Photo: Visitor7 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Few names are as tied to Newport’s Bayfront as Mo’s. The chowder house started small, with Mohava “Mo” Niemi at the center of it, and grew into a set of restaurants along the Oregon coast.
A small start
Mo’s began in the 1940s as a modest spot on Bay Boulevard. Its clam chowder built a following among fishermen, locals and travelers, and the restaurant became a regular stop for people visiting the coast.
A personality on the waterfront
Mo herself was known around town as a big personality with a sense of humor and a soft spot for people trying to make a go of it. Local stories credit her with helping other businesses get started on the waterfront.
A lasting name
Mo died in 1992, but her restaurants continued under family ownership. For many visitors, a bowl of chowder at Mo’s is still part of a trip to Newport.
Marnie Holcomb is the editor and publisher of Oregon Coast Daily News and covers Lincoln County government and community life.
