Me oh my, Portlanders have been a busy, entrepreneurial bunch over the past month. I thought we had a doozy of a debut list last month, but there are nearly as many newly opened businesses this time around—and in half the time! (Okay, there are a few stragglers that I missed in October, denoted with an asterisk if you’re keeping track, but still....WOW.) Check out the nearly thirty restaurants, bars, salons, and stores—selling everything from snowboarding gear and biking accessories to yarn, candy, movies, and everything you need to live green. Oh, and don’t forget the, ahem, intimate accessories and, of course, the infamous Cannabis Café. No wonder everyone wants to move here. Be the first to take advantage of it all before the Californians and New Yorkers catch on to all the action.
NORTHWEST
Lace Beauty It’s been said that the Pearl is home to Portland’s beautiful people, no doubt thanks to the concentration of sleek, high-end salons and spas. Lace Beauty could be a welcome addition to the mix, offering all the get-pretty necessities—facials, waxing, manicures, and pedicures—in a slightly less indulgent, more efficient style. Think lunch break rather than day-long pampering. And they’re offering 20% off all services all the way through January.
405 NW 10th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209
503.208.3183
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. & Sunday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m.
*LIMO There once was a day when Portland had never met Peru. Then Andina knocked our socks off and we fell in love. But she was kind of too expensive to date regularly. Then Del Inti and Nasca arrived to charm the Eastside, and now, Limo (“lee-mo”) is romancing the Northwest with ceviches, Aji Amarillo chilis, and a to-die-for happy hour (daily 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. and all day Sunday) with half-price small plates. Could Peruvian cuisine be the next Thai?
2340 NW Westover Road
Portland, OR 97210
503.477.8348
www.limorestaurant.com
Hours: Daily, 5 p.m.-10 p.m.
Lovejoy Bakers The corner of 10th & Lovejoy has been tricky. Several restaurants have tried to make a go of it, but the floor-to-ceiling windows made it feel more like a fishbowl at night. Finally, someone decided to take advantage of all the natural light with a business that opens bright and early—a bakery, of course! Dan Griffin, a veteran of Pearl Bakery, and his staff now serve up his own amazing array of breads, pastries, muffins, scones, cookies, tarts, cupcakes, and brownies, plus seriously gourmet salads, soups, sandwiches, quiche, and Ristretto Roasters coffee, beer, and wine. Phew! Just read the menu and your mouth will be watering. We have a feeling this one is here to stay.
939 NW 10th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209
503.208.3113
www.lovejoybakers.com
Hours: Daily, 6 a.m.-3 p.m. (extending to 6 p.m. any day now)
Northwest Sweets Okay, we’ve got amazing bakeries. We’ve got talented chocolatiers. But when it comes to dessert, Portland has been sorely lacking in...candy. But no more, thanks to confectioner Steve Gazda. There are retro favorites like Squirrel Nut Zippers, Pop Rocks, and Big League Chew. But he also makes incredible treats like caramels, nougat, seasonal truffles (chestnut honey, applewood bacon), and ingenious mug-size marshmallows. Yum!
740 NW 23rd Avenue
Portland, OR 97210
503.360.1350
www.nwsweets.com
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
The One Stop Sustainability Shop Looks like every neighborhood is soon to have it’s own green general store—and we love it! This latest was opened by a mother-daughter duo who are just as interested in education as they are sourcing the most useful and sustainable products. You’ll find drying racks made from reclaimed Oregon Douglas Fir, reusable fabric sandwich wraps, and recycled office supplies, but also, soon, composting classes and a make-your-own natural cleaner station.
1720 NW Lovejoy Street
Portland, OR 97209
503.241.5404
Blog (www.sustainabilitypdx.com launches soon)
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Toast & Pho The decor leaves something to be desired—one half is shadowed under the Fred Meyer parking garage (though the Christmas pictures in the window are pretty cute!)—but any pho connoisseur can tell you it’s the food that counts. And this neighborhood has been sorely lacking in delicious, steamy noodles. The menu covers all the favorites, plus rice bowls, teriyaki, and pad thai. They even open early for coffee, smoothies, and baked goods (hence the name).
