TYLERS DREAM

For anybody out in there in blog land ....to describe this old Portland haunt is very difficult to describe in words. Nicks is a staple restaurant located in a retro cool neighborhood in the southeast section of the city. When our family would stop here for a coney-mac salad & RC colas it was the best of times. The owner, Frank Nudo was a one of a kind operator who would rant & rave about the Yankees, Political issues, Movies and his favorite entertainer in the world Neil Diamond on the floor of his restaurant. Frank would remind you of Louie in Taxi. Customers loved him and new walk In's couldn't figure it all out. The cast also included "The Commander Kenny" who worked at Nicks all his life serving Coney's and mixing it up with the trade....also in the bullpen was Herbie who was also a lifer.......Let me take you into the world of Nicks as you will take a step back in time with a art deco bar, red booths, walls plastered with sports & entertainment memorabilia. Above the door was a 1950's black & white TV and in the corner above the back wall a 1970's color TV....If you walked in around 2pm you would see a mound of cash on the back bar area as they never rang up a sale......Oh...did I mention that they would never write orders down or generate a ticket! When you were ready to make your exit they would ask you to repeat what you ordered & then they would round it off in their head.....It was always a moment of expectation to get your final number! The mood changed at Nicks when the Commander passed away from cancer. Frank & Herbie were never the same after his death.....A few months ago Frank sold the building to a developer who like us has loved this place since he was a kid growing up in the area. Tyler as a child would always comment to me "Dad when Frank retires, let's buy this place".....I would give Frank the business & tell him he has a buyer! Frank would let us have it "Never going to sell boys"........When the media announced the retirement & sale of Nicks the place was flooded with Customers getting their last taste of the best Coney Island hot dog that the world could offer. The owners of the building had a host of restaurant & bar operators pitching them on their vision of what concept they would feature in the historic location.....They liked Tyler Rogoway's the best & he will keep the dream alive starting in June.
Thank's to a wonderful group of investors that have a true love for this one of a kind establishment & Ty's ideas & concept to pay tribute to the original owner (italian born) Domenick "Nick" Caracio who opened in 1935 and Frank Nudo (took over in 1960 after working for Nick)......I'm so proud of my son Tyler.