Wonder Woman Wednesday #4: Dayna McErlean
By: Marlynn Jayme SchotlandWonder Woman Wednesday #4: Dayna McErlean
Websites: www.yakuzalounge.com, www.docpdx.com
Occupation: restaurateur, developer
Companies: Itisness, LLC. Yakuza Lounge, LLC. DOC/Platina, LLC. Bullshead Management, LLC
Description of occupation/business
I’m a mom, restaurant owner and real-estate developer.
Yakuza and DOC, my two restaurants, are located in the Concordia neighborhood in NE Portland. Yakuza is a food-lover’s bar inspired by the Japanese izakaya concept of great food and drinks best shared with good friends. DOC serves farm-to-table food that celebrates the seasonal flavors of Oregon produce, wild forages, meats and fish paired with an incredible wine menu. My real estate projects include a 25-unit small footprint community in St. John’s (with Works Parntership) and a modern home development in Linnton (in partnership with Skylab Architects). My background is in the arts so I try to infuse my business projects with a sense of creativity and the excitement that comes from turning something old into something new.
Her story
Native to Staten Island, New York, I’m the baby of seven and the blond sheep of a family of builders. I always knew I would venture far away from my motherland to find where I felt I belonged and could flourish, but it wasn’t until my mother passed away, when I was 24 years old, that I picked up and moved just about as far from NY as I could, to Portland OR, sight-unseen in 1996. Shortly after arriving in Portland I established itisness, a 3000 sq ft all-purpose, multi-transformable art studio and warehouse space, where I also lived, in what was considered the Portland netherlands of NE 30th and Killingsworth. I had been living in Baltimore, Maryland for 5 years prior (attending Maryland Institute College of Art) so it all seemed like a very safe and clean place from what I had experienced there. After 4 years of living in Portland my father then passed away and my very unfortunate fortune made it possible to purchase what was probably the most rundown building in NE Portland. I began the 6 year process of gutting, redesigning and completely rebuilding the site. In 2004, I moved into the building and, along with chef partner Micah Camden, opened Yakuza. A few years later I bought the building next door and built-out and financed the space that would become Beast, another stellar Portland restaurant, and the following summer I opened DOC just up the block. I live upstairs from Yakuza with my 3 year old son Bishop in an apartment I designed so I’m always close to the restaurants. I’ve lived in Portland for 14 years and ironically enough, haven’t moved but a block west of where I first landed!
Her passions:
Being a mom and friend to my 3 year old son, Bishop
Creating environments that feed inspiration, comfort and intrigue
Sharing great food and drink
Preventative, proactive health
(Okay that’s four!)
Who she is:
Persistent
Generous
A creative problem solver
Her life motto:
If you’re bored you must be boring (my mom taught me that one!)
Her inspiration:
My late father who was a Viking of a man. He spent every Sunday holding his mother’s hand.
My late grandmother Lydia who was a single mom of two during the Depression.
My late mother who was a single mother of three before she met my father and had me.
Me, a single mother of one, who learned how to be strong-minded and independent from my parents. They taught me that I could do anything I put my mind to. Their memory inspires me and lives through me everyday.
The best piece of advice she was ever given:
Listen more talk less.
If you want something to happen, first visualize it.
And, if you step in dog shit… take your shoes off.
She cannot live without:
Bishop Valentine, my health, a really hot bath
Where you can spot this Wonder Woman:
Hanging out with Bishop at Yakuza
dayna@itsiness.com
Facebook: Yakuza
Facebook: DOC
twitter: @yakuzapdx
Other tidbits:
The new Yakuza Kids Happy Hour starts Sunday December 5th. Every Weds, Thursday and Sunday from 5-6pm we’ll be serving the Kids 1-2-3 Menu with 1-2-3 items for 1-2-3 dollars. It’s a great way for parents to experience the full Yakuza dinner menu without having to get a babysitter. And for date night – DOC’s 5-course tasting menu with accompanying wine pairings is not to be missed.
My personal note:
I’ve never met Dayna in real life before, but just learning about her inspired me. She’s a single mom of a young child who owns FOUR businesses, folks, and two of those being the toughest type of businesses to run, in my opinion: restaurants. I’ve dined at Yakuza and can see her touches throughout: it is the perfect place for both a date night and also for a night out with the whole family. There aren’t that many restaurants that can blend the two types of atmospheres as well as Yakuza can. Thanks for being a Wonder Woman, Dayna!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland runs on coffee, bacon, red wine, and the Beastie Boys. She is the Editor of Urban Bliss Life, Regional Sales Manager of Plum District (Portland), and Owner/Principal Designer + Strategist of Urban Bliss, LLC .
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Tags: DOC Portland, portland restaurant owners, Portland restaurants, women entrepreneurs, women retaurateurs, Yakuza Portland
I have had the pleasure of knowing Dayna for about as long I have lived in Portland, initially she hosted my film events in her space Itisness.
Thanks for doing a profile of this creative and hard-working mama! We are excited about the happy hour at Yakuza (which is a couple doors down from Milagros).
All the best,
Tony
hi Dayna , It’s early Sunday a.m. I turned on the computer / net and your sister Ivy ‘s photo popped up .As there wasn’t anything new from her ,I scrolled down the page and came across Wonder Woman #4 ,Dayna Mc ERlean . WOW! what an amazing life your leading ! Two restaurants , an art gallery w/ living space , a 25 unit apartment complex .. . and most important of all , a beautiful son . Looking at the photo of you both ,I can see your Viking dads bone structure mixed with the softer side of your beautiful mom ,Marcia . You really seem to have a good mix of both parents . Your son Bishop is beautiful , and has a cool name to boot . I go to Moravian Cemetery to visit with my brother Eddie Jr. , and my father Edmund Sr. fairly often , and when I do I often head down to the water to say a prayer for Whitey & Marcia . I felt very close to Marcia as our families intertwined with the plant store ,”PLANTIQUE” , and Whitey taught me several things about being a man and the value of hard work and discipline . Well , I’m growing a little long in the tooth as they say , so in closing , I’d just like to wish you continued success in all your endeavors and good health & happiness to you and Bishop . Regards ,John Murphy