The two downtown Salem restaurants will remain distinct concepts while sharing operational resources, supplier relationships and employee opportunities. Clink! will temporarily close before reopening Aug. 5.
Two of downtown Salem’s prominent dining destinations are joining forces.
Clink! and The Cozy Taberna have merged into a new restaurant group intended to support both businesses while allowing each restaurant to retain its existing name, concept and identity.
The partnership was announced Tuesday, July 28. The new group plans to share operational resources, strengthen relationships with local growers and winemakers and create additional opportunities for employees across the two restaurants.
Clink! will complete service Wednesday, July 29, before temporarily closing while its team prepares for the transition. The restaurant is scheduled to reopen Wednesday, Aug. 5.
The Cozy Taberna will remain open on its regular schedule.
Separate Restaurants, Shared Support
Although the restaurants are coming together under one organization, customers should not expect Clink! and The Cozy Taberna to become a single dining concept.
Both restaurants will preserve their individual identities, menus and guest experiences. The changes are expected to happen primarily behind the scenes through shared systems, supplier relationships and other operational support.
“Clink! and Cozy are established restaurants with distinct personalities, loyal guests, and talented teams,” Cozy Taberna owner Bill Pugh said. “Our goal is to support the continued growth of each restaurant, create meaningful opportunities for connection, and continue raising the standard of hospitality and culinary excellence in Salem.”
The partnership is also expected to give employees more opportunities to work and grow across the two organizations. The group plans to deepen its connections with Oregon’s agricultural and wine industries as it develops its combined operations.
The new restaurant group has not yet announced its name, ownership structure, leadership arrangement or financial terms. It also remains unclear whether Clink! will reopen with changes to its menu, pricing, staffing or service.
Building a Larger Downtown Dining Presence
Clink! opened in September 2025 on the second floor of The Forge at 285 Liberty St. NE. The French-American bistro was launched by founder Sheena Nash with Executive Chef Brittni Armenta, who previously worked at The Cozy Taberna.
The Cozy Taberna opened in downtown Salem’s Electric Alley in 2021. Located at 249 Liberty St. NE, the Spanish-inspired restaurant has built its menu around shareable plates, seasonal ingredients and wines from Oregon and beyond.
“This is a significant and intentional investment in two standalone restaurants and in the future of fine dining in our community,” Pugh said. “I believe Salem wants — and deserves — restaurants that can grow, endure, and bring greater attention to the extraordinary people, food, and wine produced here in the Willamette Valley.”
The partnership gives the new group two established downtown locations within a short walk of each other and creates a larger combined presence in Salem’s dining industry.
For customers, the most immediate effect of the merger will be Clink!’s brief closure. The Cozy Taberna will continue operating normally while the new restaurant group begins bringing the two organizations together.