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As the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic stretch into their sixth month, an increasing number of Portland’s locally owned restaurants and shops are closing locations permanently. In some instances, new tenants are moving into those spaces in some of the city’s hippest neighborhoods; however, other times those spaces are remaining vacant.

That’s putting pressure on landlords, who are broadly reluctant to evict tenants during a pandemic, when demand for space is low.

Restaurants in particular have been hit hard. Pok Pok Wing, Tasty n Alder, Blue Star Donuts, Abyssinian Kitchen and Stella Taco have closed locations permanently. Some others have survived by offering takeout and delivery. Indoor dining, while allowed under Gov. Kate Brown’s phase II order, has been less popular.

Brewpubs have begun to show signs of stress too: Base Camp Brewing and Grixsen Brewing closed in recent weeks.

Stella Taco opened its second location, on Southeast Division Street, in 2016. After the original location closed last summer, the second location closed last month. Nearby, Whiskey Soda Lounge, a bar that was part of the Pok Pok empire, closed as well.

鈥淭he financial challenges facing Stella and the other businesses on Division Street are representative of the challenges faced by retailers,鈥� said Stan Amy, a Portland investor who is part of the ownership group that owns Stella Taco’s former building at 3050 S.E. Division St.

Amy also has ownership interest in the commercial building on the southwest corner of Northeast 24th Avenue and Fremont Street that holds Garden Fever, Lucca and other businesses. At one point, the owners were collecting only 10 percent of the usual rent there because some tenants simply couldn’t pay. Amy said it doesn’t make sense to evict businesses for nonpayment during the COVID-19 crisis.

鈥淚t’s a matter of self-interest,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is not in a landlord’s interest 鈥� and it’s certainly not in the interest of the community, to evict a viable business.鈥�

Amy said he takes a long-term view of doing everything possible to keep tenants in place.

鈥淭he tenants are the cash-flow engine that makes all of the real estate work,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s absolutely in our interest as landlords and community members to have healthy neighborhood commerce, and therefore we need to take a long-term point of view, and that’s what we’ve advocated with our tenants.鈥�

There are signs that restaurant spaces in Portland’s neighborhood commercial corridors remain desirable even as some eateries go out of business. Stella Taco’s former location on Division Street was soon leased by another taqueria, Tight Tacos. Across the street, Whiskey Soda Lounge’s former space is gaining a new business: Oma’s Takeaway by Gado Gado.

And Pok Pok Wing’s former location on Milwaukie Avenue is being prepared for a barbecue restaurant, The Oregonian reported.

If there’s a silver lining to the closures, it’s that the vacancies could open up opportunities for new businesses, real estate professionals said.

鈥淚’m optimistic about the entrepreneurship and the opportunities that will exist for folks,鈥� said Peter Andrews, executive vice president of brokerage at Melvin Mark.

Still, the churn seems to be increasing as the pandemic stretches on.

鈥淲hat we know is our particularly retail tenants that need foot traffic are incredibly impacted,鈥� Andrews said. 鈥淟andlords are doing what they can to keep them, and being proactive, but this is going so long.鈥�

Ethos Development‘s food-cart tenants have done fairly well with takeout during the pandemic, according to Paul Del Vecchio, the firm’s founding principal.

鈥淚 wouldn’t say it’s awesome, but we’re treading water,鈥� he said.

Brick-and-mortar restaurant space, Del Vecchio said, is 鈥渁 really bad place to be right now鈥� for landlords.

Some are questioning why the federal government isn’t doing more to help landlords. While unemployed workers were given an extra $600 a month, landlords have received no help with their mortgages.

Amy supports United for Relief, a campaign by local property owners, developers and lenders to encourage government relief for commercial mortgages.

鈥淔ederal inaction is going to tank the economic recovery 鈥� not just in the state but across the nation,鈥� he said.

Amy said he’s fortunate to be able to work with tenants on rent.

鈥淔or every property owner who’s in a position to reduce or waive rent, there are dozens who do not have the ability to do so,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is an economic ecosystem problem. 鈥� It’s really important that we have system-wide solutions, and the only people who can offer that is the government.鈥�

As local businesses close, Amy said he’s concerned well-capitalized chains backed by Wall Street will move in.

鈥淵es, I think that the character of our community is at risk,鈥� he said.