Lisa Parks: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Lisa Parks of Brut Wine Bar. In this interview, Lisa talks about her journey from working in crisis counseling and concert promotion to owning a wine bar and building community in Astoria, Oregon.Lisa shares about her time living in Denver and later moving to Oregon — her first time living on the West Coast. After years of working in psychology and event work, she wanted a change and purchased a wine bar in Astoria. Lisa discusses her interest in creating a gathering place where people could connect over wine and conversation.She also reflects on the learning curve of running a wine bar while recovering from foot surgery, and how travel and exposure to old-world wines deepened her appreciation for different wine styles.This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Brut Wine Bar in Astoria on October 20, 2025.