Assembly Brewing was a brewery and restaurant in Portland, Oregon, United States. The business operated two brick and mortar locations: the original restaurant was in southeast Portland's Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood and the outpost known as Pizza Annex was on Alberta Street in northeast Portland's Concordia neighborhood. Before closing two locations permanently in 2025, Assembly was Oregon's only Black-owned brewery.[1]
Assembly Brewing was a Black-owned brewery and restaurant with two locations in Portland, Oregon. The original restaurant was in southeast Portland's Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood, near Foster-Powell. An outpost called Pizza Annex operated on Alberta Street in northeast Portland's Concordia neighborhood.[2]
The original restaurant operated in a renovated 7,500 square-foot space owned by Adam Dixon, which was previously housed a Korean grocery store.[3] The Oregonian's Andre Meunier said, "The exterior sports clean, mid-century lines with a gray and earthy-orange theme. Inside, high ceilings with revealed wooden beams and earth tones create a rustic Portland pub feel, and artisans have crafted metal and wood pieces for the bars and tables."[4] There were four interior murals, one of which was completed by Theo Holdt and inspired by Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry Murals,[5] depicting brewers instead of automotive industry workers.[3][4] Andy Giegerich of the Portland Business Journal described the artworks as "stunningly detailed".[6] Assembly also had pinball, a covered patio, and a parking lot. Guests were required to be 21 years of age or older.[7]
The menu included Detroit-style pizza, sandwiches, salads, cocktails,[3] and seven beers on tap. Pizza varieties included Hawaiian, "meat-lovers" (with pork roll),[8] and "veggie gourmet".[3]
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Co-founder and brewer George Johnson, originally from Detroit, established the business with Adam Dixon on March 23, 2019.[3][9] Assembly was the first Black-owned brewery in Oregon, according to Portland Monthly's Katherine Chew Hamilton.[10] In 2019, Andi Prewitt of Willamette Week said the business was "one of the few minority-owned breweries in the country".[9]
During Pizza Week in 2021, the restaurant served a pizza called "The D" with pepperoni, Canadian bacon, mushrooms, onions, and green pepper.[11]
In May 2025, the business announced plans to close the original location permanently on May 11.[12][13][14] The Pizza Annex closed permanently in September 2025.[1][15]
Willamette Week's Andi Prewitt said Assembly serves "what might be the most authentic Detroit-style pizza in town".[9] Rachel Pinsky included the restaurant in Eater Portland's 2021 overview of "Where to Find Thick, Cheesy Square Pizzas in Portland".[5]
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