The Sixth Street Bistro & Pub: A Cornerstone of Comfort in Hood River
It’s hard to pin down exactly where the story of The Sixth Street Bistro & Pub begins, because for so many in Hood River, it feels like it’s always been there.
Tucked just downhill from the main drag, where the west wind makes the front door sway and the afternoon light slants perfectly through the windows, there’s a familiar hum inside. A plate hits a table. A laugh carries from the bar. And always, a warm smile from behind the taps. That’s The Sixth Street Bistro & Pub, or just “6th Street,” as the locals say.
Since 1992, it has been more than a restaurant. It’s been a second living room for residents, a must-stop for visitors, and the backdrop to everything from first dates to retirement toasts. It doesn’t try to impress. It doesn’t need to. It just does what it’s always done: serve honest food with heart and make people feel at home.
And if you’ve ever walked in and been greeted by Chris Creasy’s signature grin behind the bar, you’ve felt it—that instant, familiar warmth that says, without saying, you belong here. It’s the kind of place you remember not because it tries to stand out, but because of how naturally it fits.
Before the Boom, There Was 6th Street
In the late ’90s, Hood River was still finding its rhythm. The windsurfing scene was booming, but the town’s year-round population was small. Most restaurants followed the seasons, opening for the summer and shuttering by fall.
Founder Maui Meyer, along with chef Ben Stenn, who joined the effort later, and a small, tight-knit team, saw an opportunity to do something different. They built a place that stayed open year-round, where locals could count on a hot meal, a good pint, and a familiar face no matter the month. It wasn’t just for tourists; it was for the people who called Hood River home.
6th Street became that place.
A Hand-Off With Heart
A few years later, Chris Creasy was bartending at 6th Street, pouring beers, listening to guests chat about life, and watching the story unfold from the inside. He first visited Hood River in ’95 for the wind, but like so many others, he fell in love with the town and, along with Stacie, his future spouse, made it his home in 2000.
The partners were ready to pursue new culinary ventures, but they weren’t quite ready to let go of what they had built. They hoped to find someone who could carry on its spirit. One afternoon, during a road bike ride, Ben turned to Chris and asked, “Have you ever thought about owning a restaurant?”
By the next day, Chris and his wife, Stacie, were sitting down to talk it through. It wasn’t a pitch. It was a hand-off, a chance to carry forward something that already meant so much to the community and to them.
They said yes. Together. And they didn’t change much. They kept it familiar on purpose because that was the whole point.
The Power of Familiarity
The menu at 6th Street doesn’t chase trends. Specials rotate with the seasons, but the staples stay put. That’s what people want.
They come for what they know. The mushroom Swiss burger. The pad thai. The hand-cut fries. A crisp local IPA. Food that’s fresh, consistent, and satisfying, just like the bistro itself. There’s comfort in knowing what to expect, and quiet humility in doing it well day in and day out.
You’ll still find Chris and Stacie working the floor, in the kitchen, and behind the bar. Still chatting with guests and still sketching not-to-scale trail maps on napkins for excited Hood River visitors. They’re not just owners. They’re part of the experience.
A Living Room for the Gorge
Much of what’s on the plate comes from around the valley, McCurdy Farms, Hood River Organics, and local purveyors. The guests come from all over, but many have been coming for years. Some first walked in as kids. Now they bring their kids.
The team is small but mighty, and Chris and Stacie call them family. And in a way, the guests are too.
If the walls could talk, they’d tell stories of proposals and post-ride beers. Of bar-side life advice and anniversary dinners. Of locals dropping into their usual spot and travelers who feel like regulars by dessert.
A Place That Reflects Its People
Like the town around it, 6th Street has weathered its share of change. Economic shifts, unpredictable seasons, labor shortages, and the kind of uncertainty that tests even the best-run businesses.
But it’s stayed steady. Steady in its values. Constant in its welcome. Anchored in place.
It reflects what makes Hood River so memorable. Not just the landscape, but the people. People who care about quality. Those who take time to say hello, who make room at the table before you’ve even asked.
Chris and Stacie didn’t reinvent 6th Street. They honored it. They stepped into its story and carried it forward. And because of that, it still feels the same even as the town grows and shifts around it.
So, whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, when you walk into 6th Street, chances are someone will greet you as if they’ve known you for years.
And if history is any guide, you’ll find your way back again.
Learn more about Sixth Street Bistro and visit their website at