Lake Oswego restaurateur plans to open lakeside destination replacing Stickmen in time for summer

Lake Oswego restaurateur Eric Mann says the former Stickmen Brewing location on Oswego Lake is the best restaurant destination in Oregon, let alone Lake Oswego.

With that in mind, Mann strives to reinvent the space — making it more inviting and attractive during all parts of the year.

Mann, who also runs Aji Tram and Duke’s Public House, plans to open Mann’s on the Lake by this summer.

“I saw an opportunity with a business that wasn’t exceeding or meeting expectations, so I ended up buying them out and working with the landlord to upgrade the building and put some love into the restaurant. It hasn’t seen that in a long time,” Mann said.

Mann’s on the Lake will feature steak and seafood. The owner wants it to have tasteful decor but not be too high-end.

“The menu is going to be small and approachable to anyone and everyone. We’re not going to have stuff on the menu we’re not really excited about,” Mann said.

Along with outdoor seating along the lake, the restaurant will include a cocktail lounge that will have pop-up themes like “ski lodge.” It will also utilize garage doors for inside-outside dining in the summer months.

Further, Mann is moving the front door from the side alley to State Street and creating a view of the lake from the front of the restaurant to make the space more alluring. He added that the cocktail lounge above the downstairs floor will attract attention.

Stickmen, which announced its closure at the end of 2023, reported having trouble garnering enough business during the winter months and Mann hopes to reverse that trend by making his restaurant cozy and comfortable while still capitalizing on the allure of the lake.

He added that Mann’s on the Lake will have outdoor igloo dining spaces that people can rent out in the winter. Mann hopes his new restaurant will be a destination for residents inside and outside Lake Oswego.

“Stickmen’s brought people all over the metro area to sit on the lake and we’re going to serve them correctly and you’re going to get what you paid for,” he said.