Port Property is pleased to welcome Bad Neighbors and Portland Kung Fu to 511 Congress Street, bringing two established Portland businesses and their loyal followings to the building’s ground-floor retail spaces.
Bad Neighbors, founded by hospitality veterans Nicole Costas and Dave Aceto and sound engineer Dennis Gaines, is a listening bar and restaurant designed around great music, conversation, and community. It takes over a 4,500± square foot space at 511 Congress Street (Suite 105). The concept builds on the team’s success with Arcadia, located directly across Congress Street, and will feature curated music programming, elevated comfort food, and an atmosphere that encourages guests to linger.
“We’ve always believed in creating spaces where people can unplug and connect,” said Nicole Costas, co-owner of Bad Neighbors. “Whether that’s over music, food, conversation, or a game of pool, we’re excited to create a place where people can become regulars, build community, and spend time together on Congress Street.”
Bad Neighbors is expected to open in late July. The space will offer a music-driven experience with a full-service bar, dining areas, and a restored pool table. The programming has been designed to feel “like a community radio station,” with nights devoted to genres and individual artists.
Portland Kung Fu, founded by Dave Bearce in 2014, will relocate from its longtime home on the second floor of the State Theater to a 2,875± square foot plaza level unit—and a highly visible street-level location. The school teaches traditional Ving Tsun (pronounced Wing Chun) Kung Fu and has spent more than a decade building a dedicated community of students throughout Portland.
Portland Kung Fu is targeting an October opening. The new location will provide significantly more room for classes while making the school’s work visible to pedestrians through large storefront windows. The school offers a welcoming, growth-focused environment where students can build their fitness, self-defense skills, and resilience. Founder David Bearce is a respected “sifu” (teacher) and member of the Moy Tung Athletic Association, an international kung fu organization founded in 1986.
“We’ve spent more than a decade building our community in Portland, but we’ve been a bit of a hidden gem,” said Bearce. “Moving to a street-level location gives us the opportunity to introduce more people to what we do and show that kung fu is something that can benefit anyone looking to get stronger, healthier, and more confident.”
Home to a mix of office and retail tenants, 511 Congress Street is located in the heart of Portland’s Arts District and offers Class A office and retail space, onsite parking, recent building improvements, and a growing mix of professional offices and street-level businesses.
Bad Neighbors and Portland Kung Fu join Workout Anytime, Gardner Real Estate, Embrace Home Loans, and Pure Tattoo, further expanding the mix of businesses that make 511 Congress Street a destination for work, wellness, dining, and community in downtown Portland.