Honorable Mention, PDX @ The Benson Hotel
As seen in Oregon Live, a new upscale sports lounge called Honorable Mention, co-owned by NBA star Damian Lillard and several business partners including: Adidas marketing rep JR Duperrier, Moda Health President Dr. William Johnson, CEO of Lucas Design Build David Lucas, and Mark Byrum of the Urban Restaurant Group is opening in the basement of the historic Benson Hotel in downtown Portland. The bar replaces the former London Grill space and will feature a menu of elevated sports-bar food, cocktails, and a design blending lounge seating with sports viewing. The concept is meant to honor pioneering Black athletes from Ivy League schools, with a public opening scheduled for today, March 6.
For our team at Lucas Design Build, this project was an opportunity to reimagine a historic basement space while honoring its legacy. Because the venue sits inside the iconic Benson Hotel, preserving original architectural details like the wood paneling and vaulted ceilings was a key priority during the rebuild. We worked carefully to blend those classic elements with new finishes, updated lighting, and modern lounge seating to create a comfortable but elevated sports-bar environment.
Throughout construction, our goal was to balance functionality with atmosphere. The design incorporates curved booths, unique amoeba-shaped tables, and a central bar that encourages gathering while still allowing clear sightlines to the televisions showing live sports. By maintaining the historic character of the space while introducing contemporary design features, we helped transform what was once the home of the London Grill into a venue that feels both timeless and new.
As both the builder and an ownership partner in Honorable Mention, we’re proud to have played a role in bringing this concept to life alongside Damian Lillard and the broader ownership group. The project reflects a shared vision of creating a welcoming destination in downtown Portland where people can enjoy great food, watch sports, and celebrate the stories of athletes who helped shape the game. We’re excited to see the space come alive as guests experience it for the first time.