The Wooden Chicken Pub, 12500 N.E. Sandy Blvd., has a new owner and will have a soft re-opening on Thursday, Aug. 29, after closing its doors earlier this summer. 

Cluck, cluck, who’s there?

It’s the new owner of The Wooden Chicken Pub.

Josh Johnston and James Hall, principle owners of Independent Restaurant Concepts, are taking over this im-peck-able pub.

Ready to welcome back old friends and new faces alike, former owner of more than 20 years, David Alderton is getting ready to “ride off into the sunset” and enjoy the pub as a customer this time around.

He says Johnston and his crew were the right choice in order to make The Wooden Chicken Pub, 12500 N.E. Sandy Blvd., better and more successful than he did.

Independent Restaurant Concepts have a number of Portland pubs including North 45, Paddy’s Bar & Grill, Cadillac Cafe and more.

“It went from sadness to excitement,” Alderton said of the closure to its now new beginning.

The beloved restaurant closed its door just shy of two months ago on June 30.

With new ownership that’s eager to continue the legacy, The Wooden Chicken Pub will serve its infamous fish n’ chips again starting Thursday, Aug. 29.

A big bash follows the soft opening on Monday, Sept. 9, for Monday Night Football featuring the San Francisco 49ers versus the New York Jets.

Johnston first tried to purchase the pub about five years ago, but plans fell through. When he caught wind of the recent closure, via a Facebook post, he picked up the phone and started making calls.

After a quick, week-long, back-and-forth conversation, Johnston met Alderton at “the chicken” and asked what he wanted for the business.

Alderton named his price and Johnston turned right around and gave it to him.

“To be real honest, it’s been tough for us to get excited about opening more businesses in Multnomah County,” Johnston said. “So, if that says anything of how good of a spot this is to get us excited — we jumped all over it.”

Johnston described the pub as an institutional Portland brand. It’s a beloved place for it’s good grub, football watching and community feel.

He said his kids have been asking when they can go — which won’t be for a while — due to no minors allowed. It’s one of the many original parts of The Wooden Chicken Pub he doesn’t want to change. Actually, Johnston doesn’t want to change much of anything.

“I’m a big believer of when we go into a new community, I don’t want to force what I think is best for the community,” Johnston said. “I want to learn the community and understand what’s important to them.”

For now, the only real change is installing point of sale systems to improve efficiency and collect analytics to strengthen business.

“It’ll just help guide us to tell us what the customer wants, so we can do a better job,” Johnston said.

Another change, which isn’t as much a change as it is a restoration of services, is the return of video lottery.

Also returning are a majority of the former front of house staff members.

On Saturday, Aug. 17, former staff gathered and drank beers while discussing what they love about The Wooden Chicken Pub and what could be done better, because if anyone, they know the restaurant best — along with Alderton, of course.

“I feel like my biggest responsibility is to carry the legacy forward,” Johnston said.

He plans to spend the greater part of his first year in ownership learning and asking questions with a main goal in mind: to be open for another 40 years to come.

“We hope the community shows up to support us,” Johnston said. “We’re going to do our best for them.”