Nina Our creepiness rating 💀💀💀💀💀
The restaurant's owners say Nina, a woman who informed for missionaries, was later found dead in the hotel, thrown down the elevator shaft. They say she is seen in a black dress or noticed as a waft of perfume. No independent record of her death is cited. Source: Old Town Brewing, "Haunted Past".
Facts below are drawn from the linked sources.
Real history
The Merchant Hotel was built in two phases, in 1880 and 1884; Wikipedia places the 1880 section on Second Avenue and the 1884 section on Third Avenue, while the Oregon Historic Sites Database lists the 1880 and 1884 dates without saying which section is which (Oregon Historic Sites Database). Its last hotel use ended in 1967. It is a contributing building in the Skidmore/Old Town Historic District (Wikipedia).
The owners say Old Town Pizza opened in the former hotel lobby in 1974 (Old Town Brewing).
Ghost stories
These are reported legends, not verified events. The creepiness score (1–5) is Spook Atlas's own editorial rating, not a measurement.
Then and now
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Public access
Open to the public It operates as a restaurant. Last checked: Oct 31, 2026.
Explore more
- More places in Portland and Oregon
- More haunted & abandoned hotels
- Nearby: Heathman Hotel (Portland, OR), White Eagle Saloon (Portland, OR), Pittock Mansion (Portland, OR), Stone House ("Witches Castle") (Portland, OR)
⚠️ Please read: This information may be outdated and conditions change. Verify access with the owner or operator before you go. Spook Atlas does not encourage trespassing. Entering private, closed or condemned property can be illegal and dangerous. Report a correction.
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