JinJu Patisserie’s last day is Sunday, December 28 In a surprising turn of events, Kyurim “Q” Lee and Jin Caldwell of 2025 James Beard Award-winning bakery JinJu Patisserie announced in an Instagram post that they will close their shop as of Sunday, December 28.  It’s not a forever closure; instead, they say they’ve been looking for a new space “for quite some time.” Detailing a close call where they almost signed a seven-year lease on a “state-of-the-art facility,” the couple decided against it for various reasons, according to the post. “We believe that by staying true to our core values, in a city we love so much, we need to remain boutique and flexible,” the post reads in part. Lee and Caldwell landed in Portland via Las Vegas and South Korea. Both were born in Seoul, and later met in Las Vegas. During their time there, Lee was a pastry chef at Joël Robuchon Las Vegas, while Caldwell worked at the Bellagio and Wynn-Las Vegas, eventually opening Jinju Chocolates on South Rainbow Boulevard in 2011. By 2019, the couple planned for a move to Portland. “I have really great clients in Las Vegas, but I want to find the happiness I’m looking for, more balance in my life,” Caldwell told Eater Portland then. “That’s how I found Portland.” Caldwell, a Master Chocolatier and award-winning pastry chef, and Lee’s combined talents led to the opening of JinJu Patisserie on North Williams, in April 2019. Their opening menu included a wide selection of chocolates, cake slices, tarts, grain bowls, sandwiches, and drinks, Eater Portland reported at the time. In their time in Portland, the couple racked up accolades, earning a spot on Portland Monthly’s Best New Restaurants list for 2019, and back-to-back nominations for the Outstanding Bakery category by the James Beard Awards in 2024 and 2025, clinching the title on the second go.  For now, as the couple looks for a new space, they shared that they will promote their pop-ups, chef collabs, and events in 2026 via their Instagram page. But they also put out a wish list of what they’re looking for in their new, yet-to-be-found Portland space. “If you know of a second-generation bakery/restaurant in East Portland, or other retail space that could be modified into a bakery, or even an older home that could be used as a micro-bakery, please message us on IG or email us at [email protected],” they write. Let’s hope they find their new home soon. JinJu Patisserie (4063 N Williams, Portland) closes on Sunday, December 28. ...read more read less