Bridge key to Quay’s future

Kelli Osler’s name was misspelled in a photo accompanying this story.

The Quay Restaurant & Bar this month marked its 50th year in business on the Columbia River’s northern shoreline, where it gives diners a view of the Interstate 5 Bridge’s silhouette.

As the restaurant celebrates its longevity, it also faces questions about its future.

The restaurant’s trademark location could be threatened by plans to build a new Columbia River Crossing, said Patrick Quinlan, general manager of the restaurant and hotel. “The placement of the new bridge could impact our operation, so we’re watching it closely,” Quinlan said. “That’s all we can do.”

With the current plan, one of the bridge footings would take out the corner of the restaurant.

The Quay Restaurant & Bar opened in 1960 as the brainchild of local restaurateur George Goodrich, who converted a Port of Vancouver-owned warehouse that was used to store prunes into the restaurant.

In 1962, construction work added an adjoining hotel to the restaurant and the complex became the Inn at the Quay. The business was purchased by The Thunderbird Corp. in 1973 and it was renamed the Thunderbird Inn at the Quay.

“It was one of the only waterfront restaurants here at the time,” Quinlan said.

Thunderbird/Red Lion went on to develop competing waterfront hotels on the Oregon side of the river, on either side of the bridge.

Today, the Clark County hotel is called the Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay and is operated by Spokane-based Red Lion Hotels Corp. The hotel leases its three-acre waterfront site from the Port of Vancouver, which owns the property. The leasing agreement is good through 2033, said Nelson Holmberg, port spokesman.

Longtime success

Quinlan credited The Quay Restaurant’s longtime success to its menu and waterfront ambiance.

“There are very few places with views like ours,” he said.

Nevertheless, Quinlan said business has suffered a bit through the recession, despite The Quay Restaurant’s long track record. Restaurant sales brought in slightly more than $2 million through 2009, down from 2008, although Quinlan would not share percentages. The restaurant employs about 65 workers.

“Our sales are down a bit, and our catering business suffered,” Quinlan said. “But we draw from all over the Portland and Clark County market. We have a lot of guests that travel great distances to come back in and enjoy our food.”