Downtown Portland Loses a Black-Owned Southern Brunch Staple

Grits N' Gravy is closing its downtown Portland restaurant after five years in business.

Written By Deepali Singla
Outside Grits N’ Gravy restaurant in Portland (Image credit: Stephen David Simon)

Grits N’ Gravy, a longtime breakfast and brunch restaurant in downtown Portland, will permanently close on June 25, 2026. The restaurant is ending the journey of five years of serving Southern cuisine to the neighborhood.

Grits N’ Gravy Closes After Five Years in Downtown Portland

In a recent Instagram post, Grits N’ Gravy announced its permanent closure. Located at 215 SW 6th Avenue, the restaurant mentioned, “Unfortunately, this is the end for us.” The owner said the business had been struggling for some time and that revenue had been declining since August 2025.

The owner also runs a food cart, Mumbo Gumbo PDX, at 5205 SE Foster Road. Following the closure, Stevens said he plans to focus on the food cart and encouraged customers to continue supporting the business there. The food cart’s menu is expected to expand next month, including fried fish, greens, and pork chops.

The owner also said there are no plans to reopen Grits N’ Gravy.

Grits N’ Gravy is a black-owned Southern breakfast and brunch restaurant. It is owned and operated by Brandon Stevens. The restaurant is closely tied to family history and inspired by Stevens’ grandparents, Albert and Yoshi Stevens, who opened a restaurant in Sacramento back in 1978.

The restaurant reflected both Southern culinary traditions and the family’s long history in the restaurant industry. Guests enjoyed several gravy varieties, including country-style, sausage, red-eye, and smothered onion gravy, paired with biscuits, chicken-fried specialties, and breakfast platters.

Signature items included Country Boy Breakfast, chicken-fried steak, chicken-fried pork chop, Southern fried catfish, Southern fried trout, and the popular Wings N’ Waffle. Grits N’ Gravy also served a wide breakfast menu, a variety of side dishes, and beverages.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @gritsngravypdx

Customers React to Grits N’ Gravy’s Closure

The closure announcement prompted an outpouring of reactions from customers on social media. While appreciating the restaurant’s concept, one of the diners mentioned, “Nooooo!!! I loved this place so much when we visited 2 years ago! The concept made the best sense!”

Some called the closure a huge loss to the downtown dining industry, while others commented, “My fav spot when visiting PDX. So sad to hear this news. Thank you for the good eats!” and “I stopped by every single morning when I vacationed in Portland back in April. Easily the best chicken-fried steak I have ever had in my entire life, and I’ve spent a lot of time in the south. I’m so sad to hear this, and I wish you the most success with the cart.”

Love our content?
Add WhatNow as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.

Be the First to Know

From new restaurant openings to exciting retail launches and real estate insights, be the first to know what’s happening in Portland

Share This Article
Follow:
Deepali Singla is a food technologist by discipline and a seasoned, versatile writer by profession. Her passion for writing emerged during her academic journey. With a strong foundation in research, she excels at crafting well-researched content. Combining technical knowledge with a flair for storytelling, Deepali brings depth and clarity to her work.
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *