75 year’s of Mo’s

Shopping in Newport 65, 67

75 YEARS: ALL OVER A BOWL OF MO’S CLAM CHOWDER

his last October 2021 marks the 75th anniversary of Mo’s, the iconic Oregon clam chowder and seafood establishment.

The restaurant was opened in Newport in 1946 by an Oregon legend, my great-great-grandmother, Mohava Niemi. Although she came to be known by only two letters, Mo, there was nothing small or insignificant about her. Almost 75 years ago, when she bought out her business partner of 4 years, she began her legacy on the crusty Newport Bayfront, a restaurant named simply after her moniker.

In the mid-40’s, the Historic Bayfront was filled with everyone but tourists. It was the economic hub of Newport, filled with commercial fisherman, longshoreman, loggers, mill workers and crabbers. It was not a place necessarily suited for a woman to operate her own business.

However, Mo was not like everyone else. She was bold, tenacious and forward thinking. Without her courage and vision, Newport would not have become quite the success that it is.

Back in the good ol’ days, it was called Mo’s Cafe, and it was open 24/7. She worked around the clock because she was a single mother of two children, and Mo’s was her means for survival.

Chowder and seafood were not the focal menu items at the time. In the early days, seafood was considered to be a poor man’s food. So the fare was typical of the era — breakfast was served, and fisherman and other Bayfront workers were the main clientele. Clam chowder was only served on Fridays.

Nowadays, thousands of bowls of clam chowder are served every day, and long lines can run out

the door most of the summer. The chowder is nationally famous, a staple for tourists and locals alike.

Unlike today, the tables were packed tight, which was deliberate. Mo believed that if you sit next to somebody you don’t know and start talking to them, pretty soon you will like them. Her mantra was, “You are a stranger here but once.”

Mo was full of life and interested in people. She was extroverted and opinionated. In the 70s, when the restaurant became frequented by what she referred to as “hippies”, she welcomed them when others passed judgements. In a 1981 interview, she said in her famous deep, smoky voice,“‘Tough s***,’ I told those who criticized them. ‘They all eat, and they’re good company.’”

Soon enough, the secret was out, and Mo’s became inundated with fanatic tourists who lined up outside and religiously returned every year.

Before Mo had Mo’s, she worked at KNPT radio station as a receptionist. One day, when the radio personality failed to show up for work, she filled in, and the rest is history. She had a natural knack for entertainment, and her larger-than-life personality filled the airways for almost 30 years.

Her popular radio show, “Moseying Around With Mo,” was comparable to a present day gossip channel. She told a Los Angeles Times reporter in 1972, “If somebody’s sick, has an operation or dies, I get the word out. A baby is born. A divorce. Everybody and everything.”

She kept the locals up to date until she was 60 years old. She also had a show called “Best Buys,” in which she would take calls and help the callers sell their washing machines and whatnots. She had her finger on the pulse of Newport, on the people of Newport. The fishermen knew they were getting close to the bay when they could tune into KNPT and hear her voice.

Mo wasn’t just famous for her chowder. In 1971, she became friends with the cast of the film “Sometimes a Great Notion” — movie stars Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Henry Fonda and Lee Remick. In fact, Mo is in one of the scenes that takes place right next door at The Bay Haven Inn.

She made so many friends sitting with her patrons over bowls of clam chowder. She knew that food truly was the way to the heart. And it’s not just the clam chowder, it’s how Mo’s makes you feel. Mo’s is welcoming, inviting and always friendly, all attributes of Mo herself. There was not a stranger that she could not make a friend.

Mo was matter-of-fact yet kind. Early one morning, a woman parked just outside the restaurant. Upon returning to her car, she put it in drive instead of reverse and crashed right through the front of the cafe. Far from disgruntled, Mo put her arm comfortingly around the woman and said, “Well, we’ll just put in a garage door so we can open it, and you can drive in any time, if that’s what you want to do.”

To this day there is a garage door in the original dining room of the Original Mo’s, with a painting on the inside depicting a woman crashing through the wall. It is this spirit of kindness and familiarity that has made Mo’s a success.

What was most important to Mo was her family. One of the most beautiful themes of her story is her with her granddaughter, my grandmother, Cindy Dixon McEntee. They shared much more SURF TOWN COFFEE COMPANY

345 SW BAY BLVD Surf Town Coffee Company, located on Newport’s Historic Bayfront, is a micro roaster committed to quality and positivity. Started over a decade ago, Surf Town Coffee has made a name for itself by staying true to its mission statement. “Stay Positive. Live your Life.” A motto that they live by and is felt by the patrons of Surf Town. It’s a great stop for boutique coffee and tea on the bayfront. Come in and experience state-of-the-art coffee and refreshments inside a local success story. They are devoted to keeping their coffee 100% Organic, 100% Fair Trade, Eco-Friendly and always roasted with love. And if you don’t get a chance to stop in at their flagship store, you can find it in the local grocery stores for wholesale. Surf Town is also served at several restaurants along the Oregon Coast!

2 KIDS CANDY STORE

640 SW BAY BLVD. When you stroll on Newport’s Bayfront, you’ll notice the quaint candy and taffy shops. The perfect candy shop for both the kids and the adults can be found at 2 Kids Candy where their selection includes over 1,200 different kinds of candy. They carry 72 salt water taffy flavors, an Oregon Coast favorite! Not only is the variety unparalleled, they also hand make a wide variety of their own candies, chocolates, and caramel apples. With over 120 scoop candy selections, everyone is sure to find their new favorite treat. Located to the left of the Original Mo’s, 2 Kids Candy is the perfect stop after lunch to enjoy the signature candies of the coast. Combine your own personalized bag of salt water taffy to take back home to your friends and family!

OCEANA NATURAL FOODS

159 SE 2ND ST Oceana Natural Food Cooperative was formed in 1977 when they opened their first store in Newport. A group of people pooled their money to set up Newport’s first purveyor of Organic food and bulk food options. For 31 years, Oceana Natural Food Cooperative has specialized in selling Organic food. Oceana has a sit-down eating area with a salad bar and hot food bar on weekdays. Hot soup and baked goods are available daily. All of their prepared food is made in-house by their staff. They have a buying policy that gives guidance to purchasing natural food: without chemical preservatives, flavorings, colorings, etc. The store purchases local products including cheese, soap, cards, produce, and more. The store’s large bulk food selection provides a means for customers to purchase food without excess packaging. They stock wheat-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free products for those with allergies. Oceana is a great place for those looking to purchase and enjoy natural and organic foods with a local twist!

352 SW 9TH ST La Roca, a few steps from the Arizona border, is one of the best culinary experiences in all of Mexico. At La Roca, you will savor the classic Sonora cuisine made only with the freshest products from the fertile farms of the Sinaloa valley, the freshest seafood from Guaymas and Los Mochis, and the chosen beef from the foothills of the Sierra Madre. La Roca in Newport is committed to making the most authentic and delicious Mexican food. A great place for mexican cuisine and mexican inspired drinks and cocktails. Tacos, chimichangas, fajitas, burritos, tortas, nachos, and more! Taste the flavors of Mexico with a margarita or a horchata! Come on in to La Roca next time you’re craving unforgettable Mexican food and beverages.

SOUTH BEACH FISH MARKET

The South Beach Fish Market is a seafood market and restaurant attached to a convenience store, they specialize in fresh local seafood, and an excellent menu that utilizes their fresh fish, shellfish and other locally caught seafood. It has been known as the freshest seafood in Newport. A favorite of residents and tourists alike, often called simply “The Fish Market”. If you want to experience fresh fish and a casual coastal atmosphere, stop by the South Beach Fish Market! A great place to buy freshly caught fare in addition to cooking your own crab in their crab pots! Their dedication to seafood these past twenty years has resulted in close working relationships with many of Newport’s fishermen, thus giving them access to the freshest product possible. Fresh seafood, crabs, tuna, oysters, salmon, shrimp, prawns, clams, crab burgers, fresh fish They have also been shipping fresh seafood all over the Continental U.S. for many years and have firmly established themselves as purveyors of quality products and excellent service.

OCEANA NATURAL FOODS

Cindy started working in the restaurant as young as 10 years old. Upon graduating from high school in Portland in 1969, Cindy moved to the coast and began working full time. And just like her beloved “Granny Mo”, she did everything from cook to prep to dishes to waitressing. In her own words, “If it was something Granny did, it was something I did.”

A favorite story of Cindy’s is of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s visit to Newport during his presidential campaign in May of 1968. He was a quick fan of Mo and her clam chowder, so much so that he personally invited her to join the campaign to serve chowder on their way down to Los Angeles.

She declined, but not without making sure to load his plane with gallons of chowder. Her granddaughter and successor, Cindy, recounted Mo’s regret, saying, “That plane took off, and that opportunity would never appear again.” Unfortunately, only a few short days later Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles.

Not only was Kennedy’s campaign stop a highlight for Newport’s history, and certainly Mo’s history, it was a pivotal moment in Mo’s personal life. Cindy said, “Her feeling from that point on was, ‘When someone offers me an amazing opportunity, I am not turnin’ it down. I had to go to work the next day. Bull***.’ And that’s exactly what she said.”

From that point on, she decided to take advantage of all the opportunities that came her way. It was evident in her decision making from then on.

In 1976, Mo met a couple of guys in Mo’s Annex. One man was from the Netherlands and the other from Japan. She sat and talked with them for hours They had a company that imported and exported international foods, and they asked Mo if she would be interested in exporting Oregon seafood, including, of course, her clam chowder.

