Driving down U.S. 26 from Portland to Gresham, one of many first issues individuals would discover have been the 2 8-foot-tall plywood bears atop a small Fifties-building, subsequent to the neon lights that spelled out the diner’s title: Polar King.

However after greater than 70 years beckoning Gresham clients, the weather-worn bears have been faraway from Polar King and their future continues to be to be decided.

Established in 1952, the diner has turn into an area favourite identified for its nostalgic allure, signature milkshakes and pleasant servers. Jai-Younger Hong has owned the restaurant since 2016.

A few month in the past, Hong employed a contractor to reroof the constructing. After the contractor inspected the roof, he mentioned the bears have been a security risk — that the indicators had severely deteriorated and required elimination a technique or one other, mentioned Hong, who spoke in Korean as her son Andrew Kim served as an interpreter.

The bears’ absence caught the eye of the Gresham Historic Society.

Silvie Andrews, who grew up in Gresham and is now the museum’s director, recalled one among her earliest reminiscences as driving previous the Polar King signal within the Nineties.

“It’s touched all people who has lived right here,” Andrews mentioned. “Individuals who grew up in Gresham within the ‘50s and grew up right here within the ‘90s all keep in mind it and have reminiscences of the Polar King. It’s simply one among your traditional household diners that hasn’t modified prior to now 70 years.”

On Could 16, Andrews obtained a textual content from board member Lon Shiiki, who seen that the beloved bear mascots have been lacking as he drove down Powell Boulevard. Shilki noticed the plywood bears in a pile of wooden torn from the constructing and obtained the restaurant’s permission for the historic society to take the indicators.

Volunteers retrieved the indicators from the diner and saved them off-site, the place they don’t seem to be presently seen to the general public.

Gresham has undergone important modifications over the previous 70 years, Andrews mentioned. The inhabitants grew from 3,944 in 1960 to 110,685 in 2023. However the Polar King signal has remained a landmark all through town’s improvement.

Town’s middle continues to be Historic Downtown Gresham, that includes buildings from the early 1900s. Initially, Gresham consisted of just some shops across the Fundamental Avenue intersection, Andrews mentioned. Polar King is a couple of mile east of the historic downtown, alongside a bit of Powell Boulevard that boomed with drive-ins, diners, and theaters within the Fifties.

A 1952 newspaper advert within the Gresham Outlook inspired guests to return and meet the “huge bear” means that the wood mascots are certainly bears — although passersby have speculated that they is perhaps mice — and that the indicators have been up for the reason that restaurant opened.

“Many people who find themselves nonetheless alive keep in mind cruising to the drive-ins and getting milkshakes with their buddies,” Andrews mentioned. “That was the place the younger and funky individuals frolicked.”

Gresham’s small-town roots stay necessary to town’s residents, Andrews mentioned.

“The Gresham that was right here in 1952 continues to be right here beneath the floor,” Andrews mentioned.

The historic society’s collections committee continues to be discussing how finest to protect the items. As soon as questions in regards to the restoration course of and funding are answered, the museum will transfer so as to add the indicators to their everlasting assortment, Andrews mentioned.

The museum has a small gallery that might host the indicators, and Andrews can also be exploring prospects for a everlasting outside show.

For Hong, the choice to let go of the indicators was tough and she or he knew that a few of her clients have been upset by it. She hopes that after the restoration, individuals will nonetheless be capable to see the bears in a single type or one other.

— Riya Sharma covers Right here is Oregon characteristic tales. Attain her at rsharma@oregonian.com or 503-294-5996.