Hero, a Sandwich Collab From Empire and OTTO Owners, Coming to Portland

It's been a mystery for months: what were Empire co-owner Todd Bernard and OTTO Pizza and OCHO Burrito co-owners Mike Keon and Anthony Allen plotting for the 30 City Center in Portland? The former home of Soakology has raised plenty of questions with a rotating display of strange posters, including the most recent one of a boy with french fries in his nose and ears.

Hero, 30 City Center, Portland.

Well, if you said "a fast-casual takeout concept like OTTO and OCHO," you nailed it. Portland Food Map found the answer in the restaurateurs' alcohol license application (beginning on page 20): the new business is Hero, a sandwich shop focused on to-go food but with seating for close to 30. "Hero," of course, is a regional term for a sub in New York. The owners "plan to open Hero 7 days a week 11:30-10, and according to the application are targeting an opening date in mid-December," the blog reports. See a sample menu below, including chicken, pork, lamb, and vegetarian sandwich options.