After the long chat, the men said, “We’re headed to the International Food Show in Cologne. We’d love it if we could take Oregon foods — Dungeness crab, bay shrimp, clam chowder and chinook salmon.” Cindy recalls Mo coming into the restaurant and asking her if she would like to go to Germany. They vacuum-packed all their seafood and spent 3 and a half weeks abroad in the fall of 1976, serving their Oregon seafood and clam chowder in Cologne and Munich.

Through the years, Mo’s went through many expansions. The second restaurant was opened in 1968, Mo’s Annex, situated across the street from the Original Mo’s on Newport’s Bayfront.

During the 1970s, the Original Mo’s was remodeled and received a two-story addition. The third floor became the chowder factory, which transformed chowder production from being made in the kitchen to being made in large quantities for delivery to the other restaurants up and down the coast.

In 1999, Mo’s clam chowder was served

at a Smithsonian Institute luncheon at the American History Museum in Washington D.C., honoring the “Best American Regional Foods.”

A couple years later, Cindy McEntee was awarded the first runner up Small Business Person of the Year by President George W. Bush. She took over the restaurant and carried Mo’s legacy for decades until her two children, Dylan McEntee and Gabrielle McEntee, graduated from college and moved back to help.

Now, the fourth generation owns and operates Mo’s together. Dylan and Gabrielle, in their own chapter of carrying on Mo’s legacy, have left their marks on the business.

In 2009, the Original Mo’s was expanded further, creating an additional 50 seats in an adjacent dining room. The fifth generation, Mo’s great-great-grandchildren Carter, Kennedy, Kaprice and Makenzie McEntee and Dixon Wilson, have all worked at the restaurant.

If there is one thing that Mo instilled in her family, it was a work ethic. She expected a lot from her family, especially of Cindy, as her immediate future successor. When Cindy began taking business courses while still working in the restaurant, Mo hammered, “You don’t need that s***. All you need to know about running a business you’ll learn right here from me.”

It was not that Mo did not believe in education, it was quite the opposite. Rather, it was because of what she overheard being taught. She said to the instructor, “If you ever worked a g****** day in your life in a damned restaurant, you’d know different.”

Mo knew that hard work was important because it produced quality and personal pride. In fact, the only time Cindy recalls seeing her granny cry was over a burnt cioppino.

Mo still lives through her family, the inheritors of her warmth, gumption and perseverance, which has led us in the times of plenty and the times of not-so-plenty. The only way for Mo’s is “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Noodle Cafe, located just off of Hwy 101, is a delightful AsianThai inspired restaurant. With dishes ranging from delicious ramens to curries and stir fries. If you’re in the mood for high quality, authentic Asian-Thai cuisine, visit Noodle Cafe! Noodle Cafe also carries Sake, Japanese beers and wines. Noodle Cafe has been a local favorite for over a decade. If you ask the locals where to get the best Asain-Thai, they will tell you that Noodle Cafe is their restaurant of choice. It is only a short walk from Newport’s Historic bayfront, the perfect lunch or dinner spot not far from the busy bayfront and historic Nye Beach.

SEA GLASS BISTRO

Sea Glass Bistro is located in the Best Western Plus in Agate Beach. They offer coastal cuisine combined with stunning views and excellent service, creating a memorable dining experience at the Sea Glass Bistro & Lounge. Available for breakfast and dinner, the Sea Glass Bistro & Lounge menu offers traditional yet inspired Oregon coast fare. With amazing views of the beach, this is the perfect place to unwind after a long day playing in the sand! Specialty coffee and espresso is also offered from Monday through Thursday! Sit at the bar or on the open air patio and enjoy a night next to the ocean! Come on in to Sea Glass Bistro and Lounge while you’re in Agate Beach!

CHOWDER BOWL

728 NW BEACH DR Chowder Bowl, a Nye Beach staple since 1980. Set apart with their unique location, love of Nye Beach and Newport, and excellent customer service. Only 100 yards from the front door to the historic Nye Beach. Chowder Bowl is a great place to have lunch while visiting Nye Beach. Contrary to the name, there is much more than chowder served at the Chowder Bowl! They have fabulous seafood entrees, Certified Angus burgers, and great salads, along with homemade desserts.n Since their inception in 1980, the surrounding area has become a quaint village that has preserved the architecture and history of the 1920’s and 30’s. Come down to Chowder Bowl while on a day at Nye Beach. Enjoy an afternoon at this 40+ year Nye Beach establishment!

CLEARWATER RESTAURANT

Clearwater Restaurant is located right on Yaquina Bay with a view of the local Sea Lion population. Visit Clearwater for a polished and upscale night of seafood and cocktails! Clearwater is known for their high quality and delicious appetizers and entrees with a wide variety of wines and beers. You can’t beat their view of the bay and the Yaquina Bay Bridge. Located right on Bay Boulevard, step into a fine dining atmosphere and enjoy some of the best food that the Oregon Coast has to offer! Don’t forget about dessert, they even offer mini s’more kits for dessert, perfect for a coastal night on their open air patio.