Plans at Banh Mi & Brews at 285 E. Oregon Ave. in Creswell are starting to come full-circle, despite the impacts of the Coronavirus. Owners Duc and Sara Nguyen do not know when they will be able to open, but plans are still in motion, Duc said. ERIN TIERNEY/PHOTO
CRESWELL — Duc and Sara Nguyen of Creswell are in a sticky situation as they wade through economic impacts of COVID-19 while trying to open a restaurant.
Plans may be delayed but are still underway.
The couple plans to open a new restaurant at 285 E. Oregon Ave. called Banh Mi & Brews, a Vietnamese restaurant with German beer. The space is that of the former One Gro Nakd Bean coffee shop that has been vacant since early 2018.
“We were supposed to be open mid-June to get ready for the July Fourth celebration,” but the Coronavirus muddied up the permitting and contracting process, Duc said. “Things are starting to ramp up here, but we might be a few months out if not longer, due to COVID,” Duc said.
The restaurant will serve Vietnamese sandwiches, and in a unique twist, will also double as a German pub. “The outside area will have a beer garden where people can sit and enjoy a beer on Oregon Avenue,” he said. The restaurant will seat a total of 73 — 59 inside, six in the lottery section, and eight outdoors, according to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. Once fully operational, they plan to be open Monday-Thursday 11-a.m.-11 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.- 12 a.m.
“We are a few months out from opening, but not at this point there is not a lot of information to pass on,” Duck said, and will communicate with the community as more news develops.
