Bipartisan Cafe

Bipartisan Cafe is an independent coffee shop and bakery in Portland, Oregon's Montavilla neighborhood. Hobie Bender and Peter Emerson opened the business in 2005 in a former hardware-store space, intending to create a place where people with differing political views could meet and converse civilly. That founding idea shaped both the cafe's identity and its physical setting: the interior is filled with American political and historical memorabilia, including portraits, campaign materials, ballots, posters, and a voting machine associated with the 2000 presidential election. Much of the collection came from Emerson's personal archive, begun in 1980. The cafe combines everyday neighborhood hospitality with a distinctly civic orientation. It has hosted political candidates, civic organizations, book readings and signings, concerts, and viewing parties for major political events. Its events have included gatherings connected with the 2008 presidential campaign, President Barack Obama's 2011 State of the Union address, the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and meetings involving Portland policy and planning issues. The setting has also been used by candidates such as Ben Cannon, Jefferson Smith, Ted Wheeler, and Jo Ann Hardesty. The cafe's name and decor emphasize political pluralism rather than alignment with a single party. Food and drink are central to the brand. Bipartisan Cafe serves coffee from Water Avenue Coffee and has become especially associated with housemade pies. Its range has included marionberry, triple-berry, chocolate cream, espresso cream, key lime, banana cream, blueberry, cherry, pumpkin, and other seasonal or specialty pies. The marionberry pie follows a family recipe and has been highlighted by regional food coverage, including the American Automobile Association's 2022 list of ten notable regional Western dishes. The menu has also included vegan and gluten-free pie options, salads, sandwiches, soups, quiches, bagels with lox, and seasonal beverages such as an eggnog latte. Local and regional publications have repeatedly described Bipartisan Cafe as a neighborhood institution, family-friendly gathering place, and destination for coffee and pie. Its reputation has contributed to the broader revival and identity of Montavilla's historic commercial district. Reviews have generally praised its crusts, cream pies, hospitality, Wi-Fi, and eclectic atmosphere, while some individual reviews have criticized particular pie textures or sweetness. The business has also been recognized as a place where people can spend time working, meeting, or engaging with local public life. The cafe's operating history has included labor and policy debates typical of a small restaurant. During the 2010s, Emerson discussed the pressure of rising labor costs, minimum-wage increases, paid sick leave, and Portland's proposed street fee. He described the business as operating on a narrow margin while attempting to increase staffing, provide food to employees, and accommodate scheduling needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bipartisan Cafe used a take-out window and sought community financial support through GoFundMe. In early 2022, vaccination proof was required for indoor dining for patrons aged 12 and older under the conditions described in contemporary coverage, while unvaccinated customers could still enter for takeout. In 2023, ownership transferred to former employee Josh Pangelinan. The cafe remains known for coffee, pie, neighborhood sociability, and political conversation.

Bipartisan Cafe was founded in 2005 by Hobie Bender and Peter Emerson in Portland's Montavilla neighborhood. The founders converted a former hardware-store space into a coffee shop and bakery intended to function as a community gathering place. Emerson described the underlying purpose as creating a setting where people with opposing political views could meet and have civil conversations. The cafe's name, programming, and decor all reflect that aim. Its interior became one of the business's defining features. Emerson's collection of political and historical material, assembled over many years, supplied posters, campaign buttons, ballots, bumper stickers, portraits, and other memorabilia. Items associated with figures including James Buchanan, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Martin Van Buren, Geronimo, Martin Luther King Jr., and Harriet Tubman have been displayed alongside Norman Rockwell's Four Freedoms imagery and a voting machine used in the 2000 presidential election. The setting also includes comfortable seating and a children's play area, reinforcing its role as a family-friendly neighborhood venue. From its early years, Bipartisan Cafe hosted public-facing events in addition to normal cafe service. Political candidates appeared at the venue, including Ben Cannon in 2006, Jefferson Smith in 2012, Ted Wheeler in 2016, and Jo Ann Hardesty in 2018. The cafe organized or accommodated viewing parties for major political broadcasts, including the 2008 presidential acceptance speeches, Obama's 2011 State of the Union address, and the 2016 presidential election. Civic organizations also used the space; a 2009 City Club of Portland meeting addressed the 1980 Portland Comprehensive Plan and included urban historian Carl Abbott and city planners. The food program developed a strong local reputation, particularly for pies. The cafe has offered many varieties, including marionberry, triple-berry, chocolate cream, espresso cream, key lime, banana cream, blueberry, cherry, and seasonal pumpkin pie. Vegan and gluten-free options have also been available. The marionberry pie uses a family recipe and became the product most closely associated with the cafe in regional food writing. Water Avenue Coffee supplies the cafe's coffee, while seasonal drinks such as the eggnog latte have become recurring menu features. Bipartisan's role in Portland public life extended to policy discussions affecting small businesses. In 2014, Emerson criticized a proposed Portland street fee based on trip-generation data, arguing that it could treat a small cafe like a much larger enterprise. In 2015, he supported statewide paid sick leave after initially expressing reservations and also voiced support for minimum-wage increases. Reporting in 2016 described a workforce of approximately 25 employees and discussed the difficulty of raising wages while operating on a narrow margin. Emerson said he attempted to reduce workplace stress through additional staffing, free employee food, and scheduling flexibility. The cafe faced the operational disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic by maintaining takeout service through a dedicated window and raising emergency funds through GoFundMe. In February 2022, reported operating rules required vaccination proof for indoor dining by customers aged 12 and older, while takeout remained available to unvaccinated patrons. The business was sold in 2023 to Josh Pangelinan, a former employee. Across its history, Bipartisan Cafe has been portrayed by Portland and travel publications as both a pie destination and an informal community center, contributing to Montavilla's neighborhood identity and commercial revival.