103 NW 21st Avenue
Portland, OR 97210
503.274.0888
Hours: Daily, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
We Village Drop ‘n Go Child Care Even though Portland is so kid-friendly that you can bring the little ones along to almost any restaurant, sometimes you just need some purely grown-up time. And thanks to We Village, you don’t have to plan a week in advance for a babysitter. You can drop off your children (ages 2-12) in a safe and healthy environment to get work done, go shopping, enjoy a date night, or just get some time alone to recharge. There are meals from Whole Foods and educational activities, and the space is available for parties and parent-child classes.
424 NW 11th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209
503.935.5590
www.wevillage.com
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (10 p.m. on First Thurs.) & Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (Sundays are available for parties)
EAST
All About Heroes If you're obsessed with the Golden Age of comics (as they say), then this is the shop for you. With one of the largest selections of rare, hard-to-find, vintage, as well as present-day, comics in the region, it's pretty much a fanboy's dream. The experts say prices aren't over-inflated. And even if you don't know the Green Goblin from the Hulk, it's still a trip to see the incredible museum-quality collection of action figures and toys.
10322 SE Holgate Boulevard
Portland, OR 97266
503.760.0385
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. & Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
SOUTHWEST
Atmosphere Clothing Upgrade! This Northwest-based skate and snowboard apparel company (with quite a global following) has moved their graphic tees, sweatshirts, jackets, and pants from the glorified storage space above their Hawthorne offices to a striking new retail shop next to hotly anticipated restaurant Gruner (more details coming next month, but sign up for preview dinners now if you’re curious) in the Skylab building downtown. Look for First Thursday parties, art shows, and film screenings.
537 SW 12th Avenue
Portland, OR 97205
503.274.9631
www.atmosphere-clothing.com
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. & Saturday-Sunday, 12 p.m.-7 p.m.
Brasserie Montmartre Live jazz. Black and white tiles. Crayon masterpieces. Brasserie Montmartre was a Portland classic. Until it closed in 2006 for building renovations and then...just kept not reopening. But new owners and three years later, it’s back in all its glory—gleaming wood accents restored, live music scheduled, and steak frites and French onion soup back on the menu—for a nightly dose of Paris.
626 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR 97205
503.236.3036
www.brasserieportland.com
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 a.m. & Sunday, 11 a.m.-12 a.m.
*Mystique Local artists in the mall? Only in Portland. Mystique focuses on intricate masquerade masks (in case you’re going to the Portland Art Museum’s Beaux-Arts Ball in February), but also Swarovski crystal jewelry, ceramic dishes, themed journals, and cards, scarves, and Missionary vegan truffles.
340 SW Morrison Street
Portland, OR 97204
503.224.5725
www.mystiquepdx.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. & Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Y-Chrome Did the latest season of Mad Men have you wishing you—or your man—looked as dapper as Don? Y-Chrome looks to be a time machine to vintage handsomeness, offering classic haircuts, hot towel shaves, and shoeshines. But there are also the modern perks of a pool table, large screen TV, and beer, beer, beer. Hit their “Fedora and Boa” opening party next week (12/16, 7 p.m.), with all the goodies plus blackjack and an open bar; drop off an unwrapped present to get a free haircut.
609 SW Washington Street
Portland, OR 97205
503.467.4667
www.y-chromebarbering.com
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. & Saturday-Sunday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m.
SOUTHEAST
Backpedal Cycleworks Three cheers for more bike shops in outlying neighborhoods! Rick Shaputis went from doing bicycle repairs and vintage bike sales in his garage to opening his own shop to serve the Mt. Scott area. With the goal of supporting bike commuters, he sells bikes from Brodie, Norco, and Redline, all the gear and accessories to ride in comfort and style, and does affordable repairs and conversions.
7126 SE Harold Street
Portland, OR 97206
503.891.9842
www.bpcycleworks.com
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m.
