Shari’s out. Denny’s still Strong in The Dalles

Shari’s The Dalles at 503 Mt. Hood Street is now closed as the entire franchise is shuttered across Oregon.

By Robin Denning and Tom Peterson 

The Dalles, Ore. — Recent state and national reports have not been good for some major restaurant operators as news that the iconic Shari’s Cafe & Pies goes out of business and Denny’s announces the closure of 150 locations. 

Shari’s , a staple of family dining in Oregon for decades, has permanently closed its location in The Dalles. The closure comes as part of a broader shutdown of all Shari’s restaurants across Oregon, signaling the end of an era for the Pacific Northwest-born chain known for its hexagonal buildings, pies, and 24-hour service.

Shari’s in The Dalles, located off West 6th Street was one of the newer restaurants constructed in 2006.

As of late, the restaurant appeared to have slowed immensely and was reported to be lacking waffles on one occasion and pie on another. 

Denny’s at 1710 W. Sixth Street is still going strong, according to local management.

Meanwhile, Denny's plans to shutter 150 of its restaurants as the company aims to strengthen its cash flow, according to a report from USA Today. 

“Among the restaurants closing are older locations that are too old to remodel or are based in unprofitable locations, Denny’s Executive Vice President Stephen Dunn told USA Today.

"Some of these restaurants can be very old. So when you think of a 70-year-old plus brand, you have a lot of restaurants that have been out there for a very long time," Dunn  said. 

In The Dalles, Denny’s Jeremy Garner said the closure will have no effect on Oregon Stores.

“Corporate Denny’s hardly own any corporate stores anymore,” he said. “There are 144 franchisees and we are locally owned by WKS Restaurant Group. They’re not closing anything that I am aware of,” he said today, Oct. 23, noting the Denny’s at 1710 W. Sixth St. in The Dalles has a strong customer base. 

WKS operates from Cypress, California.

There are 1,358 Denny’s restaurants in the US, mostly in Florida, Texas, Arizona and California. 

Meanwhile, it is the end of a long era For Shari’s fans. It had long been an Oregon favorite, known for its warm atmosphere, extensive pie offerings, and a welcoming spot for late-night meals. Many in the community have fond memories of gathering there for breakfast, family dinners, and cups of bottomless coffee. Cigarettes were also common in smoking sections until smoking was outlawed in Restaurants in Oregon in 2009. 

As of 5 p.m. this past Sunday, Oct. 19, the location officially closed its doors for good, joining other Shari’s across the state in a sudden shutdown. People on Facebook in The Dalles had reported the restaurant had closed weeks earlier. 

The closure marks a loss for locals who frequented the restaurant, which had become a fixture in The Dalles since its establishment. Like other locations statewide, Shari’s was unable to survive ongoing economic challenges, despite efforts to remain open.

In a letter to employees, Sam Borgese, the managing member of Shari’s parent company Gather Holdings, thanked staff for their hard work but confirmed that all Oregon locations would close as of Sunday. Employees were assured they would receive pay through the closure, but no further details about severance were provided.

Shari’s was once a dominant player in the Pacific Northwest’s dining scene, boasting as many as 42 locations in Oregon earlier this year. However, over recent months, closures have been reported in towns such as Keizer, Medford, and Pendleton, and now the last remaining Shari’s locations have followed suit, including here in The Dalles.

In addition to serving up pies and comfort food, Shari’s locations were also known for housing video lottery terminals. According to the Oregon Lottery, Shari’s restaurants in the state generated over $34 million in video lottery sales last fiscal year. The lottery commission has since moved quickly to retrieve equipment from the closed restaurants, including the one in The Dalles.

For residents of The Dalles, the closure of Shari’s leaves a void, not only in the local dining scene but also in the memories of those who had come to see it as a beloved community gathering spot. Shari’s opened its first location in Hermiston in 1978 and for decades played a key role in Oregon’s restaurant culture. Now, with its departure from The Dalles, locals will be left reminiscing about the late-night meals and slices of pie that defined this Oregon institution.

Though the restaurant's closure is sure to be felt across the state, for the people of The Dalles, it’s the end of a local chapter.