X-Ray Cafe, Alternative music venue in Portland, United States.
X-Ray Cafe was a music venue on West Burnside Street in Portland featuring white walls, hand-painted signage, and murals decorating the exterior. The space operated as an all-ages location hosting multiple performances nightly while promoting local musicians through distributed event flyers.
Benjamin Arthur Ellis and Tres Shannon opened the space in 1990 by converting a former pizza restaurant into an underground music venue, operating for four years. During this period it became a key hub for Portland's emerging music culture.
The venue served as a gathering place for local musicians and artists who shaped Portland's independent spirit during the early 1990s. Visitors could experience the emerging music scene firsthand and connect with performers who defined an era.
The space welcomed visitors of all ages and communicated upcoming shows through flyers posted throughout the venue. As an intimate location, it filled quickly on busy nights, so arriving early was advisable for popular events.
The founders financed the initial setup with loans from their grandmothers and decorated the interior using items salvaged from dumpsters. This resourceful approach to design became part of what made the space feel authentic and distinctive to those who visited.
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