Today we’d like to introduce you to Derrick Wright.
Hi Derrick, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
It started with me and my friends getting together to have a few drinks and play boardgames a few times a month. We would go out to bars and do this sometimes, but it always felt a bit strange. I have always wanted to start my own business, and I noticed there was a void in Portland for folks to come out to eat, drink and play games. I found a space that was a blank canvas, in an area I really liked and began the work of turning it into Senet. I laid the hard woods, installed all the tile and painted myself. It took nine months, but we opened June 2019… 8 months before the shutdown. Unfortunately, we still haven’t recovered from COVID, but we are trying our hardest.
My ability to keep Senet in the community isn’t my achievement alone. There would be no Senet without the amazing support of my ex-wife, bar manager, chef and landlord. Building this has been one of the greatest experiences in my life, and I am so thankful of all the support I have received from them, customers, family and friends through the years.
We saw a trend years ago with how folks come out and enjoy themselves, and created a robust mocktail list, ensured we have options for dietary restrictions and preferences, even with our tiny kitchen. Katie and Nichole build amazing food and drink menu’s that you won’t find anywhere else.
As with most anything, over time, we expanded to offer more for people to do when they come to visit us. We now offer private room karaoke, private suite rental, catering, trivia, bingo, drag brunch, art classes, makers markets and a space for meet up groups (queer gamer group and women only gamer group). We also open our doors to a community meeting a few Monday’s a month when we are closed, for people to come and discuss ways we can stand up and help out those in our community who are being oppressed.
I don’t know what the future is for Senet, or for how long that future will be, but it has been an amazing adventure and I am so glad to have been able to take it. I’ve met such wonderful people, been able to give back to the community and prove to myself that I have the ability to take that big leap. We have raised tens of thousands of dollars for local charities through the years, and hopefully raised awareness where we could. I have served on a few committees with the City, ran for City Council and looking into running for Mayor in 2026.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
8 months after opening, we were effectively shut down for 2 years. PPP loans provided me with 3 months of rent, but to keep things going, I had to sell my truck, anything of value, rely on my mother, an understanding land lord, multiple loans, multiple credit cards and customer donations to 2 crowd funding pushes.
Prices have risen on some things, so we’ve had to scale back our menu, especially with a customer base that isn’t coming out as much and feels uncertain about their own financial security. My staff has been able to keep our menu offering delicious options, even with limitations.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I worked in banking and insurance most of my adult life. Reviewing documents, entering data and presenting information to managers. I’ve always enjoyed working hard and excelling at what I do. In my last position before Senet, I worked in a Quality Assurance role. There were rewarding parts to the job, but it was only a job, there was nothing to create or be passionate about. Towards the end of my grandfathers life, we were discussing my dreams of opening my own business and reservations about trying. He told me something that stuck with me and pushed me to give myself a shot “At 70, you won’t look back and regret your failures nearly as much as you’ll regret being too afraid to take the chance”.
Now, I am an entrepreneur and will always be. Whether Senet stays around or not, I will be opening another business to sell the experiences we’ve built as packages to other bars, to bring folks in and enjoy their space even more.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I feel that our elected officials, police officers and city employees are always felt approachable. The community has always felt warm and kind and excited for new things to try.
The parking in the Main street area has always been an issue unfortunately, but the thing I feel strongly about is that the City chooses to pour money and effort into vanity projects, instead of looking at the big picture livability for its people.
Pricing:
- Beers – $6-$8
- Cocktails – $11-$13
- Entres – $12-$16
- Shareable Nachos – $22-$24
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.senetgamebar.com
- Instagram: senetgamebar
- Facebook: senetgamebar
