St. Johns stalwart Anna Bannanas Cafe will close at the end of the year after the owners say they were given an untenable lease renewal.

Owners Bryant and Sarah Anderson announced the decision to close in a Facebook post this week.

They have been at the North Portland location for 15 years. The local chain used to have three cafes -- in Northwest, Northeast and North sections of the city.

But by the end of the year, only the original Northwest 21st Avenue location will be left -- and that one was sold by the Anderson’s in 2015. The Northeast Alberta St. location closed in 2014 and is now Just Bob, a coffee shop that kept much of the space and vibe of Anna Bannanas the same.

The Andersons encouraged longtime patrons to come to Anna Bannanas through the end of the year to help send the local haunt off with a bang.

“Basically, we were issued a lease that would cause us to slowly bleed to death or close,” the post said. We chose -- (expletive) party till Dec. 31st when our lease ends! Come in, belly up to the bar, share a story, cry, laugh -- but NEVER let them get you down.”

The post also blamed the gentrification of St. Johns, long an affordable blue-collar neighborhood for the rent increase and other lease changes that made them decide to close.

-- Molly Harbarger

mharbarger@oregonian.com | 503-294-5923 | @MollyHarbarger

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