The Dekum Triangle: A Whole New Kind of Main Street

I wonder, sometimes, about the people who look at certain spots around town—at best weathered by the years and at worst ravaged by neglect—and say, "I think I'll set up shop here." In my estimation, it takes vision and no small amount of courage. I headed out to such a pocket of pioneers near me to find out what motivates them, and to catch a glimpse of their vision for the area.

The Woodlawn Triangle was once the bustling center of the historic Woodlawn neighborhood. In its hey day in the late 19th and early 20th century, Dekum was a business district on the trolley line, boasting a general store, a bakery, a theatre, and more. A bridge linking Portland and Vancouver, and the disappearance of the trolley took a toll on the tiny area, and it lay more or less dormant until Mark Saldana, Ryan Wade, and Jeffrey Ray saw a for rent sign on the old Dekum Street Market, which had sat empty for six years.

"I'd been in the neighborhood since 2004," Saldana says. He'd seen a lot of negative things, but could feel a positive change coming. He jumped at the chance to show some love to the long neglected building and help spur those changes he hoped to see.

Saldana, who had been an opening chef at ¿Por Que No? on N. Mississippi Street, saw a perfect opportunity to bring some good grub to his neighborhood. In Saldana's own kitchen, they began testing recipes and experimenting with topping combinations that would reflect the seasonal produce locally available.

Good Neighbor Pizzeria
 

So in March of 2007, the three men began the work of gutting the neglected building and rebuilding a clean space with a bar, tables, and chairs made from reclaimed wood. Ray built all of the furniture and they all helped sand, paint and put together the entire space themselves. They put a lot of sweat equity into it, and drew a lot of attention from residents.

"We'd be working and people would walk by to ask if we needed any tools or help," Saldana says. "I'm from California. I wasn't used to how friendly people were around here. It's amazing."

Good Neighbor Pizzeria

They installed a large kitchen complete with pizza ovens and opened Good Neighbor Pizzeria on Halloween 2007. Good Neighbor prides itself on using locally and sustainably grown produce in their pizza and other dishes, and has become a gathering place for many locals. All three of the men are literally neighbors—they all live within walking distance of the restaurant.

"We love this neighborhood," says Saldana. "We try to make it as welcoming to everyone in the neighborhood as possible here." They take their name very seriously—adding menu items requested, adding wi-fi and a hang out area with a couch. Though they were first to see the potential the neighborhood offered, Saldana insists it doesn't really matter.

Mean Green (pesto, artichoke hearts, green onions, tomatoes & fresh garlic) is a favorite topping combo at Good Neighbor Pizzeria

"What matters is that we all share the same idea—that we are here for the neighborhood. We're not going to be the next Alberta Street or Mississippi—we're not that big, and we really don't want to be those places," Saldana insists. "We want to retain the close-knit, welcoming feel. We have a great mix of people and we hope it stays that way."

"We've got a really local base," adds Ryan Wade, "but we've got people from all over that come in, too. We've got a customer from across town who comes in for three calzones at a time, to get him through the week."

They were officially the only retail business in the triangle when they opened, which made getting established a challenge. It was a challenge the three men say they were up to, though they were anxious for other businesses to join them. Luckily, they didn't have long to wait.

Naturopathic physician Elizabeth Busetto was supposed to be looking for rental space to open her practice, but was secretly looking for something to buy instead. She couldn't believe when she saw that the old Dekum Firehouse, a building she and her chef husband Matthew had admired for years, was up for sale. Close to their home, she thought it would be a perfect location for a multi-disciplinary health clinic. She knew she would have a hard time convincing Matthew that such a purchase was in the budget. The strong-willed doctor eventually coerced her husband into at least checking it out.

 Firehouse Restaurant

Surrounded by a chain-link fence, engulfed in weeds, bars covering every window and door, Matthew began thinking of ways to convince his wife to let go of her pipe dream as the realtor fumbled with the lock to get inside.

