Checkpoint One, a sports bar built around Louisiana-style fried seafood, soft opened Nov. 7 at 7325 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland's Roseway neighborhood.
The opening was first reported by Bridgetown Bites. The bar fills a space that previously housed Blue Fin Bar & Grill, a Vietnamese restaurant that served pho and bun before closing.
The name borrows from auto racing. Checkpoints are spots in a race where a competitor's passings are logged, and the bar's logo features a checkered flag. Its tagline: "your neighborhood finish line."
Who's behind it
Oregon Secretary of State business records list three people behind the venture: Krystl Arruiza, Daniel Preston and Mary Lincoln, according to Bridgetown Bites.
Lincoln has a track record in Portland's food scene. She previously ran Hank's Place Southern Cuisine, a soul food operation at Rockwood Market Hall from spring 2022 to spring 2024, according to the same report. That menu featured fried chicken, jambalaya, smothered pork chops, oxtails, fried shrimp and catfish.
The menu
Fried seafood anchors the Checkpoint One lineup. The bar describes its offerings as "hot, crispy fried seafood and Louisiana flavor," according to Bridgetown Bites.
Expect fried wings, catfish, shrimp and oysters, plus gumbo, a large chicken option and sides of coleslaw or potato salad. All baskets come with fries, according to the bar's website.
The drink list includes cocktails, rotating craft taps, wine and soda.
Screens and sound
The bar's website lists 12 HD screens, a giant projector and stadium audio for live games. Seating is arranged for watching, Hoodline reported.
The building
The building at 7325 NE Sandy Blvd dates to 1926 and was remodeled in 2023, according to Bridgetown Bites. The property appears to have changed hands in 2022.
Checkpoint One is open for business on Sandy Boulevard. Hours of operation were not listed on the bar's website or Facebook page as of Nov. 10.
