Published March 13, 2026

A Statement From Our CEO

This week has been an incredibly difficult one for the entire Elephants community—our employees, our customers, and our neighbors. We have been deeply sustained by the outpouring of support we’ve received since Tuesday morning’s fire. Your messages remind us how meaningful Elephants has been to so many Portlanders as a restaurant, an employer, a nonprofit partner, and a place where people come together.

We are grateful to the brave and capable team at Portland Fire & Rescue and Police for their swift response this week—both in containing Tuesday morning’s fire and apprehending the individual responsible on Wednesday afternoon. We hope that the individual involved receives the mental health services they need, both for their own wellbeing, and for the safety of our broader community.

At the same time, accountability matters. Incidents like this require us not only to address the immediate situation, but also to examine the broader context in which small businesses operate.

For more than four decades, Elephants Delicatessen has fed, nourished, and hosted the Portland community. We employ hundreds of Portlanders and strive every day to operate as a responsible and civically minded operation. We are honored to be called a beloved institution and to serve as a gathering place—a “third place”—for so many people in our city. We also have deep sympathy for neighbors experiencing hardship.

But compassion alone cannot come at the expense of safety and stability. The continued presence of businesses like ours—and the livelihoods they support—is threatened when difficult decisions are delayed, accountability becomes uncertain, and the safety of employees and guests is compromised.

Small businesses cannot succeed in an environment where insecurity, uncertainty, and anxiety become part of everyday life. The tools currently offered to small businesses are woefully insufficient.

As we work to respond thoughtfully and constructively, we urge our civic leaders to use this moment as a catalyst for meaningful change. Let’s not abandon compassionate care, but also weigh the needs of businesses and citizens more strongly.

To our customers, neighbors, and local vendors, thank you for your decades of support at our NW 22nd Avenue location. We are assessing the damage and are going to do everything we can to rebuild. As we both mourn and celebrate our flagship store, we invite you to share memories, photos, and stories from Elephants on NW 22nd by emailing Info@ElephantsDeli.com.

And the most meaningful way to support our team right now is simple: continue to show up. Visit our six other wonderful locations, order catering, shop our markets, and gather around the tables that make our community special. Your support ensures that Elephants—and businesses like ours—can continue to serve Portland for many years to come.

Martin McClanan
Chief Executive Officer
Elephants Delicatessen