Portland

A picture of the Portland skyline with the letters PDX

blue

Axios Portland Partners

Portland Alerts

Alert

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Portland with Kale Williams and Meira Gebel.

Axios Portland

Standard

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Portland.

Axios Portland Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Portland Members

Membership

Animated sign shaped like a loaf of bread atop a building reads Franz Bakery, Since 1906, with the wrapper twisting as if unwrapping. Blue sky, power lines crossing, tree leaves in corner above the roof.

Fun fact: The spinning bread sign weighs 5,000 pounds and was installed to celebrate Franz's 50th anniversary in 1956. Image: Meira Gebel/Axios

In 1906, three Austrian-born brothers purchased their uncle's bakery, launching what became Franz Bakery — a Portland institution known for producing nearly a million buns and rolls per day at its five-block headquarters in Kerns.

The big picture: Franz has grown into one of the West's largest family-owned bakeries over the last 120 years. It now has multiple brands under its umbrella and sells dozens of pantry staples, including classic and specialty loaves as well as a variety of baked goods.

To celebrate its 120th birthday, on Tuesday from 9am to 3pm, Franz will host behind-the-scenes tours of its bakery and will have a block party featuring its grilled cheese machine and hot dog cart.

Yes, but: While Portlanders have the perk of smelling freshly baked bread anytime we're around Northeast 12th Avenue, we also have access to the bakery outlets, where you can find nearly everything Franz has to offer at steep discounts.

First off, upon entering, head to "Today's bargains," typically shelves packed with products lined in the back of the store.

There you will find about-to-expire or slightly damaged items selling two for $4 or less. This is the perfect place to eye things that you will use right away or that can hold up in the freezer — think loaves of multigrain bread or English muffins.

Bright grocery bakery aisle with long shelves of assorted loaves and bagged bread, a cart of waffles in front, pink and purple pastry boxes on the left, blue signage overhead.

Take your time here. Photo: Meira Gebel/Axios

Next up: The bread wall. Even though most area grocery stores carry the more popular Franz breads, the outlets have the full line-up.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the sourdough half loaves ($1.50), Hawaiian rolls ($3), honey oat and nut ($3), and Western Farms deli rye ($1.75) all selling for nearly half the price of their grocery counterparts.

And finally, get yourself a treat. I'm a big fan of Franz's powdered-sugar, raspberry-filled doughnuts, but I didn't know there were more varieties — lemon-, cherry-, blueberry- and Neapolitan-filled (mind-blowing) — all six-packs for $3.

There are also frosted animal cookies for the kiddos ($3.50), soft-baked cookies ($3 for nine), Dunford chocolate chip muffins ($5 for six), and cinnamon swirl bread ($4.50).

All in all, I walked out with five items totaling $11. It felt like stealing.

Franz turns 120: Why its outlet deals are worth the trip

Portlanders are lucky to have three outlets offering products at steep discounts.

Franz Bakery storefront with large windows reading "100 Years of Baking!" in colorful letters. A giant bread-loaf sign on the roof says "Premium Bread Since 1906." Clear blue sky, power lines overhead, cars parked nearby.

<figure><img alt="Animated sign shaped like a loaf of bread atop a building reads Franz Bakery, Since 1906, with the wrapper twisting as if unwrapping. Blue sky, power lines crossing, tree leaves in corner above the roof." height="457" id="20b0d743-e7e5-4caf-b297-769fab25887c" src="https://images.axios.com/1GG0F5t3o04igRWvXGpPSXRW-lg=/2026/04/10/1775849021048.gif" width="800"/><figcaption>Fun fact: The spinning bread sign weighs 5,000 pounds and was installed to celebrate Franz&#x27;s 50th anniversary in 1956. Image: Meira Gebel/Axios</figcaption></figure>In 1906, three Austrian-born brothers purchased their uncle&#x27;s bakery, launching what became Franz Bakery — a Portland institution known for producing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nearly a million" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pdxmonthly.com/news-and-city-life/2026/04/franz-bakery-buns-bread-portland" data-vars-content-id="6755af2d-874f-4572-a214-98050f3d5a52" data-vars-headline="Franz turns 120: Why its outlet deals are worth the trip" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pdxmonthly.com/news-and-city-life/2026/04/franz-bakery-buns-bread-portland" target="_blank">nearly a million</a> buns and rolls per day at its five-block headquarters in Kerns.The big picture: Franz has grown into one of the West&#x27;s largest family-owned bakeries over the last 120 years. It now has multiple brands under its umbrella and sells dozens of pantry staples, including classic and specialty loaves as well as a variety of baked goods.

Food and Drink

When dining out, Oregonians tend to leave a 19% tip or higher on average, per Toast's latest restaurant trends report.

The big picture: That's about the same as the nationwide average for tips left at full-service restaurants in Q4 2025, but higher than both our West Coast neighbors.

"After a pullback in full-service restaurant tips in Q2 2025, the average has leveled out," Toast's Brian Koerber wrote in the report.

Meanwhile, tips at fast food joints also held steady at 15.8%.

Zoom out: Delaware, West Virginia, New Hampshire and Indiana are home to America's best tippers, with diners leaving roughly 21% or higher on average.

At the bottom of the list for overall tipping are California, Washington, D.C., and Washington state, where averages run under 18%.

Between the lines: The report is based on data from restaurants using the Toast platform.

The bottom line: When we asked back in 2023, nearly half of Axios Portland readers said they prefer to tip rather than pay a service charge.

The fee is rising in popularity among restaurant owners who told us it guarantees health benefits and equitable wages for both front-of-house and back-of-house employees.

rising in popularity among restaurant owners

Oregon diners leave higher tips than West Coast neighbors

Diners are still spilt on whether they prefer tipping or paying a service fee.

A choropleth map of the United States showing the average tip among restaurants on the Toast platform as of Q4 2025. The national average tip is 18.8%. California has the lowest average tip, 17.2%, while Delaware has the highest, 21.8%.

When dining out, Oregonians tend to leave a 19% tip or higher on average, per Toast&#x27;s latest <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="restaurant trends report" data-vars-click-url="https://pos.toasttab.com/blog/data/toast-restaurant-trends-report-coffee-prices-2026" data-vars-content-id="6a955075-8a97-426f-aae5-163cda107995" data-vars-headline="Oregon diners leave higher tips than West Coast neighbors" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://pos.toasttab.com/blog/data/toast-restaurant-trends-report-coffee-prices-2026" target="_blank">restaurant trends report</a>.The big picture: That&#x27;s about the same as the nationwide average for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tips" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/01/no-tax-on-tips-jobs-trump-bill" data-vars-content-id="6a955075-8a97-426f-aae5-163cda107995" data-vars-headline="Oregon diners leave higher tips than West Coast neighbors" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/01/no-tax-on-tips-jobs-trump-bill" target="_self">tips</a> left at full-service restaurants in Q4 2025, but higher than both our West Coast neighbors.

Latest news on Wall Street, Corporate America and financial regulation.

Business

Portland's Sellwood Bridge is the city's southernmost Willamette crossing — and the only one for several miles — making it a critical route for Southwest and Southeast residents and commuters alike. 

The big picture: Opened in 2016, the Sellwood is the newest of the bunch, replacing an impressively high continuous deck truss structure built in 1925.

By the early 2000s, the original span had deteriorated significantly, and it was the busiest two-lane crossing in the state, carrying more than 30,000 vehicles daily. It only had one sidewalk — insufficient for bicyclists and pedestrians — and no shoulder or median.

Cracks in the concrete led to reduced weight limits, which diverted trucks and buses away from the bridge and led local leaders to drum up plans for a replacement in 2006.

Zoom in: Designed by San Francisco-based engineering firm T.Y. Lin International, the Sellwood as we know it now is a 1,976-foot-long steel-deck arch bridge — the only one of its kind in the city — made of cinnamon-colored steel. 

