One of my secret stashes of info is the Portland Business Journal’s Daily Breaking News Updates ^[1], which is usually info straight from the press release, but contains gems like “Fondue restaurant opens in NW Portland” which tells me a bit more about the under-construction place I walk by everyday on my way to work.

Urban Fondue is owned by Sterling Restaurant Management Group, who also own Voodoo Lounge, Bartini, Ohm and Be Zinful. Bartini and Be Zinful are on either side of Urban Fondue, and I think all three places were connected under the previous owner. I was surprised to see that Bartini is owned by the same people as Ohm since the style seems so dramatically different (I say that but I have never been to Bartini and haven’t been to Ohm in about a year). Finding more info on Sterling Restaurant Management Group has proven difficult.

I also like that BizJournal makes a point to mention that ^[2], “The Melting Pot, which bills itself as ‘the nation’s largest fondue restaurant franchise chain,’ opened a restaurant this fall in the Congress Center building at Southwest Sixth Avenue and Main Street.” So it looks like it’s a case of chain vs. local.