Once inside, they could assess all of the work the place needed—and it needed a lot—but despite all of that, Matthew suddenly joined Elizabeth in her ability to see past it all.

"I am opening my restaurant here," he announced, much to Elizabeth's dismay. But he quickly followed up his statement with the rest of his vision: Rustic Italian eatery downstairs, Elizabeth's clinic upstairs.

They brought on a partner, Eric Rose, with whom Matthew had worked at New Seasons Market, and who had similar notions about opening a restaurant that served local, sustainably grown food.

The Firehouse Restaurant patio

And so another major remodel hit the Woodlawn Triangle. With support from friends and family, they tore out the cinderblock walls, exposing the original brick underneath; they removed the false ceiling to expose the wood beams beneath. They enlisted the talents of brothers Justin and Shilo Rideout who built furniture and fixtures from reclaimed wood from around the state. They installed an outdoor patio surrounded by a native garden, and filled raised beds with herbs and vegetables to use at the restaurant.

In June of 2008, the Firehouse Restaurant opened to the public with a rotating seasonal menu that focuses on wood-fired dishes. Gretchen Glatte, former pastry chef at such places as Wildwood Restaurant in Portland, and Firefly in San Francisco, rounds out the Firehouse offerings with pastries and breads made from seasonal and local ingredients as well. Like the Good Neighbor Pizza guys, Busetto and company hope to be the place Woodlawn residents will call their own.

"This is a neighborhood place. We feel a sense of responsibility to Woodlawn and the people who live here," says Busetto. They try to be involved in the needs of the community, hosting cooking classes with local students, supporting the Sports 4 Kids and Children's Garden programs at Woodlawn School with fundraising benefits, and attending neighborhood association events, like the recent National Night Out event in Woodlawn Park.

"Our goals are pretty simple," Gretchen Glatte adds. "We just want to serve really good food. Not overly fussy—just good, healthy, fresh. Everyone here loves food, loves people. I think that sentiment comes through. We have a lot of familiar faces in here. We love that. We love that people want to come here once a week, twice a week. That was what we hoped for."

 What's for dinner at Firehouse: (top left) Bruschetta with heirloom tomatoes and ricotta; (top right) House-made semolina gnocchi with sungold tomatoes, basil and ricotta; (bottom) Grilled hanger steak with crispy potatoes, arugal and grana padano

Glatte and Busetto will be expanding their service to the neighborhood in late fall when they open Woodlawn Coffee and Pastry across the street from the Firehouse and two doors down from Good Neighbor Pizza. Offering locally produced coffees, homemade sodas, and small-batch pastries, Glatte says she hopes to "recreate the feeling of home more than anything else."

Busetto adds that it is just another way for them to reach all segments of the neighborhood, offering them great home-made treats throughout the day.

Future home of Woodlawn Coffee and Pastry

"We have no interest in pretension," Busetto adds. "We just want to offer delicious baked goods and coffee in a space that is cozy and welcoming." Justin Rideout is doing the build-out for this new space as well, and Glatte and Busetto can't contain their excitement about how it is turning out.

"It really is going to be beautiful," Glatte promises. Her duties at the Firehouse will continue even after Woodlawn Coffee and Pastry opens.

Something sweet from Firehouse Restaurant: Gravestein apple crostata with honey ice cream

As planned, Dr. Elizabeth Busetto practices in a sunny brick-walled room above the Firehouse. There she specializes in treatments related to endocrine function, fertility, and parasitology. She also offers spinal adjustments, nutrition and exercise programs, homeopathy and herbal therapies.

Laura Demeri was ready to lay down some roots. She felt there were far too many temporary things in her life—her position as an adjunct professor at two local colleges, her status as a renter—and she was ready to add some permanence to her life. She began looking for a home to buy when she discovered a low and non-descript building for sale on the corner of NE Dekum Street. She was surprised to find it was in her budget, and began to dream of opening a movement studio in the space.

