza as they are for their beers and ciders and now they are bringing their pie skills to Portland’s historic Aladdin Theater.

First opened in 1927 as a vaudeville house called Geller’s Theater, the venue was renamed The Aladdin in 1934. It then spent 30 years as a porn theater before being reborn as a 620 seat live music venue in 1991. The Aladdin recently reopened in Portland’s Brooklyn neighborhood sans it’s sister bar and restaurant that provided hospitality to the patrons.

“We are partnering with the Aladdin to take over what used to be the Lamp,” says Double Mountain Brewing founder and brewmaster Matt Swihart, referring to the on-site bar “The Lamp” that was popular before and after shows, and to neighborhood locals but has not reopened since the beginning of the pandemic.

The Lamp bar worked in tandem with The Aladdin, but had it’s own separate space and entrance on Milwaukie Ave. Now the name is likely being retired and the entire bar and food program reimagined by ditching the old Mediterranean food menu for Double Mountain pizza and appetizers. “Customers will be able to enjoy a tasty beverage of their choice and grab a slice of pizza from the old restaurant area (now opened up to the lobby as well) and in the lobby of the theatre,” says Swihart, noting that they will only be in service on days of shows at the theater.

Double Mountain Brewing’s Jersey Pie

Double Mountain built a huge following for their New Haven Conneticut style pizza at their Hood River pub from day one. Favorites like the Jersey Pie with hot capicola, provolone and Mama Lil's peppers, or the more unusual Truffle Shuffle, a white pie with mozzarella, crumbled goat cheese, portabella mushrooms marinated in truffle oil; finished with green onions. The thin crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside crust is specked with charred bubbles, sweaty curled meats, and fresh peppers that raise the bar on your typical tavern style pizza by a few notches, and far better in quality than the typical concert food options. The menu at the Aladdin is still being formulated and kitchen renovations will involve new equipment to make the signature pizzas.

Double Mountain has worked with The Aladdin’s managing promoters True West on the Hood River Hops Fest, so reaching out to the brewery to partner at The Aladdin was a natural fit. The only real surprise is that the brewery is not taking over the bar completely as a satellite location. While the theater will still handle the bar service, it seems reasonable to expect a significant presence of Double Mountain beers on draft.

“The whole project came together quite recently so we are still working through many aspects of how it's going to work, but the ovens are ordered and we are starting to hire for the kitchen. I'm looking forward to being part of this great theatre and a return to live music”

Stay tuned for more details on The Lamp and Aladdin’s revamp in the coming weeks and months.

Aladdin Theater