Make those Mother's Day plans now. Longtime Northwest Portland restaurant Meriwether's will close its historic home after service May 13, with plans to reopen as a rooftop restaurant atop a multi-story building going up in the parking lot.

The nearly 100-year-old restaurant space, once home to early Portland dining landmark L'Auberge, will become a private events space.

Meriwether's took over the 1920s building in 2004, covering the large fireplaces with mossy rock and restoring the original stained glass panels. But after 14 years, Meriwether's had long stretched beyond the capacity of its kitchen and small bar, co-owners John and Renee Orlando said.

"We were looking at several hundred thousand dollars just to refresh the existing property," John Orlando said.

With upcoming rezoning set to raise height restrictions in their area, longtime neighbors such as ESCO Corp. decamping and new office buildings and condos going up all around, the Orlandos figured they could kill two birds with one stone. They would build a five-story building in Meriwether's parking lot, then build a new restaurant with more modern conveniences on the roof.

The current iteration of Meriwether's will serve its last meal on Mother's Day, May 13. Construction on the new building is expected to take at least a year. The Orlandos say they are reaching out to chefs and restaurateurs they know to help find placement for longtime employees.

When the new Meriwether's opens, it will join Portland's small but growing number of rooftop restaurants, including Noble Rot, Departure, Alta Bira and the new Xport bar and lounge at The Porter Hotel. For their restaurant, the Orlandos want to build more than just a concrete landing pad. In addition to 360-degree views, the new Meriwether's will feature warm tones and lush greenery to match the tranquil garden at the current space.

"When we opened in 2004, the design of the space was very specific. We wanted our guests to feel like they were coming into our home," Renee Orlando says. "We didn't want to be cement floors and harsh lighting. The new restaurant will have to feel like that: an updated version with wood and timber, a Pacific Northwest feel and perennial gardens. All those things our guests love."

Other details are still being worked out, but the Orlandos say the new building will be five stories tall and made entirely of wood. The restaurant could feature an open kitchen. At max capacity, it won't be quite as big as Meriwether's, which can seat 200 in the summer (and still serves as many as 10,000 customers a month). And the current space will get a remodel, including new AV hookups for companies looking to make presentations during off-site meetings.

The Orlandos hope Meriwether's new home will resonate as much as the old.

"We have people who come every Mother's Day," Renee Orlando says. "People who come every anniversary."

"That's why we decided that Mother's Day would be the last day," John Orlando says.

Meriwether's will close after dinner service May 13 at 2601 N.W. Vaughn St. The new rooftop restaurant is expected to open (at the earliest) in 2019. Call 503-228-1250 or visit meriwethersnw.com for more information.

-- Michael Russell