Taking ownership of the building right in time for the recent economic crisis, Demeri has had more than her fair share of false starts, but the Believe Movement Studio is finally nearly ready to open. She took me on a tour of the building where classes are slated to start at the beginning of October. She pauses often to point out all of the work that has been done by friends and neighbors. She is visibly moved by the help she has received in getting the studio finished.

"I am so blessed with support," she tells me. Knowing that she was taking on this big project alone has brought people "out of the woodwork" to offer skills and labor. It is an attitude she intends to pay forward by offering all sorts of movement class and activity.

"Pilates had really changed my life, it had empowered me, giving me strength both inward and outward," she says, but adds that she is open to offering all kinds of movement classes at Believe. Eventually, with the right teachers, she will be able to offer Tai-Chi, yoga, and other types of classes in addition to pilates. She also intends to offer walking and running clubs—a short stretching class followed by a planned route through the neighborhood for walkers and runners—at a very low cost. It is important to Demeri that everyone feels welcome—that regardless of one's economic situation, they can afford to take care of themselves.

"It will give people the chance to get exercise, somewhat supervised by the studio, without the expense of taking a pilates or yoga series," Demeri explains.

She shows me around the building—deceptively larger than it appears from the street—and explains the floor plan.

This type of class will be offered at Believe Movement Studio

She shows me the "community space," where people can sit and chat. She is very conscious of the fact that many people who take classes have precious little free time, and so encourages the length of the class to be a time to reflect inward, to get the most benefit out of the practice. There will be two studio rooms for classes, an office for nutritional counseling, and a "spa" room—where massage and other treatments can take place—and a sauna.

She is excited about the partners she'll bring in for different types of movement classes, one of whom is a neighbor in her 70's who will be offering Tai Chi and Yoga for seniors at no cost.

"I am blessed with the people who are coming on board. I'll be the voice for this place," she explains, "But there will be no sense of seniority. We're all in it together, and everyone's efforts will be of value. I want everyone to feel like they matter and that their efforts will be rewarded in so many ways."

Believe Movement Studio's Laura Demeri

Demeri's building sits at the front of the lot, which left a large undeveloped space at the back. Undeveloped until recently, that is, when Sandra Galli owner of Buffalo Gardens, moved her garden center from Alberta Street to the burgeoning Woodlawn Triangle.

I welcomed her on her inaugural weekend, and it was clear that she was as excited to be there as we were to have her.

"I just feel like this is the right place for me to be," She beamed. Her rustic set-up, including a tiny garden store, chicken coop and an ocean of plants—mostly edible or natives, already had the air of a well-loved space. Though she has fond memories of her 8 years on Northeast Alberta Street, she felt it was the right time to move on, and was thrilled to find this space in a somewhat quieter area.

Buffalo Gardens

The new space also offers her a perfect partner: Michele Eccelston, owner of The Purple Garden, garden planning and design, lives and works next door in a century old four-square featuring an impressive herb and native garden whose shape pays homage to the Woodlawn Triangle. A garden designer, wetland biologist, and herbalist, Eccelston focuses on creating sustainable, edible, wildlife supportive, and native gardens. She offers classes on using medicinal herbs, and has an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and their many uses.

The original Purple Garden was in a nearby neighborhood since 2005, but when Eccelston saw the house on Dekum Street, she jumped at the chance to move her operation there.

"This is my dream home, and a dream location for creating a teaching garden," she says. While it has been a busy first year, setting up the garden and working on the house, she is eager to immerse herself more fully into the neighborhood. Beginning in the spring, she will start hosting home herb classes, and hopes her neighbors will sign up. She and Galli have installed a gate between their two properties, hoping to work together on gardening workshops.

