Meet “Cheerful Amy” Nichols

Hard work is in my DNA

I’m Amy Nichols, and you probably know my restaurant/sports bar, The Cheerful Tortoise, in downtown Portland. I began there as a server in 1999 and worked my way up, eventually buying it in 2008. Prior to 2020 it was a dream come true.

We had groups of veterans that would come in for coffee at 7:00 a.m., and nurses getting off the graveyard shift would fill what was left. We had lines of college kids around the block for dollar beer night, and the place was full of happy sounds of guests and a full staff making memories and earning good tips.

Then 2020 happened.

I watched as my life’s investment was shuttered by the state, and the City of Portland piled on. With no end in sight, I turned my second restaurant/sports bar, the Cheerful Bullpen, into a mini-mart serving construction workers so we could be considered “essential.” I turned the restaurant into a members only private club (for which a lifetime membership could be purchased for the cost of a FOB card that let you in the front door). I was putting all my effort trying to outsmart the regulations imposed by the strongest lockdowns in the country – just to try and survive.

Now that the pandemic is over, we still use those FOB cards. But now it’s to keep my employees and guests safe from the constant waves of mentally ill street people storming in, whose symptoms are exaggerated by the use of dangerous drugs. The police and DA do nothing.

I’m running because this can never happen in Clackamas County. We’re doing better than Multnomah County for sure, but we’re always just an election away from changes in leadership that could bring Portland-type problems to our front door. So I’m stepping up to put my work ethic and creativity toward working inside the system rather than figuring out ways to outmaneuver awful governance.

We need to do more than play defense against Portland politics creeping into our county. We need a solid plan to further restore the rule of law, to hold the line against tolling, and to make things more affordable to keep seniors and those on fixed incomes in their homes.

Now that you’ve read a little about me, why not get in contact and set up a neighborhood get-together, or invite me to your community group to get to know you? I’m excited to meet you, and looking forward to making Clackamas County a little more cheerful!

Hard work is in my DNA

I’m Amy Nichols, and you probably know my restaurant/sports bar, The Cheerful Tortoise, in downtown Portland. I began there as a server in 1999 and worked my way up, eventually buying it in 2008. Prior to 2020 it was a dream come true.

We had groups of veterans that would come in for coffee at 7:00 a.m., and nurses getting off the graveyard shift would fill what was left. We had lines of college kids around the block for dollar beer night, and the place was full of happy sounds of guests and a full staff making memories and earning good tips.

Then 2020 happened.

I watched as my life’s investment was shuttered by the state, and the City of Portland piled on. With no end in sight, I turned my second restaurant/sports bar, the Cheerful Bullpen, into a mini-mart serving construction workers so we could be considered “essential.” I turned the restaurant/sports bar into a members only private club (for which a lifetime membership could be purchased for the cost of a FOB card that let you in the front door). I was putting all my effort trying to outsmart the regulations imposed by the strongest lockdowns in the country – just to try and survive.

Now that the pandemic is over, we still use those FOB cards. But now it’s to keep my employees and guests safe from the constant waves of mentally ill street people storming in, whose symptoms are exaggerated by the use of dangerous drugs. The police and DA do nothing.

I’m running because this can never happen in Clackamas County. We’re doing better than Multnomah County for sure, but we’re always just an election away from changes in leadership that could bring Portland-type problems to our front door. So I’m stepping up to put my work ethic and creativity toward working inside the system rather than figuring out ways to outmaneuver awful governance.

We need to do more than play defense against Portland politics creeping into our county. We need a solid plan to further restore the rule of law, to hold the line against tolling, and to make things more affordable to keep seniors and those on fixed incomes in their homes.

Now that you’ve read a little about me, why not get in contact and set up a neighborhood get-together, or invite me to your community group to get to know you? I’m excited to meet you, and looking forward to making Clackamas County a little more cheerful!

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