Portland to update odor code after forced closure of pho restaurant
By Carl Samson
Portland, Oregon, will be updating its odor code following the controversial closure of a pho restaurant last month.
Key points:
- City Commissioner Carmen Rubio is leading the efforts to update the code.
- The move follows the forced closure of Vietnamese restaurant Pho Gabo after repeated odor complaints from a nearby resident.
The details:
- Rubio has directed the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability to update the code, which prohibits “continuous, frequent or repetitive odors” from restaurants. She previously paused related complaints.
- Pho Gabo, a Vietnamese restaurant with three locations, closed its Fremont Street branch on Feb. 3 after multiple odor complaints from a neighbor. Despite efforts by owner Eddie Dong to mitigate the issue — including changes in cooking practices and hiring cleaning services — the hefty costs and fines forced him to shut down his business.
- The closure sparked public outcry and accusations of targeting restaurant owners of different ethnic backgrounds. Community members set up a Change.org petition and a GoFundMe page to support Dong and Pho Gabo.
- The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability will review the code and its history. Recommendations will then be submitted to the Planning Commission for evaluation, followed by the Portland City Council for final approval.
- Rubio emphasized the need for “a more fair, practical and equitable” approach in enforcing odor regulations. She also stressed the goal of implementing code changes promptly to prevent similar closures.
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