Gales Creek residents have noted ongoing construction at the former Coleman’s building on Highway 6, where new property owner Dustin Knox, a former Portland restaurateur who now makes his home in Gales Creek, has been spearheading the build out of the location in preparation of opening the Chicken and Guns Smokehouse on the Wilson River Highway.
“We were initially hoping for an early June opening,” Knox told the Gales Creek Journal in a message. “But it’s starting to look like a late June opening,” he said.
Knox said that the restaurant will expand on the existing Chicken and Guns menu at their Cartopia location (12th Avenue and Hawthorne Blvd, Portland). There, a variety of Latin-style chicken is served, along with the titular guns—crispy potatoes—as a side.
Knox said that he also plans to offer coffee, soft-serve and milkshakes, with breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings. A bar will round out the experience with beer, wine, and cocktails.
With the new restaurant comes new job opportunities, Knox said, noting he will be hiring locally for a variety of positions.
Previously, Coleman’s employed at least eight people when it closed for the last time in March 2020.
Knox said that updates would be posted to the company’s social media pages (Instagram and Facebook) as plans are finalized.
Chicken and Guns Smokehouse is located at 55660 NW Wilson River Hwy, Gales Creek, OR 97117.
Chas Hundley is the editor of the Gales Creek Journal and sister news publications the Banks Post and the Salmonberry Magazine. He grew up in Gales Creek and has a cat.