*Happy Knits Ummm, could there be anything more attractive right now than a bunch of yarn (imagine the cozy sweaters and scarves!) and a fireplace? Yeah, not much. Which I’m pretty sure is why they call this new shop “Happy.” A great selection of colors and types, both beginner and specialty classes, social knitting nights, and even a playroom for the kiddies makes it sound like a knitter’s heaven.
1620 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Portland, OR 97214
503.238.2106
www.happyknitspdx.com
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. & Sunday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m.
*Lek Thai Food I loved The Italian Joint. The tiny spot on Hawthorne had the best raspberry vinaigrette, seriously. So I was kind of heartbroken (can tummy-broken be a thing?) to see it suddenly close. But now there’s this friendly and yummy Thai restaurant has picked up the pieces of my hunger with all the favorites. And on a cold night, the free hot tea while I waited for my order was more satisfying than any salad dressing.
3145 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Portland, OR 97214
503.234.6192
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. & 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m. (Fri ‘til 10 p.m.) & Saturday-Sunday, 12 p.m.-10 p.m.
Naomi’s Organic Farm Supply In a former Kasch’s Nursery location in Sellwood, you’ll find everything you need to cultivate a different kind of backyard—more chickens, less roses. But Naomi, her husband, her mother, and the rest of the staff, who just moved in near the end of last month, will salvage many plants and supplies, and the large space will soon host many workshops and a book and hand tools lending library in addition to the feed, hay, compost supplies, seeds, soil, and worms, hens, and goats that call it home.
2500 SE Tacoma Street
Portland, OR 97202
503.517.8551
www.naomisorganic.com
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. & Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Olympic Provisions Easily the hippest new restaurant in town—and it’s all about the meat (in illuminated letters, I might add). Yes, there are delicious looking egg and veggie dishes, but you’d be crazy not to order the crispy fried pork terrine and braised escarole sandwich from Oregon’s first USDA certified meat-curing facility. The industrial-chic decor and extensive local and European wine list will make it a hot date spot when dinner starts up soon. Wholesale and retail deli also right around the corner.
107 SE Washington Street
Portland, OR 97214
503.954.3663
www.olympicprovisions.com
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (dinner hours coming soon)
*Valentine Video & Collectibles A great take-home complement to CineMagic just a few stops down the street, this rare video shop recently moved to Hawthorne from St. Johns. You’ll find films you never even imagined existed, from horror to anime, cult and classic movies, plus Japanese and Disney collectibles, that these film buffs have been sniffing out since 1993.
2037 SE Hawthorne Boulevard
Portland, OR 97214
503.505.7111
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 12 p.m.-9 p.m. & Sunday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m.
NORTH
North End Pub A classy, family-friendly international-style neighborhood pub—it’s a welcome first for Lombard. St. Johns residents Robert Douglass and Brian Frisch have been putting together this new spot (and soon-to-be Rivergate Brewing producing soda and ales) for the past two years, and it’s paid off. The large space aims to be a warm community gathering place, welcoming families, neighbors, even organizations to fold meetings. A wide variety of European, American, and increasingly more exotic offerings for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch are a draw even if you don’t want to drink some of the best small craft brews offered in North Portland.
3011 N Lombard Avenue
Portland, OR 97217
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-12 a.m. & Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-12 a.m. (sometimes earlier)
NORTHEAST
Animal Traffic Soon enough, the entire city will be outfitted in vintage if new shop owners have anything to do with it—and I’m okay with that if the flannels, sweaters, 501s, dresses, and boots are as well selected as they are here. The large corner space is full of quality, clean pieces (no bin rejects here) that are affordable and easy-to-wear, but still unique enough to make a statement in a sea of, well, hipsters.
4000 N Mississippi Avenue
Portland, OR 97227
503.249.4000
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Hours: Daily, 12 p.m.-6 p.m.
Local Discoveries This new addition to artist collective Studio 1627 makes its neighbors’ and other local artisans’ wares available to shoppers increasingly interested in supporting, yes, local. (I think this may be the word of the year!) Jeweler SageWorks Designs and Farmmaid Soaps are behind the shop, but they also carry a wide variety of gifts perfect to give a piece of Oregon: candles, hats, baby dresses, pottery, even tasty goodies like jam and caramel corn. And their Christmas tree is just too festive to resist.
