Who is this man? And why Dufur should care
Russell Niemeyer and his daughter Roseanne Perry are revamping the Pastime in Dufur with an expectation to open in January. But things are going to be different with Niemeyer at the helm.
By Tom Peterson
A former marine and a holder of three black belts is putting a family spin on the former Pastime Saloon & Restaurant.
Now called Papa’s Pastime, the watering hole, will be devoid of hard liquor and stick to a simpler line of beer, wine, and food when it opens in January.
“This will be a family place,” said new owner Russell Niemeyer. “No hanky-panky going on. And it’s my job to see that it stays that way.”
The location has a checkered past. The Dufur City Council voted to deny the bars liquor license in 2016, after drunken-driving fatalities and injuries were linked to the establishment. At the time, Wasco County Sheriff Lane Magill gave the council a history of five other drunk driving incidents since where people arrested admitted to drinking at the Pastime.
Niemeyer said that will not be a problem under his family’s direction.
Niemeyer purchased the property from former operator Cliff Wirtz about a month ago.
Niemeyer of Portland and his daughter Roseanne Perry and granddaughter Miranda Perry of The Dalles are renovating the establishment and laying the groundwork for operating the restaurant and pub. Niemeyer said they would hold pool and dart tournaments.
Prizes will include accommodations in Hawaii, Las Vegas, and the Oregon Coast.
David Rogers's team at Seal Kote Plus paved a section of the rear parking lot at Papa’s Pastime in Dufur on Thursday. Here, Charles Rogers, Phillip Zimmerman, Cody Rogers, Adam Munsen, Kenneth Ames, and Joe Whitesell lay down at the hot black asphalt.
The 79-year-old is now sanding and revarnishing the walls, adding new kitchen appliances, updating bathrooms, and even paving the parking lot.
“Out here we’re going to do a beer garden and have a stage,” he said of the north side of the property.
Inside, Niemeyer has been furring out walls and restaining and applying a new coat of verathane. He said they hope to install games such as Pac-Man for the younger set.
Niemeyer spent a good part of his life in the shipbuilding yards on Swan Island just off I-5 in the Portland-Metro area, working his way up to foreman at Northwest Marine. They built ferries for Alaska, even expanded oil tankers with 100-foot sections.
He also has owned a home in Thailand, where he taught martial arts.
He taught with Scott Rohr - the 1979, 1980, and 1982 US National Taekwondo Championship gold medalist.
He said Rohr, of Portland, ran in circles with the likes of Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris.
Niemeyer earned black belts in Judo, Kenpo Karate, and Hapkido.
Niemeyer also ran a lucrative fencing and gate-building company, employing 12 hand-picked laborers and welders from his ship-building days. The business ran under the name Old Portland Ornamental Iron, and it did installations such as a $15-million home of Former Carr Chevrolet owner Eugene Bradshaw.
Niemeyer said he had also restored houses along the way- having 14 rentals at one point.
So getting to work on the Pastime is like old hat, he said.
“I love this old place. This place is Lincoln Logs. No nails.,” he said of the butt and pass construction. “It sways and creeks with the weather.”
While nothing is final, generally, Niemeyer said the Papa’s Pastime would be open from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and closed on Mondays.
To follow updates on the development of Papa’s Pastime or suggest menu items click here.
