Pizza Parlor Pipe Organ (Portland, Beaverton: loan, live, best)

[Steve Pickering]

It was a destination, that's for sure.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

During it's last days, the stretch of 82nd where it was located wasn't really a "destination" for anybody, really.
It was was a horrible location, getting pretty shabby, shady, and dilapidated.

I've only been to the Organ Grinder once (right before it closed) for a friend's birthday party and didn't think much of it, but I hate pizza parlors and organ music.

It definately had a long glorious run before that.

I think if it had been located somewhere else, it might still be around today.
I don't know it's history, and why it went out of business though.

I seem to recall something really bad happened, but can't remember what it was.

My wife used to take the kids there often in the 80's, though, and I'll ask her and see if she remembers anything.

[Steve Pickering]

A search for the reason for the closure reviles nothing.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

For some reason, the idea that something happened with the owner's son or something like that sticks in my mind.

But that may be entirely incorrect.

[Steve Pickering]

I too seem to remember something like that.

[AndyAMG]

Man, I hated that creepy place, still have nightmares. That place and Oaks Park skating rink, I hate everything about organs. They are just big creepy looking monstrosities that belt out loud awful noises. Organs are like pianos, connected to big pipes then possessed by Satan. Everything about the organ grinder was weird. My wife and I went to the Old Spaghetti Factory one night and I instantly hated it, it was Organ Grinder strange old-timey feel without the organ. Also, the food was terrible and overpriced just like the organ grinder.

ready set nightmare, god make it stooooooooppppp!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypMkCPF2xTc

If you want the torture to continue it has found a new home in Mesa, Az

http://www.pstos.org/instruments/or/...an-grinder.htm

[pdxMIKEpdx]

Funny Andy.
I kinda feel the same way!

[j_k_k]

"They backed away from the creepy, frightening, formidable-looking organ."

[Minervah]

Well, we all have our phobias I suppose. I loved the organ, I don't like clowns.

[eric351982]

I have wonderful memories of that place. The organ was so loud it would shake the whole building. I also love the percussion section they had way up on a wall where the drums played on some sort of hydraulic system. It looked like they were playing themselves.