1627 N.E. Alberta Street
Portland, OR 97211
503.209.3956
Facebook
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. & Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Maui’s This new neighborhood bar is a few blocks down from the bustling HUB building (Lincoln, Anju), but that lends it a more casual, living room-style vibe. Or maybe it’s the cool blue ocean murals on the walls (owner Steve Mason was in the bar biz in Hawaii for 25 years). A huge wood bar—probably the longest in the neighborhood—crockpot dinners, and 15 rotating taps sound pretty comfy, eh? Come summer, Mason plans to put some dog runs in the large outdoor beer garden so your whole family can hang out.
3508 N Williams Avenue
Portland, OR 97227
503.282.1611
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 2 p.m.-2:30 a.m. & Sunday, 10 a.m.-2:30 a.m.
Mississippi Treehouse I’ve been waiting to check out this kiddie boutique since I first wrote about it months ago—and it’s more adorable than I imagined! Treehouse playroom aside (which is tempting even as a grown-up), there are tons of wooden toys and puzzles, cute resale clothes, hip baby accessories, and even indulgent beauty treats for new moms. Storytimes and sing-alongs make it a destination even if you’re not shopping.
3742 N Mississippi Avenue
Portland, OR 97227
503.928.5987
www.misstreehouse.com
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. & Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Oregon NORML Cannabis Café @ Rumpspankers There was a lot of ruckus about the nation’s first medical marijuana cafe that opened last month, but now...it seems to be business as usual. With hodge podge furnishings, it feels pretty much like a typical coffeeshop or bar with food, drinks, and a pool table. All customers must have legal documentation to get inside (and pay $25), and anyone who can’t drive upon leaving is sent home on a bus. It’s not for everyone, but it looks to be less disruptive than some bars I know.
700 N.E. Dekum Street
Portland, OR 97211
www.ornorml.org/cafe
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (Closed 12/12, 12/23-26, 1/1/10)
Pedal Bike Tours - Retail Store This destination for many tourists looking to experience Portland’s beloved bike culture, Pedal now carries a great selection of locally-made bicycle accessories, including well-known Queen Bee bags and Recycled Designs bike chain picture frames and clocks, but also Labelle Maverique’s bike tube jewelry, Gigi’s Handywork Helmuffs ear covers, and Red Bat Press cards. The goal is to offer unique souvenirs, but I think locals will love it just as much, if not more.
2249 N Williams Avenue
Portland, OR 97227
503.916.9704
www.pedalbiketours.com
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. & Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
*Shaken Martini Bar The Beaumont neighborhood is known more for backyard barbecues than swanky cocktail lounges. But who doesn’t like to dress up and pretend to be in a James Bond movie once in a while? That’s the inspiration behind Shaken, complete with martinis named after nearly all the characters in the over 20 films. A great weekday happy hour (4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.-close) features the usual small plates (bruschetta, antipasto, flat breads) and $4 cocktails. And there’s a fireplace! These days, that’s at the top of my list.
4605 NE Fremont Street
Portland, OR 97213
503.282.4007
www.shakenmartinilounge.com
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-12 a.m., Friday, 4 p.m.-2:30 a.m., Saturday, 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m. & Sunday, 11 a.m.-12 a.m.
She Bop Mod logo, named after a Cyndi Lauper song, and a bright, stylish interior right off Mississippi. Sounds like a hot new clothing boutique, but the wares here are more suited for your birthday suit. Like It’s Your Pleasure, this is a female-friendly sex toy shop that carries an extensive library of books and a wide variety of intimate accessories, ranging from designs that could be mistaken for sculpture to fun and silly bachelorette style goodies. The two owners are all about sex positivity, hosting workshops, non-profit benefits, and as many healthy and green options as possible.
