01/09/2025
To the Portland Community, it is with a heavy heart we must announce that AFURI kara kurenai is to close effective January 8th, 2025 permanently. This decision was not made lightly, but despite our best efforts and the support from the community, we can no longer continue to operate at our AFURI kara kurenai location in Old Town Downtown, Portland.
We thank the community for the wonderful opportunity to serve Portland from this location for the past seven years, and we hope to continue to see you at our other local locations.
Below is a letter from our CEO Taichi Ishizuki:
With a heavy heart, we announce the permanent closure of AFURI kara kurenai, effective January 8, 2025. This decision was not made lightly and follows a thorough evaluation of the challenges we have faced in recent years including the lingering negative perception of downtown safety following the pandemic, a significant decline in tourism, and one of the highest office vacancy rates in the nation.
While there have been improvements in public safety, the return of local residents and foot traffic to the area remains limited. After 7 incredible years of serving the Portland community since this location's opening in 2017, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors.
We want to express our deepest gratitude for your support and loyalty over the years. It has been an honor to serve you, share a passion for ramen, and create lasting memories together.
Thank you for being part of our journey. We will continue to cherish the connections and moments we’ve shared with our wonderful guests.
With heartfelt appreciation,
7年間ありがとうございました。