1. 2023Ownership changes

   Former employee Josh Pangelinan purchases the business.

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2. 2022Marionberry pie receives regional recognition

   The marionberry pie is included in the American Automobile Association's selection of notable Western regional dishes.

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3. 2020Pandemic takeout operations

   Bipartisan Cafe shifts toward takeout service and raises funds to support continued operations.

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4. 2011State of the Union viewing event

   The venue hosts a viewing party for President Obama's State of the Union address.

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5. 2009City Club planning discussion

   A City Club of Portland group holds a meeting at the cafe about the 1980 Portland Comprehensive Plan.

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6. 2008Presidential acceptance-speech viewing parties

   The cafe hosts public viewing events for the acceptance speeches of John McCain and Barack Obama.

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7. 2005Bipartisan Cafe opens in Montavilla

   Hobie Bender and Peter Emerson establish the coffee shop and bakery in a former hardware-store space.

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An independent, community-oriented Portland cafe that combines specialty coffee, homemade pies, and a politically themed setting designed for civic exchange and neighborhood gathering.

• Marionberry piePie

  A signature housemade pie prepared from a family recipe. It is one of the cafe's most frequently recognized offerings and has been served in versions combining marionberries with lemon curd or peach. The pie helped establish Bipartisan Cafe as a Portland dessert destination.

• Triple-berry piePie

  A mixed-berry pie made with blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries. It is part of the cafe's broader selection of traditional fruit pies and has been discussed in Portland food criticism alongside the cafe's other pastry offerings.

• Cream piesPie

  Bipartisan Cafe has offered several cream-pie varieties, including chocolate cream, chocolate silk, espresso cream, banana cream, and chocolate orange cream. The espresso cream and chocolate cream versions have received particular attention in local best-dessert and best-pie coverage.

• Water Avenue CoffeeCoffee

  The cafe serves coffee from Portland roaster Water Avenue Coffee. Coffee service complements the bakery program and supports the brand's positioning as a place to linger, work, meet, or share pie.

• Seasonal eggnog latteSeasonal beverage

  A recurring holiday beverage that has been described in local coverage as one of Bipartisan Cafe's most anticipated seasonal menu items.

• Savory cafe menuPrepared food

  Alongside coffee and pie, the cafe has served salads, sandwiches, soups, quiches, and bagels with lox. These items broaden the venue from a dessert destination into an all-day neighborhood cafe.

• 2020COVID-19 survival fundraising

  United States

  During the pandemic, Bipartisan Cafe used a GoFundMe campaign to seek community support while operating a takeout window.

  Outcome. The cafe continued operating through the reported period, although the available material does not state the total amount raised.

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• 2023Sale to former employeeM&A

  After nearly two decades under its founding owners, the cafe changed ownership.

  What changed. Josh Pangelinan, a former employee, purchased the business.

  Aftermath. The cafe continued under new ownership; detailed post-sale operating changes are not specified in the available material.

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• 2022Vaccination requirement for indoor diningStrategy

  Public-health rules and pandemic risk affected indoor restaurant service.

  What changed. Proof of vaccination was required for indoor dining by patrons aged 12 and older, while takeout remained available to unvaccinated customers.

  Aftermath. The policy allowed the cafe to distinguish indoor dining from takeout during the reported period.

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• 2020Shift toward takeout during the pandemicStrategy

  COVID-19 restrictions and health concerns disrupted ordinary indoor cafe operations.

  What changed. The business operated a takeout window and sought emergency financial support from its community.

  Aftermath. The cafe remained in operation and later resumed indoor-dining service under public-health requirements.

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• 2023Ownership transfers to former employee Josh Pangelinan

  The business was sold to former employee Josh Pangelinan, marking a change in ownership after nearly two decades under its founders.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2022Indoor-dining vaccination policy reported

  Coverage reported that patrons aged 12 and older needed proof of vaccination for indoor dining, while unvaccinated customers could enter for takeout.

  Regulation
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• 2022Marionberry pie recognized among notable Western regional dishes

  The cafe's marionberry pie appeared on the American Automobile Association's list of ten best regional Western dishes.

  Other
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• 2020Bipartisan Cafe adapts during the COVID-19 pandemic

  The cafe operated a takeout window and sought community assistance through a GoFundMe campaign to remain solvent during the pandemic.

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• 2014Cafe engages in Portland labor and transportation-policy debates

  Peter Emerson publicly discussed the proposed Portland street fee, paid sick leave, and minimum-wage policy as issues affecting a small restaurant.

  RegulationOther
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• 2008Bipartisan Cafe holds 2008 presidential-election viewing events

  The cafe hosted viewing parties for acceptance speeches by John McCain and Barack Obama and displayed life-size campaign cutouts.

  CampaignOther
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• 2006Cafe hosts political candidates and civic meetings

  The venue became a setting for candidate appearances, civic-group meetings, policy discussions, and other public events.

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• 2005Bipartisan Cafe opens as a Montavilla community gathering place

  Hobie Bender and Peter Emerson opened the coffee shop and bakery in a former hardware-store location, establishing its coffee, pie, and civic-community concept.

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1. Bipartisan Cafe