McMenamins Ringlers Pub

Specialties

The name «McMenamin» is well known throughout the Pacific Northwest, signifying a great place to enjoy handcrafted ales, wine, spirits and pub fare with family and friends. The dream began more than 30 years ago in the hearts of brothers Mike and Brian McMenamin and continues to spiral upward. With 57 properties (and counting!), the siblings are considered to be pioneers of the Pacific Northwest microbrew, historic hotels and music venue industries. Go to mcme​namins​.com for additional information, photos and more.

History

Established in 1997.

Ringlers Pub is located on the first floor of the Crystal Ballroom building. Named after the King of Dance himself, Ringlers is anchored by an eye-​popping bar, gloriously enhanced by ceramic tile artistry. Above sits the Crystal Brewery, Lola’s room and the Crystal Ballroom. The Ballroom’s renowned dance floor has been a grand stage for music, dancing and personalities which helped define an era — several of them, in fact. But the true essence of this place is a tangle of first loves, police raids, hallucinogenic visions, and passionate performances by a host of America’s greatest. During the ‘teens and ‘20s, at the height of the Jazz Age, a man named Montrose Ringler reigned as Portland’s dance hall king. He first threw open the Ballroom’s doors in January of 1914. For over 80 years the Ballroom stood the test of time, and narrowly escaped death by fire, demolition, and neglect. After a near 30-​respite, the grand hall returned to life in 1997 with McMenamins as its new custodian.

Meet the Business Owner

Mike and Brian M.

Business Owner

The creative force behind McMenamins is brothers Mike and Brian McMenamin. At first glance, these down-​to-​earth men seem an unlikely pair to head the hotels, pubs and breweries company that began when older brother Mike and a couple friends opened Portland’s Produce Row Café in 1974. They just don’t fit the typical corporate make-​up — and perhaps that’s why it’s all worked out as well as it has? The McMenamins are of Irish descent and Portland birth — Mike was born in 1951, Brian in ’57 — and both fully absorbed the culture and quirks of their upbringing in Oregon’s City of Roses. From great bartenders to the razing of the classic Portland Hotel to the launch of Oregon’s first craft brewery and beyond left indelible imprints upon their psyches and cultivated their appreciation for local character and characters. Mike and Brian expanded their educations at Oregon State University in Corvallis, both graduating with degrees in political science during the 1970s.