On October 30th, 2021 at the old Clark’s Restaurant / Copperstone building a Public Open House is being hosted by the new owners. The historic building at 264 East Main Street, Hillsboro, Oregon has been the home to many eateries, bars, pool halls, garages, and even a bowling alley where local boys would set the pins by hand. The new owners, Roll Tide Properties (6 former Glencoe High Grads), want everyone in the community to see the history that has been unveiled during the demolition and rehab phase of the project. Locals and history lovers alike will want to see this cavernous space with massive beams, old brick, and architecture that showcases 100 years of life in downtown Hillsboro.
-The Event- October 30th, 2021 9-3PM
The details above give you the event info. This is the last Farmers Market of 2021 and there will be events going on all over the downtown core including Spooktacular at City Hall. There will be free coffee from 9-11:30 with tours of the building happening, thanks to the help of the Hillsboro Historical Society. At lunchtime, food will be provided by La Mixteca Oaxaca for visitors. Also at noon, music will be provided by Glencoe grad and popular singer-songwriter Trent Toney.
To commemorate the new chapter in the life of this amazing building, Roll Tide partners Chris Tews and Dave Vandehey are inviting members of the public to help them decide what a good future for the building will be. A whiteboard for idea sharing will be provided for visitors to write down their ideas which will be considered as the site looks ahead.
Vandehey was asked why they bought the building and what their plan was. He replied, “Roll Tide Properties Corporation is comprised of 6 guys that grew up in Oregon and graduated from Glencoe High School in Hillsboro, OR. We’ve been investing in real estate for over 15 years, typically buying, invigorating, and selling, but the property on Main Street in Hillsboro is different. We immediately saw the potential in this historical building in our hometown and devised a plan to invigorate it and hold it long-term. We are excited to find a tenant with a vision for the building that will be a great addition to the Main Street we grew up on. “
In addition to the music and the food, there will be a Time Capsule Beam that those in attendance will be encouraged to sign their name and messages to. We have all been through a historic time. What better way to share our collective history than to leave our mark, message, and words for future generations than this? Kids, adults, and everyone is welcome to come to leave their mark. The beam will be placed in the overhead framework and left for future generations to discover.
Visitors can also see old signatures on the back wall where the bowling alley was dating back to the 1940s. Names and graffiti from that time are now readable and the Herald has located people who remember some of those who left their names. Pretty incredible.
Check Out These Photos of the Space and History
Riley Cave had his hardware store on the property for decades- this shot from the 1890s
Many locals will remember The Copperstone which was an infamous watering hole at the site for decades.
In more modern times the building was Clark’s Bistro and Pub which was the #1 eatery in Hillsboro for many.
Graffiti from the 1940s and 1950s has been discovered on the walls in the back of the building. Come see it.
Lucky site visitors will be allowed to see the spooky boiler under Main Street if they dare!
A sealed-up doorway that went under Main Street has been discovered in the basement.
Checkerboard tile, now removed, showcased the 1940s & 50s dance/ pool hall that existed in the building.
The beams and architecture are something to behold.
A Roll Tide worker walks towards a heavenly beam that shone down through the roof one day.
The Herald will be at the event to sign the beam and we hope you will be too! This is a fun and interactive way for all of you to experience Hillsboro, meet some new friends, and leave your mark! The food and music is just an added bonus! See you all there.
I’m so excited about this event! It’s not every day that we get to see the layers of history that make up a building in our downtown, uncovered and on display. Thanks Roll Tide, Hillsboro Herald, Hillsboro Historical Society, and anyone else who is helping to make the event happen.
I’d say I’m sad to see Clark’s go, but Clark’s hadn’t been Clark’s in years. That space needed an exorcism, and this looks like it did the job. Given what’s happening in Old Town Beaverton and the plan for both the BoA and US Bank spaces here in Downtown Hillsboro, I think that spot has an exciting future in store.