Big news is brewing in Medford! After more than 20 years of serving the community, Porters, the iconic restaurant that called the historic train depot on Front Street home, has closed its doors. But don’t worry, Medford food lovers – something exciting is on the horizon. The Old Spaghetti Factory, a beloved restaurant chain with deep roots in Oregon, is gearing up to move into the former Porters location!
The Old Spaghetti Factory’s story began on January 10th, 1969, in Portland, OR, where it first opened its doors in the historic Carriage and Baggage Building on 2nd and Pine. The restaurant quickly became known for its unique dining experience, which included the famous refurbished trolley car found near Reed College. This trolley car became a signature part of the ambiance, a tradition that has continued in many of the restaurant's locations across the U.S.
We recently had the pleasure of dining at The Old Spaghetti Factory's Eugene location, formerly the Electric Station, and were absolutely blown away by both the food and the charm of sitting inside an actual train car. The nostalgic and whimsical experience paired with the delicious Italian cuisine made it a memorable visit. If the new Medford location delivers a similar experience, locals are in for a treat.
One of The Old Spaghetti Factory’s most beloved dishes is their Spaghetti with Mizithra Cheese and Browned Butter, an old Dussin family recipe that almost didn’t make it on the menu. When founder Guss Dussin applied for his business license for the original Portland location, he needed one more dish to qualify, so he added the Mizithra recipe. To this day, it remains their most popular dish.
And there’s more good news – we’ve confirmed with an inside source at the Eugene location that plans for the Medford opening are well underway. While no official opening date has been announced, the buzz is definitely growing. Today, The Old Spaghetti Factory operates over 40 locations across 13 states and even has two restaurants in Japan. The Medford restaurant will be the only location between Eugene and Sacramento, adding to the excitement for Southern Oregon food lovers.
Originally reported by Medford Alert, we’ll be keeping a close eye on developments and can't wait to see the transformation of the historic depot into Medford’s newest dining hotspot. Stay tuned for more updates!