The Purple Garden

Dave Spitzer is the newest pioneer to the Dekum Triangle, still working on his virtually brand new building on the corner of Northeast Dekum and Northeast Durham. On the site of an old bakery and a one-time bar, Spitzer and his partners at DMS Architects have utilized the unusual shape to create a mixed-use building with sustainable elements. Partnering with RJR Construction, Spitzer's crew brainstormed ways they could stay within budget, offer reasonable rates to tenants, and build an energy efficient green space. With solar panels on the roof, FSC-certified lumber, bamboo flooring, and vegetable based insulation, Spitzer was able to meet his goals. Already, two of the three residential units are rented, as well as the retail space below. Spitzer introduced me to Scott Lawrence, one of the partners who will be opening a brew pub, tentatively called the Breakside Brewery.

"I know ‘breakside' can mean a couple of different things—going against the flow, going your own way, or even just going for a break," Lawrence says. "We kind of mean all of the above. We want to do things a little differently, but ultimately our goal is to create a relaxing neighborhood hangout." Lawrence and his partner (silent, for the time being) have been devout home brewers for years, and after a trip to an Alaskan brewery last year, decided it was time to give up their corporate gigs and turn their passion into a profession.

"I started looking at space all over town," Lawrence says. "I found this spot on Craigslist and biked over." He said he was drawn to the space, and to the neighborhood. He says the burgeoning business district feels very welcoming, that they seem to be supportive of one another. He is also eager to include the residents surrounding them—with some sort of reward for people who walk or ride their bikes there.

Breakside Brewery building after renovation

"We'll have 4 or 5 different drafts on a rotating basis, and we'll keep our customers in the loop when we choose them," he says. "We'll take customer suggestions to come up with new recipes. We want this to feel like it's their place, so we'll listen to what they want."

Lawrence says that they are really interested in becoming an active member of the neighborhood.

Classic Foods building before renovation

Also coming soon will be the 25 year-old specialty foods wholesaler Classic Foods. Jake Greenberg, founder of the company, has outgrown his space in another part of town and is about to undertake a major renovation of an Art Deco building just north of the Woodlawn Triangle area. Planning on bringing the building back to its 1932 grandeur while implementing many 21st century green elements, Greenberg will not only bring his wholesale restaurant food business to the area, but will begin offering cooking classes and demonstrations, community space, and a retail outlet selling house-made spice blends, pastas and specialty items at the new location as well. Attending a neighborhood association potluck this summer, sporting an enormous bowl of pasta salad featuring his home-made pasta, Greenberg is already endearing himself to his new neighbors.

"We hope to be a neighborhood focal point," Greenberg says, and says he hopes that the neighborhood is as excited as he is about their new collaboration.

Jake Greenburg plans an incredible renovation of this 1932 warehouse

The common denominator with the businesses in the Woodlawn Triangle seems to be their dedication to the community they have chosen. All fearless pioneers in their own right, they seem committed to working together to create a unique "main street"—one that welcomes all, but is happy staying just a little outside of the spotlight. Not that interested in being the next big thing, the diminutive Woodlawn Triangle seems rather to seek to be the friendliest spot in town.

Editor's Note: Woodlawn neighbor Ayleen Crotty contacted Neighborhood Notes and informed us that the official moniker of the Dekum Triangle is actually the Woodlawn Triangle, as per the 2008 Woodlawn Triangle Master Plan. We've changed "Dekum" Triangle to "Woodlawn" Triangle in this post except for the title, because the URL—which includes the title—is linked to other web sites. In future posts, we will only refer to this area by its proper name and hope that you will too.

Learn more about the Woodlawn Triangle:
Woodlawn Neighborhood Association (Go Woodlawn!)
Buffalo Gardens Replants Itself in the Woodlawn Triangle
Classic Foods Plans Expansion in Woodlawn
The Old Dekum Street Firehouse Finds New Life As Fabulous Restaurant
A Place to Learn, Grow—Worth Saving in Woodlawn

View the slideshow for more images of the Woodlawn Triangle or visit our Flickr gallery: