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Local businesses are the lifeblood of our community. The Mid-county Memo offers this section to our business neighbors for news, advancements, promotions, expansions and other noteworthy events to be shared with the community at large. Business Memo submissions for the July issue are due by Monday, June 15. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com. You may also mail submissions to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave., Portland, OR 97230. To leave a phone message, dial 503-287-8904. The Mid-county Memo fax number is 503-249-7672.
Mr. Oscar’s June Bauer celebrates 80th
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| June Bauer has been styling hair in the Gateway area for over 50 years. |
| Memo Photo: Rich Riegel |
“We opened the shop May 18, 1957 — 52 years ago,” she said. “I’ve worked all that time. We had a very small shop, and it was only the two of us.”
Oscar Bauer passed away in 1983, and June Bauer will turn 80 on July 3.
“I’ve really appreciated all the clients over the years. Those are wonderful relationships.” Bauer said several loyal customers have stayed with them the whole 52 years. “I’ve really enjoyed their company as well their business.”
Referring to changes in the hair-styling business over the years, she said, “What goes around comes around. Some hair styles that were popular 50 years ago are popular again. These days the colors can be more extreme. And we do quite a few permanents still.” Bauer said one change is that there are much better hair care products now.
June Bauer remains with her children at the salon, where she’s proud to say three generations of the Bauer family either work or plan to work there.
Mark Bauer was the first to join the salon in 1975 after working in the construction industry. Warren Bauer was next after being a helicopter logger. Renee Bauer Lippelgoos joined in 1977 after traveling the East Coast as an airline stewardess. Greg Bauer was the last hair stylist to join in 1980 after being in the paint business. Marie, Warren’s wife, joined the team in 1989 as a nail technician.
Warren and Marie Bauer purchased the salon from June in 1994. Within the last two years, the salon has seen a complete remodel, with new stations, colors and furniture.
The salon is full-service, offering progressive and innovative hair cutting, coloring and highlighting, along with permanent waving and formal long hair design.
“I’m glad I’m still coming to work,” June Bauer said. She was pragmatic about her working life. “When you work all the time and raise a family, you don’t learn to play golf or go to lunches. But those things don’t matter to me.”
She did say that, “the older I got, the more fun it was.”
The third generation of Bauers are either in the hair-styling business or are preparing to become involved in the business, including Greg’s daughters Ashley and Haley, and Warren and Marie’s children Jenna and Michael.
“All my children have done real well to be professionals,” Bauer said. “They’re great hair stylists. They make me very proud of them and their work ethic.”
Mr. Oscar Hair Stylist will be celebrating June Bauer’s birthday on Thursday and Friday, July 2 and 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with refreshments. Both new and longtime clients are invited to drop by to wish June a happy birthday.
Gartner’s passing puts celebration on hold
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| Jack Gartner, right, poses for this picture with parents Hans and Frieda in 1959. He died last month preparing to go to the work he loved. |
| Submitted Photo |
The family has postponed the anniversary celebration; details about the event listed below will remain the same. When the new date is set, we’ll announce it here.
On hand will be a giant prize wheel, and Boy Scout Troop #606 will be selling hot dogs for five cents apiece. One lucky customer will win a Traeger Grill and another will win the grand prize anniversary drawing: a Gartner’s hindquarter of beef, valued at $550, along with a new Amana freezer, courtesy of nearby DeWhitt Appliance.
“Rick and Sheri really wanted to do something special to thank our customers for the years of support they’ve shown us,” Jerry Yost said, Gartner’s general manager. “Fifty years in business is a major accomplishment, and we are proud to share our success.”
Jack Gartner, a Portland native, Navy veteran, and experienced meat cutter, started the landmark location in 1959. A year later, Jack’s parents, Hans and Frieda Gartner, joined the business, providing Gartner’s customers with an added touch. Hans, trained as a master sausage maker in Germany, brought old-country recipes and techniques still practiced today. The business grew steadily, and in 1965, Jack welcomed Jerry Minor as his partner.
As teenagers, both Sheri, the Gartners’ daughter, and Rick, Minor’s son, began helping out around the business — Sheri as a “sample girl” and Rick doing general cleaning up around the shop. In 2000, their fathers scaled back their day-to-day involvement; Gartner reporting for work ever day as “just an employee” until the day he died. Today, owners Sheri Gartner Puppo and Rick Minor operate Gartner’s with the same priority of providing high quality meats and a fun environment for their employees who serve several hundred customers each week.
Gartner’s offers hand-carved quality meats, custom meat cutting and game processing. The store is open every day except Monday. Gartner’s Fine Country Meats is at 7450 N.E. Killingsworth St. Their newly updated Web site address is www.gartnersmeats.com.
B.J. Finkel’s offers food, fun
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| Parkrose natives and lifelong friends Jon English, left, and Brian Bartow now operate B.J. Finkel’s, where locals can enjoy sandwiches, drinks and Oregon Lottery games. |
| Memo Photo: Tim Curran |
English and Bartow met in elementary school in the summer after sixth grade while at the Silver Skate skating rink, which was located in the Gateway area (a Winco Foods store now occupying the site).
“We became friends in the seventh grade at Parkrose Heights Junior High School,” English said, “and we’ve remained friends ever since.” Both men graduated in the 1978 class of Parkrose High School.
“We talked about creating a deli in the early ‘80s, when Airport Way was being constructed,” Bartow said, “but it wasn’t until 2008 when we finally decided to start B.J. Finkel’s.”
“We wanted a nice, quiet neighborhood place that served good food, cold beer and provide(d) a nice, clean environment to relax and play Oregon Lottery games.”
About B.J. Finkel’s, “it’s a fictional name,” said English, “and the B stands for Brian, the J for Jon.”
The signature sandwich at B.J. Finkel’s is the Big Freaking Finkel, which is fashioned after the Gino’s Pizza sandwich, which was available at Gino’s, a favorite local hangout in the ‘70s and ‘80s in Gateway. The Big Freaking Finkel is served on a seven-inch pub roll, with pizza sauce, turkey, pepperoni and Canadian bacon, then smothered with cheese and toasted to golden perfection. “We top off the sandwich with thousand island dressing, lettuce, tomatoes and onions,” said Bartow.
“If you would like to relive a bit of (your) childhood (spent at Gino’s Pizza), stop by and have a Big Freaking Finkel.”
All sandwiches are handcrafted using Franz pub rolls and deli breads, and come with your choice of cheese, chips and a soft drink. Other sandwiches include roast beef, ham and cheese, and breast of turkey. There’s also a meatball sub and a soup of the day.
Hours are 7:30 a.m. to midnight daily. Orders can also be placed to go. For more information, call 503-841-6960.
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