Green General Stores Make Sustainable Living Easy for Portland Neighbors

One day during my cross-country roadtrip this past summer, I found myself in Valentine, Texas, tramping through the dusty skeleton of what was the near-ghost town's general store. The floor was rotting and the windows shattered, but the long wood counters and hand-labeled grain bins remained, and amid the debris I found a yellowed but untouched invoice pad with a date line that read: "194__." The ‘40s? Seriously?! I always associated general stores with the turn of the century, at the latest, but the residents of this West Texas town were picking up their supplies from C.E. Conring General Merchandise only 60 years ago. It made me marvel at how quickly our culture has shifted from local shops to big box chains for our everyday needs—and it made me nostalgic for that simpler, community-based brand of retail.

Turns out I'm not the only one. Two new modern general stores opened up within days of each other this month, both focusing on probably the most important necessity of the 21st Century: living sustainably. And both hope to be a regular stop for the residents of their respective ‘hoods.

Local Goods quietly opened on East Burnside near 22nd in the former What PDX space, "specializing in locally made, sustainable goods, household products, toiletries, gifts and more." It's a simple shop on the up-and-coming stretch, a welcome alternative to last-minute runs to the Plaid Pantry a few blocks down. There are biodegradable trash bags and natural cleaners, certified organic soaps and recycled toothbrushes. Owner Polly Rask is committed not only to sourcing earth- and people-friendly products, but most importantly, ones that are produced as nearby as possible, lessening the environmental impact of shipping and supporting local business at the same time. If it's not made in Portland, you can rest assured that Rask has researched every option to make sure it's made in the U.S. at the very least. "I want local, of course, but people need certain staples," she explained. So there are BioBags from Florida and toilet paper from Arizona, but there's also handcrafted botanical soap from Oregon Soap Company, Biokleen products from Vancouver, WA, and fluoride-free Tooth Soap from Oregon City.

It's important to Rask, who doesn't own a car and takes the bus to the shop, to showcase the value of everyday craft as well, and luckily for her (and us!), there is plenty of DIY to choose from in Portland. The current selection includes Tease Recyclewear's halter tops and arm warmers made from vintage t-shirts; journals crafted from old books; recycled bike chain bowls, picture frames, and candle holders from Resource Revival; jDUCT wallets and flasks; and Wind Bags totes crafted from discarded feed and seed bags using only wind and solar energy. "It's cool that these things all have their own story," said Rask—and she shares those stories with tags on every display detailing each product's origins and virtues. It's a store based on Rask's conviction that not only should you know where your goods come from and how they're made, but that you could easily meet the maker and watch the process for yourself.

Meanwhile, Seven Planet opened with a bang on the corner of NW 4th and Couch during the Old Town Block Party on the 12th, billing itself as "the world's first green general store." Okay, Local Goods did beat them by a day or two here in Portland, but it turns out there's been a Seven Planet store in Priest River, Idaho for over a year. In fact, Seven Planet aims to be the first "chain" of green general stores: urban locations like the PDX flagship will support rural outposts like the one in Idaho, bringing the company's message of "mindful commerce" to a diverse audience. It's an ambitious business plan that centers around the number—you guessed it—seven. It was even finalized on 7/7/07!

In short, the seven founders, all of whom have successfully led various tech, health, fashion, and education-related start-ups, came together to define the most pressing world issue and how best to address it. The answer: climate change. "So we set out to build the brand to help save the planet," said CEO John Friess. They're doing this by promoting a new way of shopping—or more accurately, a return to the old. The idea that you buy only what you need and make the most sustainable choice possible is the antithesis to the conspicuous consumption that has ruled our disposal-crazed culture, but it was the only option in the good ole days.

Seven Planet's aim is to make that shift "easy and attractive and fun and inspiring," explained store manager Aysia Wright, "to take us back to a simpler time where you actually have stores that are very much connected to their community, that are gathering places where you can stop in, have a sandwich, a cup of coffee... while at the same time developing an appreciation for the fact that just because a product is sustainable doesn't mean you actually have to sacrifice something to live that lifestyle." Mindful commerce also means that products and services are easy on the wallet as well as the planet. "The goal is not only to have you not spend more money on these alternatives, but hopefully in the long run to show you savings, because being economically efficient and environmentally responsible are definitely not mutually exclusive," she added.