909 N. Beech Street
Portland, OR 97227 503.473.8018
www.sheboptheshop.com
Hours: Daily, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
*Soul Culture Cycling We certainly love our cycling in Portland, but the rain. Ugh. For the fitness and racing fanatics, it may make more sense to train indoors during the worst weather. And thanks to Iron Man Alex Laws (seriously, he’s done the Ironman for 12 years and has run over 45 marathons!), there’s now a dedicated gym just for that. Hour long classes are just $7, so even if you never ride on the street, you can still get in Lance Armstrong shape.
2406 NE Sandy Boulevard
Portland, OR 97232
503.736.5185
www.sccycling.com
Hours: Classes are Tuesday & Thursday, 6 p.m.-7 p.m., Wednesday, 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Swift Colosso was a late night fave, but it was sadly dark for months before New York veteran Robert Thomas opened Swift a few weeks ago. The menu features the usual yummy suspects for a lounge—fondue, mac & cheese, calamari, hamburger—with a few higher end items like crispy veal sweetbreads and desserts like a grilled glazed Voodoo doughnut with vanilla bean ice cream (hello!). Happy hour ‘til 7 p.m. ($1 off the whole menu) and 10% off for the service industry after midnight look to make a stylish night out affordable for everyone.
1932 NE Broadway
Portland, OR 97232
Hours: Daily, 4 p.m.-2 a.m.
Verignetti’s Coffee One of the anchors in a new food cart collective, tiny but can’t-miss-it bright orange Verignetti’s offers Bridgetown Coffee in a warm interior, plus a walk/bike-up window for on-the-go pickups. There are specialty drinks, Gabriel’s Bakery goods (quinoa bread!), Sol Pops, and local music. Outside you’ll find Che Cafe, which is getting a lot of foodies buzzing.
3954 N Williams Avenue
Portland, OR 97212
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Hours: Daily, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Great rundown. I recommend all businesses on N. Mississippi, N. Beech, and N. Williams be places in the "North" section. Right now they appear in the N.E. section.
Thanks for the feedback, flowb33. It's definitely a great assortment! FYI: we map addresses within neighborhood association boundaries (www.portlandmaps.com). That's why the N. Beech and N Williams businesses appear in NE Portland?they are [technically] located in NE Portland neighborhoods.
so nice to read positive news like this! thanks so much for a great round up of new businesses.
Love love love to read about these true heroes of the local economy. BRAVO! One I'd like to ad, Spints on NE 28th. The former chef from Teardrop Lounge, Alyssa Gregg, has opened this wonderful german influenced neighborhood gathering place. THANKS for this important round up. Now I gotta go shopping!
What a wonderful, comprehensive list! You inspire others to get out there and support the community!
Thanks for the comments, everyone - and so glad you've been inspired to support all the creative and brave Portlanders out there! I have become more hopeful than ever working on these articles and seeing how many people are undaunted. 2010 is going to be great! Oh, and Lisa, look for a write-up on Sprints next month. This one just covered spots that opened in November, and since Spints technically opened on 12/3, it's on the December list. Of course, everyone should beat me to it and go check it out! :)
Thank you sooo Much for the Write up on Local Discoveries new store, We are so grateful and have been very busy with christmas gift selling this season of all Local handmade items!
Shelley loring Shell's jewel's
You bet, Shelley. We do our best to include new businesses all over the city. Glad to hear Local Discoveries is off to such a great start!
I was in North End Pub with my wife Civil War night. The place was packed, and I expected a less than stellar meal. Yes, the service was a little bit slower, but considering the crowd, they really did well. What surprised me is the food was as good as any other visit I've been there. There menu is pretty solid,but not anything special. You know, the same stuff you could get at McMs or Lucky Lab. The tap selection is pretty good. But when you have a room full of hungry,thirsty Ducks and Beavers, and the food quality is constant, and everybody gets taken care of in pretty good time, you know you have a great staff. Tip them well when you get there. I did.
Hey, NoPoJoe. Thanks for sharing the positive report on North End Pub. You're absolutely right: it's tough to pull off great food and service when you're slammed. Sounds like we have a real winner on our hands!