Plus: It's the sole Willamette crossing designed to survive a major earthquake. (We're waiting on you, Burnside!)

Follow the money: The bridge cost $324 million to build — about $17 million more than initially projected — and was paid for by city, county and state funds, as well as federal grants tied to transit infrastructure improvements.

The intrigue: During construction of the new bridge, the old span was lifted up and moved slightly north to serve as a detour bridge while the new one was built.

The move took 14 hours and engineers used Dawn soap to slide the bridge off its supports onto the new alignment.

Get to know Portland's bridges: Sellwood

It's the sole Willamette crossing designed to survive a major earthquake.

An arched bridge with red supports spans a calm river, flanked by forested hills. A few boats glide on the water; the left foreground shows tree branches framing the scene under a blue sky.

If the Big One ever happens, you'll know where to find us. Photo: Meira Gebel/Axios

Portland&#x27;s Sellwood Bridge is the city&#x27;s southernmost Willamette crossing — and the only one <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="for several miles" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/03/17/ross-island-bridge-100-rare-cantilever-design" data-vars-content-id="9ad23dab-ec6b-46a6-9c14-cbbbb6a17200" data-vars-headline="Get to know Portland&#x27;s bridges: Sellwood" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/03/17/ross-island-bridge-100-rare-cantilever-design" target="_self">for several miles</a> — making it a critical route for Southwest and Southeast residents and commuters alike. The big picture: Opened in 2016, the Sellwood is the newest of the bunch, replacing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an impressively high" data-vars-click-url="https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=oregon/sellwoodbridge/" data-vars-content-id="9ad23dab-ec6b-46a6-9c14-cbbbb6a17200" data-vars-headline="Get to know Portland&#x27;s bridges: Sellwood" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=oregon/sellwoodbridge/" target="_blank">an impressively high</a> continuous deck truss structure built in 1925.

News

Seattle

Axios Seattle

Even in the nature-loving Pacific Northwest, some bugs are public enemy No. 1.

Why it matters: As spring temperatures climb past about 55 degrees, cold-blooded insects emerge from winter hiding spots seemingly all at once, which is why it can suddenly feel like they're everywhere.

The good news? "Urban pests, for the most part, don't really harm humans," Levi Zahn, an entomologist with Multnomah County Vector Control, told Axios.

Yes, but: They're definitely a nuisance. When we asked Axios Portland readers which springtime pests they hate most last week, a select few villains emerged.

Out of 94 responses, stink bugs and boxelder bugs (35%), ants (28%) and mosquitoes (17%) were among the most despised.

What you're saying: Perhaps the most horrifying experience came from reader B.G., who preferred to only use their initials: "I woke up one night with a boxelder bug strolling into my nostril, apparently having entered my CPAP machine through an intake, and making its way down the tube."

For a long time, reader Jeremy Maxwell would stress about the "millions" of boxelder bugs clustering on his home each spring. Then, he said, "I began to respect their tenacity and politeness."

"They just congregate and hang out in a big throng when the weather gets nice … just like we humans do at Edgefield."

Dez Crawford said the bugs in Portland don't hold a candle to the flying roaches she grew up with in New Orleans. "I do admit that the ants here are quite annoying."

Even the most reviled bugs play an important role — from pollination to feeding other animals and breaking down organic matter.

"Their disappearance would trigger a collapse of global agriculture and the animal ecosystems that rely on them for waste decomposition and food," Chad Ruffin, a Seattle-based physician and insect enthusiast, told Axios.

Despite accounting for 90% of all animal biomass, insect populations have plummeted by 75% in less than three decades.

The bottom line: It's better to live with 'em than without 'em, Nicole Meyer, senior media officer for PETA, told Axios. "Bugs are just trying to make their way in the world like we are, so the least I can do is give them a little grace."

Why these spring bugs annoy Portlanders most

Illustration of a welcome mat but it says "Go Away." The "o" is a stink bug.

