Alex K
Great idea, Ben! 👍

Ben M Author
When I was a kid, this is where we got gas.

Alex K
... and the personal connection and childhood memories makes this even more interesting!

Ketoujin
I used to eat there with some gun-show friends - we had a quarterly breakfast for some local collectors that I attended for a couple years - until just before COVID hit. The bomber was long gone by then but the restaurant on the site still called "The Bomber," had framed and signed-by-WWII-aircrew aviation paintings, bomber jacket, props, (repro's though) and dummy M-2 .50-caliber Browning HMG's on the walls. The WWII theme didn't stop with the menu, i.e. "The Charles De Gaulle" was the French toast option. Next door is "The War Front" which is a great militaria shop and one of the few left in the region. Sad that the restaurant is now closed for good. Another vanished part of the old Pacific Northwest.

Ben M Author
Thanks for sharing some good memories. Mine are sitting in the back of my dads green vw beetle, looking up at the bomber as we got gas

Ketoujin
Thank you for some great memories yourself! I live out in the Columbia Gorge now but back when I lived in town - and before the influx of transplants as well - I used to hear very similar memories from older PDX'er's who had lots of memories such as the one you described. It was a unique gas station (and later local family restaurant) and I hope someone buys the site and runs with an aviation-themed eating place there again. Not holding my breath given how things are changing - especially in this region - right now but am crossing my fingers. Even a "bomber-themed" place somewhere else in the wider area in vague homage to the old one would be nice.

Kurt Fankhauser
This is so cool. I remember being in the car when my dad gassed up here too.