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A view of the southeast corner of The Eleanor, a wedding and events venue in northwest Portland, Oregon. To the right is NW Everett. Photo: Courtesy of The Eleanor
If you want to have a wedding in downtown Portland, Oregon, and are OK with an industrial chic vibe with concrete floors, high ceilings, and not a ton else, consider The Eleanor.
Technically called “The Eleanor: A Chown Event Space,” the space is a rather abandoned looking building a stone’s throw from 405. At more than 5,000 square feet, it doesn’t hide what it used to be: extra storage for the family-owned Chown Hardware.
Somewhere along the line, this entrepreneurial family, which has been in business since 1879 and claims to be “the oldest family-owned and -operated architectural hardware, plumbing, and lighting company in North America,” had another good business idea. Why not turn their extra space into an events venue?
And thus, on New Year’s Eve 2017, The Eleanor was born.
Here’s my take as a professional wedding planner.
The basics
Address: 1605 NW Everett St., Portland, OR 97209
Fits: 150 people seated, 250 people standing per the brochure. During my tour with Mike “Mikey” Chown, The Eleanor’s event manager, I asked where people typically do the ceremony.
He pointed to the southeast corner of the room (pictured in the first photo above). In that scenario, any post-ceremony tables would be set up on the other half of the room to be moved into place after the ceremony. This would lead to some hustle and bustle as guests would be in the same space but the room is so large, I doubt it would be a problem.
Another option would be to have the ceremony on the stage (pictured later in this article), which can be removed for clients who don’t want it. In that scenario, guests could be seated at their post-ceremony tables during the ceremony to make for an easier “flip” or change of room design post-ceremony.Costs: OK brace yourself because these numbers are a couple of thousand dollars lower than what I see for similar spaces in the area: The Eleanor charges $2,500 for a weekday event, $2,800 for a weekend event. That includes a $500 deposit.
As always, that pricing is subject to change based on availability and seasonality but my overwhelming impression was that The Chowns aren’t in the business of doing events. They’re in the business of selling really nice house stuff and hey, if they do a couple of events a month too, all the better.
That’s great news for a client who’s comfortable to work with a space that’s familiar with events — Mikey says they do about 10 to 12 weddings a year — but doesn’t live or die by how many they do in a year.Includes: 150 black folding chairs, four bistro tables, 15 six-foot rectangle folding tables, and black linens for the tables (I believe for both table sizes). Pictures below of everything but the linens.
There are no round or circle tables on-site (you’d have to rent them) and you’ll also be renting all food- and beverage-related items like plates, glassware, utensils, etc. That’s not uncommon but is worth budgeting for.
The space also has a large stage, which, again, you can have removed at no additional fee, and comes equipped with two mics, two Bluetooth-enabled speakers, and a remote-controlled projector screen.
Timings: Again, I hope you’re sitting down because this place doesn’t have a hard in or out time. Mikey says he gives whomever is renting The Eleanor a fob so they can let themselves in day-of. If I’m understanding that correctly, it means you can get in whenever you want on the wedding day.
That’s going to be important because this place doesn’t typically do set-up beyond removing any items that you don’t want (like removing the stage).
Per Mikey, he offers to help set-up but most clients source this labor among their own community. In my experience, that can be tricky depending on when the client starts getting ready for the wedding but it can work with the right amount of pre-event communication. I’ve also had clients arrange this labor through staffing companies (contact me if you want specific referrals).
For clean-up, Mikey will put the items away though appreciates it when the client does. I’ll let you decide if that’s something you want you and/or your guests to be available for at the end of the event.
I also asked Mikey when folks had to be out of the venue on the event day. I was very much expecting an answer of 10 p.m. given Multnomah County noise ordinances, but Mikey told me that they’ve had parties go there as late as midnight with clean-up done by 2 a.m. These are very generous times (typically, venues sell 10 to 12 hours and an hour of that needs to be used as clean-up).
A one-hour rehearsal is included in the rental fee and, as is usual in this kind of thing, subject to the venue’s schedule.
Parking: At first glance, parking by The Eleanor is tough. The south entrances are on NW Everett, a direct route into downtown Portland and on to 405. That’s why Mikey typically recommends clients encourage their guests to car- or ride-share (common advice for downtown venues).
However, there are options for those who drive including any members of your vendor team. The neighboring Chown warehouse has roughly 15 spots available for free after 5 p.m. on the weekdays and all day on the weekends, while a nearby religious school allows people to park in their more than 50 spots for free if Mikey asks ahead of time.Accessibility: The venue has a smooth concrete floor and entrances without stairs. The one exception is the entrance on NW Everett that catering and other vendors typically use for load-in; that has a flight of about ten stairs. Other entrances are available for load-in.
There are two restrooms in the venue including one that is wheelchair-accessible. The space is also air conditioned, which felt particularly notable on the nearly 100 degree day that I visited.Sustainability: There is no kitchen on-site and I didn’t spot any compost. There were recycling and trash receptacles visible during my tour. No other sustainability measures came up during my tour in August 2023.
This is the northwest corner of The Eleanor, a wedding and events venue in northwest Portland, Oregon. The curtained area on the left is the catering prep area. The two doors to the right are the restroom (closer to the wall) and the closet with water access for the caterer. The second, wheelchair-accessible restroom is on the right side of the photo. Behind us is the stage and rest of the room. Photo: Me (Elisabeth Kramer)
The pros
Cheap (relatively speaking)
Extremely flexible hours
Parking available
Family-owned
Venue fees of $2,500 and $2,800 aren’t small numbers. They are also some of the lowest I’ve seen for a venue of this size and in this central location.
