Vineyard Bar & Grill Serving Korean Fusion Again

The Vineyard Bar & Grill has changed ownership for the second time this year, reverting back to its original proprietors.

Daniel Yun, the former owner of Kuri Ramen and The Vineyard Bar & Grill for 18 years, decided to retire. In spring 2023, he sold the business to James Wallace. Yun then embarked on a journey to South Korea, where he looked forward to engaging in missionary work during his retirement.

“I was really excited to do some missionary work back in Korea where I’m from,” Yun said. “I had just started when all of this happened.”

While The Vineyard Bar & Grill (link is to the Wallace-run business) changed hands to Wallace, Yun purchased a home in South Korea. According to an interview with the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce (CVCC), Wallace aimed to create a “friendly central hub for locals and travelers alike where everyone is welcome to meet and converse over a good meal.”

Wallace consolidated the two businesses, “the back bar” and the front restaurant, into one entity named “Vineyard Bar & Grill.” He introduced a more American comfort style with French influence, featuring seasonal salads, burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and larger entrees such as steak frites and chicken pot pie.

“During our first month in business, we listened to our locals, regular customers, and ‘out of towners,’” Wallace mentioned in the CVCC interview. “We adapted our business model accordingly to the local demographics and began allowing minors in the front restaurant before 10:00 pm to accommodate a family audience.”

Editor’s Note: Wallace did not respond to emails or messages for comments as of press time.

However, in October, paper signs appeared in The Vineyard Bar & Grill’s window, announcing an unexpected, temporary closure. The doors remained closed until earlier in November, when a new sign appeared, stating: “RAMEN IS BACK!”

Yun had reassumed ownership of the restaurant, reviving his menu once again.

“It’s very sad,” Yun remarked. “He is a good guy, he works really hard. But ownership is difficult, and he couldn’t make it work.”

Yun, who owns the building, said the payments stopped coming. When calls were not returned, he realized he needed to make a trip back to see what was going on. That’s when he understood he would have to return and run the restaurant again.

“I didn’t want to come back,” Yun admitted. “But, I have mortgage payments to make. So I will run the restaurant until someone is ready to take over.”

And when Yun says “take over,” he means it. He is seeking someone willing to learn the business and his recipes, eventually selling ownership of the restaurant to them when they’re ready.

“I’m now looking for the right person, not just any person,” Yun said. “The recipes are good, and it’s good to have more Asian food in Newberg. The right person will come in and continue the recipes that are successful, and then make it their own when they’re ready.”

For now, Yun is unsure about the restaurant’s name. While he has contemplated going back to Kuri Ramen, the entire establishment will continue as “Vineyard Bar & Grill” since naming is not a top priority at the moment. Yun is focused on restoring the restaurant, addressing staff and inventory concerns, and reapplying for licenses. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission license is secured, and he’s working on obtaining the Oregon Lottery license for lottery games in the bar.

Having returned after moving away, Yun realized that part of the reason Wallace’s idea may have failed is the change of the menu. While the meals were delicious, there was too much competition in town for the same styles of food. Yun believes the uniqueness of his menu is what makes the business successful.

“I think Newberg needs different foods,” he said. “A place where they can try new things that they may have not had before. A lot of this food is from 1950s Korea, during the war. It’s simple and nutritious. You can’t get this kind of food in every town.”

Vineyard Bar & Grill is open Tuesday through Sunday, starting at 11 a.m. each day. The bar remains open until midnight to 2 a.m., depending on the day. Yun is working on updating the website and social media pages, but for more information, contact the Vineyard Bar & Grill at (503) 987-1081.

Editor’s Note: This story was corrected on January 9, 2024 to remove Acacia Rogers from the story, who said she was not a James Wallace’s business partner. Newsberg regrets the error.