Condon 'The Round-Up' building sells

The Condon Round-Up has sold to Nick Smith of Tigard. Smith has been visiting Condon for many years and is a close friend of Scott and Steve Miller and of the Miller family.

Smith is the Senior Project Manager at Emerick Construction, one of the largest residential and commercial builders in the Portland area.

During trips to Condon, Smith would often visit the town's favorite watering holes, including the Round-Up and the Elks Lodge.

After the Round-Up closed on New Year's Day in 2021, the windows have been dark. There was growing concern that one of Condon's most iconic buildings could be lost forever.

Although many have known the Round-Up as a dive bar, in truth, it has a rich history.

The building was built in 1910 by a group of men who were involved with the International Order of the Oddfellows (IOOF). At the time, the group was one of the largest clubs for gentlemen, and an early group that promoted philanthropy and community engagement.

The Oddfellows were also made up of skilled builders and craftsmen. In fact, the group in Condon had built the Reisacher building in 1902 (formerly Country Flowers, currently The Condon Local). Incredibly, they built the Reisacher building in just four month's time, according to the National Register of Historic Places.

As a thank-you, the neighboring plot was sold to the group at a deep discount. There was an agreement between the Oddfellows and JT Reisacher that a shared staircase would be built between the buildings to allow for access to the second story.

The bottom floor was rented out as commercial property, beginning in 1910. The upstairs was used as the Oddfellows ballroom, which hosted member meetings, dances, and special events.

From what has been gathered, the bottom floor has predominately been used as a saloon and bar. The Round-Up Room was thought to have been established in the 1940s.

Later, Alan Blackford purchased the property and continued running it as a bar. Blackford knocked out walls upstairs to install a hot tub, and put a hole through the exterior wall to create a cat-walk.

Alan's daughter Allison later took over, and rented the building out, including to Mason Eubanks, who successfully ran the bar for several years. Eubanks sold the bar to Kelly Jo Janes. Due to COVID restrictions and challenges in securing PPP loans, Janes was forced to close the bar in the wee hours of January 1, 2021.

For more than three years, the building has sat idle. The upstairs has not been used in a considerable amount of time. The exterior windows on the west side of the building were boarded up, but rain and snow caused deterioration of the bricks.

Nick Smith says that he was very interested in the building but was also wary of its extensive structural and cosmetic needs. The ceiling in the upstairs area is caving in. The electrical is in need of a complete overhaul. There are plumbing concerns and other problems that will likely keep Smith up at night.

But ultimately, Nick Smith decided to take the plunge. Helped by Real Estate agent and Condon native Kim Logan to finalize the agreement with Allison Blackford, Smith sees potential for the building and for the town of Condon.

"I've always loved coming here," Smith said. "It'll take some time but I'm excited to help get this building restored and looking like these other nice buildings in town."

It's going to be a heavy lift and Nick is hoping to qualify for grants that can help to save the historic building.

In addition to the most pressing needs, Nick says that he plans to acid wash the brick to bring out its color, and to redo the front façade to its original style or close to it.

Nick also says that he plans to keep the downstairs as a saloon and bar – and that it will continue to be called The Round-Up.