More quotes for northwest, downtown, or southeast Portland venues range between $3,500 and $5,000 and honestly, those places don’t include much more than The Eleanor does. They also typically have more rules because they do more weddings and have seen more shit.
Of course, you’re pretty much paying for just the space. I go into this more below in the “Cons” section but The Eleanor is what it says it is: “a blank canvas that you can paint with your personality for your event.”
That’s not going to be the right fit for many clients (again, more on that below) but it’ll work well for a client who either prefers a more minimal setting or a client who’s excited (and can pay) to paint the masterpiece of their choice.
During my tour, I was also charmed by the family history. The space is named after Mikey’s grandma, who’s described as the matriarch of the Chown family and responsible for much of the family’s current business success. (Those roots seem to run deep; Mikey’s toddler joined us on the tour and her name was also Eleanor.)
While I wouldn’t go so far as to say you’re supporting a small business if you book with The Eleanor, there’s no denying that they’re a family with a long local history. That can feel much more personal than many a venue. I also think it influences the overall vibe of the venue: “Hey, we have this space. Want to use it?”
The stage at The Eleanor is removable at no additional fee. It’s on the north wall of the building and could be a potential location for the ceremony to minimize any post-ceremony reorganization of the room (also known as a “room flip”). Note the two speakers and the projection screen (all included with the rental). Photo: Me (Elisabeth Kramer)
The cons
Noisy, busy neighborhood
A lot of room to fill
Limited kitchen and prep space
No getting-ready room
Set-up and clean-up
I’ve driven by The Eleanor dozens of times on my way to the freeway or downtown, and while not necessarily a con, this place isn’t in a quiet area. The outside of the building also shows signs of wear and tear with slightly chipped paint and city grime though, somehow, no graffiti. (Notably, once I was inside, I barely heard any outdoor noise, which lends evidence to Mikey’s note that the space is very well-insulated.)
Inside, The Eleanor is on ground level. While the many windows have remote-controlled blinds and are hyped as letting in a lot of natural light, I could see clients wanting to keep those blinds down throughout the event to discourage lookie-loos or constant views of passing traffic. That could lead to a close-in, dark feeling, which, for the right event (particularly in the late fall or winter), might be just what you want. It could also feel more claustrophobic than you’re hoping.
Here’s a view of The Eleanor from NW Everett. The main entrances for both vendors and guests are on this side of the street (left side of the frame). Photo: Me (Elisabeth Kramer)
Balancing out the lack of the outdoors are the huge ceilings. Somehow this old warehouse has a truly beautiful wood ceiling. It lends the room a softness that is otherwise lacking in the hard edges and concrete floor. As a note: If more softness is of interest, this is a venue I’d recommend a higher floral budget; not required, of course, but there’s a lot of potential to do some truly epic floral installations including, potentially, hanging florals.
The size of The Eleanor can, in many instances, be a strength (see “Pros” above). It can also be overwhelming for a client who doesn’t particularly like to design or who doesn’t want or can’t invest in decor, furniture, and/or flowers to fill up the space.
Do you have to fill up the space? No, of course not. The people you invite will do that. But before they arrive, the room can feel like the warehouse it once was, which might inspire you to rent more than you bargained for. Proceed with caution.
Ironically, for as much room as there is for guests, the kitchen prep area is limited to a curtained area and a closet. The closet, importantly, has easy access to potable water but before booking a caterer to work here, I recommend having clear conversations about what is and isn’t available. Also, since there’s no kitchen on-site, anticipate most caterers needing to rent at least a convection oven to reheat food (typically at least $300 plus delivery and pick-up fees).
A view of the wood ceiling at The Eleanor, a wedding and events venue in northwest Portland, Oregon. Photo: Me (Elisabeth Kramer)
There’s also no getting-ready area at The Eleanor. That can be more easily remedied in this neighborhood than elsewhere given the proximity of downtown hotels and scenic rentals near 21st and 23rd; it also means there’s not going to be a particularly easy spot to store your stuff (I’d likely commandeer a corner of the catering prep area for a client and their VIPs’ bags, etc.).
Lastly, without clear, timely conversations ahead of the event, I could see the question of set-up (and potentially, clean-up) being a problem.
I’ve certainly seen it done well; having your guests set up tables and chairs on the wedding day is also an expectation you need to establish early so people can plan their getting ready accordingly. The amount of time you have to set up will also be influenced by when you do photos (keeping in mind when the sun sets so you have enough light for said photos) and how many people, if any, are having professional hair and/or makeup done.
So, can it be done? Yes. Also, be honest about your set-up options before you book here.
A closet serves as part of the catering prep area at The Eleanor. This room is next to the curtained area for additional prep. The water from the sink is potable. Photo: Me (Elisabeth Kramer)
The bottom line
I’ve worked many weddings around Portland that had a similar aesthetic to The Eleanor. (Everett West, The Evergreen, and Castaway come to mind.) The Eleanor offers a slightly rougher and also more affordable alternative to those more established wedding venues.
This place isn’t going to be easy. You’re going to have to be mindful of the layout, likely pay more for rentals, and communicate with your guests and vendors about parking. You’re also going to have flexible access to a huge venue.
Do the pros outweigh the cons? For certain clients, yes: The Eleanor could be a much welcome breath of fresh air.
Learn more about The Eleanor: the-eleanor.com and @The_Eleanor_PDX
Check out the other wedding venues I’ve reviewed.
Do you know of a venue that I should visit? Tell me: elisabeth@elisabethkramer.com.