Even in the nature-loving Pacific Northwest, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="some bugs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/05/28/oregon-spotted-lanternfly-invasive-species" data-vars-content-id="9b308f10-53df-491b-b8a1-3d1acbef07fb" data-vars-headline="Why these spring bugs annoy Portlanders most" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/05/28/oregon-spotted-lanternfly-invasive-species" target="_self">some bugs</a> are public enemy No. 1.Why it matters: As spring temperatures climb past about 55 degrees, cold-blooded insects emerge from winter hiding spots seemingly all at once, which is why it can suddenly feel like they&#x27;re everywhere.

Portland's roster of stand-out Thai food just got deeper with the recent addition of Guay Tiew in the Pearl District.

The big picture: From the team behind Khao Moo Dang and Thai Peacock, the new counter service restaurant focuses on one of the country's most popular street food dishes: build-your-own noodle soup bowls.

Best bites: Expect to find a lot of pork in every iteration. Nearly every item on the menu contains minced pork, braised pork, cracklings, patties and meatballs all in a base of pork bone broth. There's vegan options, too.

Diners can choose from a selection of eight broths — from peppery herb to spicy-sour or the classic Thai boat-style known for being rich and savory — and four styles of noodles or rice.

I opted for the house curry, a Northern Thai staple, with egg noodles and topped with all the pork options, bean sprouts and yu choy. I found it to be pleasantly sweet with a gentle, manageable heat, if a tad garlicky.

Be sure to order some sides and snacks, too. The yum Thai salad packed some serious heat while still managing to be refreshing.

Top-down view of a ramen bowl with a soft-boiled egg, greens, bean sprouts, fried garlic, and pork crackling in a creamy broth; a glass of iced tea sits on a green table beside the bowl.

A whole-hog noodle experience. Photo: Meira Gebel/Axios

What they're saying: "Portland has proven to be a city of adventurous eaters," owner Chookiat "Hamm" Saenguraiporn told Portland Monthly, "locals are open to bold, authentic flavors."

The vibe: I went during the soft opening and the room — where a giant, glowing red neon sign centers the space and gives off real night market energy — was buzzing. Be prepared for some lines.

Ordering was quick and efficient and food was brought out swiftly, making it a perfect lunchtime hang or fuel-up stop ahead of a late night.

If you go: Guay Tiew (330 NW 10th Ave.) is open Wednesday through Friday 4-9pm and on weekends from noon to 9pm.

Guay Tiew brings Thai noodle bowls to Pearl

Thai noodle shop interior with a turquoise tiled counter, a red neon sign reading "GUAY-TIEW" above, Thai menu boards, and customers seated by large windows; warm hanging heaters and natural daylight.

You can order at the register or at your table via a QR code. Photo: Meira Gebel/Axios

Portland&#x27;s roster of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="stand-out Thai food" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/12/01/ok-chicken-khao-soi-portland-opening" data-vars-content-id="d500fd4b-f4d8-4482-8046-e694491e73ff" data-vars-headline="Guay Tiew brings Thai noodle bowls to Pearl" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/12/01/ok-chicken-khao-soi-portland-opening" target="_self">stand-out Thai food</a> just got deeper with the recent addition of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Guay Tiew" data-vars-click-url="https://www.guaytiewpdx.com/" data-vars-content-id="d500fd4b-f4d8-4482-8046-e694491e73ff" data-vars-headline="Guay Tiew brings Thai noodle bowls to Pearl" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.guaytiewpdx.com/" target="_blank">Guay Tiew</a> in the Pearl District.The big picture: From the team behind Khao Moo Dang and Thai Peacock, the new counter service restaurant focuses on one of the country&#x27;s most popular street food dishes: build-your-own noodle soup bowls.

Meira Gebel

Featured stories

Franz turns 120: Why its outlet deals are worth the trip

Seattle's most hated spring bugs

Why these spring bugs annoy Portlanders most

Share your Seattle bug horror stories

Get to know Portland's bridges: Sellwood