So what about those sevens? The store carries necessities in seven lifestyle categories—apparel, energy, food, health, household, shelter, and travel—from companies that must meet at least four of seven sustainable criteria, like utilizing renewable energy, offsetting their carbon footprint, and sourcing organic, local, and/or renewable materials. The stock is 70% national and 30% local (within a 70-mile radius of the store), with a focus on supporting young companies, much like these visionary entrepreneurs themselves.

Perhaps the most innovative element of the Seven Planet brand is the Seven Planet House, the Southeast Portland home of a couple who has pledged to make 70% of their necessary purchases through the store and its supply networks, resulting in a lifelong 30% discount. It's a pilot project to explore Seven Planet's green consulting services: "It's for people who are doing maybe remodeling or rebuilding, or people who are just looking to make the shift from buying conventional products to more sustainable products...we can really work with them to figure out in each category what changes they can make," explained Wright. Changes like natural pet food and cosmetics, recycled paper products and furniture, organic cleaners and cotton tees, even solar panels, electric cars, and construction materials from The ReBuilding Center.

In fact, the huge, airy corner space in the Goldsmith Building has been built out using only reclaimed materials from the beloved local salvage warehouse and relics found in the basement. "It was just a goldmine in terms of old, defunct pieces of wood and furniture collected over the eons," said Wright. In addition to tags detailing each company's mission, location, and Seven Planet criteria, the store's cupboards and shelves will tell the story of their previous lives.

The store's large windows both let in the light and invite the neighborhood to make Seven Planet a community hub—a mural of Portland ‘hoods painted by Chris Haberman fittingly graces the 1890 ceiling dome. The kitchen corner is stocked with Preserve's recycled and food-safe cooking supplies, Seaside Naturals cleaners, and To-Go Ware's bamboo utensils and stainless steel tiffins, along with organic savory tarts from Little Pots & Pans, Bravo Farms artisan cheese, and vegan Missionary Chocolates, with much more to be added soon, including a juice bar. The reclaimed wood table and chairs from Tropical Salvage encourages hanging out with your healthy snacks—or take ‘em to go in the 3greenmoms reusable fabric Lunch Skins.

Impressed yet? That's just the food category! The entire back corner is dedicated to apparel, serving as the new brick-and-mortar location of the pioneering eco-fashion boutique Greenloop, founded by Wright in 2004 (formerly located in Sellwood). There's Autonomie Project's 100% vegan Converse-style sneaks, Loomstate denim, and SPUN's organic cotton tanks no more expensive than the basics at Old Navy. Work in the area? Drop of your dry cleaning at the eco drycleaner outpost and bring it home in The Clothesnik reusable garment bag.

There are bedroom sets from Tropical Salvage, storage cubes made from recycled paper (surprisingly light and sturdy!), and soon, non-toxic couches and natural rugs. You can conserve energy with shower timers and backpacks powered by solar-voltaic cells, and get pretty with mineral cosmetics and paraben-free soaps. And in the near future, increase your own eco-IQ with educational seminars and community events—starting with a First Thursday art opening that will add to the growing action in Old Town.

Indeed, Freiss and the other founders sensed a mounting renaissance in OTCT and wanted to be a pivotal part of it. "We're excited for the opportunity to be a part of the neighborhood's transformation and be among the ranks of the other progressive retailers that have taken root here," he said. It's a priority that will extend to other Seven Planet stores, both urban and rural. Like the flagship, they will revitalize existing structures rather than building new construction and launch Seven Planet houses near the retail locations. "The company is passionate about reaching into communities that maybe don't already have a presence like this and helping to support the rehabilitation of neighborhoods, working from the inside out," Wright added.

It will be interesting to see how the Seven Planet mission spreads across the country, but more importantly, how this new convenient access to sustainable and local goods changes shopping in Portland. I'd like to think that visits to both stores will become as routine as those to Fred Meyer or Target. At the very least, keep tabs on them: Local Goods plans to keep showcasing new practical, handmade craft and sourcing the nearest, most affordable provisions, while Seven Planet is working on new discount programs for Old Town residents and those who can't commit to an entire Seven Planet house, and will continue fostering green innovation. I don't know about you, but these spots have me now feeling lucky to live in 2009 rather than 1909—I'm sold on the modern general store.

View the slideshow for more images of Local Goods and Seven Planet or visit our Flickr gallery: