WHAT INSPIRES ALBINA CUSTOMERS?

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FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN
4225 North Interstate Avenue and 1708 East Burnside, Portland, Oregon - www.portlandwings.com

Inspiration. Mountains. Music. Friendship.  An Albina Small Business Loan and Business Banking Relationship.

Climb Mountains.

Thanks to two mountain-climbing friends, there's a Fire On The Mountain in Portland.  Two Fires actually, with the buffalo wing restaurant's just recently opened location at 1708 E. Burnside to support over-burn from their North Portland location.

Portland's original buffalo wings were inspired on the peaks of Colorado mountains with two friends who used to talk about opening a restaurant together - Jordan Busch, an unconvinced and free-spirited attorney who used to hang out at buffalo wing restaurants throughout college and law school, and Sara Sawicki, a free-spirited ski bum with an educational background in Communications and years of restaurant experience.  And they really did.

Add Your Own Flavor.

Jamaican Jerk - Raspberry Habanero - Soon-To-Be-Famous-Spicy-Peanut - Or milder for the less mountain-climbing types.

Listen to advice.  Master your art.  Learn your market. Follow your heart. Be willing to move somewhere new. And then add your own spices - And a wall mural of Jerry Garcia, Santana, Willie Nelson, Bob Marley, Janis Joplin and Einstein painted by several local artists including a Fire On The Mountain employee.  Nobody ever said that starting your own business was easy.

Starting A Fire On The Mountain.

While still living in Colorado in 2002, Mr. Busch discovered via internet research that there were no wing restaurants in Portland.  He then did some additional hands-on research by going to work for a wing hangout in Denver.  Chasing live music, mountains, and an open wings market, Ms. Sawicki and Mr. Busch relocated to Portland in September 2003.  On January 1, 2005, the first Fire On The Mountain opened at 4225 North Interstate Avenue after Ms. Sawicki discovered a small building in the still changing neighborhood.

Be Prepared For All Kinds Of Weather.

On a mountain, anything can happen.  Likewise, when you own your own business.  There are no clocks to punch, and broken water heaters and other business emergencies are all yours.

Be Kind To Nature And Its Creatures.

As conscious people, treating employees well is important to the business owners.  Several familiar faces are still there since the North Portland location first opened.  Fire On The Mountain provides 35 local jobs to our Portland neighbors.  The business also recycles all used oil and donates it to local biodiesel companies.

The "Banking" Part Of Building A Business

"Establishing a relationship with a local bank is an important part of starting a business," noted Mr. Busch, who began researching local banking options upon his arrival in Portland.  A small business loan from Albina helped provide the spark to start the Fire, and the genius team and our local neighbors, are providing the business coals.  Take a bite.  Listen to music.  Hang out.

Thanks to a Fire On The Mountain, we've now got one of the best hangout spots in the country.  Eat great buffalo wings and support local Portland musicians.  Visit www.portlandwings.com for an upcoming schedule of local musicians playing at Fire On The Mountain, or call 503-230-wings.