They say January is a slow month. After the party and shopping frenzy of the holidays, everyone kind of hibernates and recovers both physically and financially during the first month of the year. But our local entrepreneurs didn’t get the message. And with the opening of 20 new businesses, we all had a reason to bundle up and head out in January.
The city did lose a few glitzier spots—Anju (after only a few months), The Agency and Carlyle, which will shut its doors after Valentine’s Day—but perhaps that just signifies a move to a more organic (both literally and figuratively) model. Three of the new restaurants on this month’s list—Café Velo, Pacific Pie Co., Dovetail Bakery—first garnered a following at the area farmers markets (and Los Gorditos as a food cart) before opening their already packed brick-and-mortar outposts. Can't wait to see what grassroots favorites sprout up next! Have a tip about a new local business? Send me an email to newbizpdx@gmail.com.
Discover the healing power of salt at the Salt Grotto. Photo: Amaren Colosi
NORTHWEST
The Clearing Café Attached to the holistic Dragontree Spa (which will open an airport location next week!), The Clearing Café in Northwest District has always been focused on wellness, offering organic and vegetarian bistro options. The new owners continue that tradition but have added more local, seasonal, and slightly more gourmet items to the menu—a turkey, brie, and cranberry relish panini, an apple chutney and cheddar sandwich—as well as breakfast burritos and Kettleman’s bagels
2772 NW Thurman Street
Portland, OR 97210
503.841.6240
www.theclearingcafe.com
Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m. & Saturday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
Spinach Michael Skogg experienced the incredible results of training with kettlebells as a member of the U.S. Special Forces, and over 15 years later, he opened the first gym in Oregon to focus on this intense “muscle integration” workout. Now there’s a second location in the more convenient Pearl District, and with group classes ranging from beginner to “Warrior Fitness,” this is the place to whip yourself into shape.
312 NW 10th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209
503.546.9909
www.elitekettlebellgym.com
Hours: Daily, 6 a.m.-8 p.m. (class times vary)
Li Ning Sports USA Portland is fast becoming the sportswear capitol of the country, if not the world, now that the “Nike of China” has opened a concept store in the Pearl. Li Ning opened an office here two years ago, but finally decided it was time to share its apparel, shoes, and equipment for everything from table tennis to basketball with the public. Bet you never knew there were special shoes for playing badminton.
910 NW Hoyt Street
Portland, OR 97209
503.227.4380
www.li-ningusa.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Prasad Cuisine It was a sad day when the beloved and oh-so-healthy Blossoming Lotus left its space at Yoga in the Pearl (consolidating their business into the Irvington location), but that made room for Prasad Cuisine, which serves vegan and primarily gluten-free breakfast, soups, salad, bowls, and wraps in the Pearl. There’s New Cascadia bread and pastries, loads of quinoa, and intriguing ingredients like vanilla cashew cream, zucchini noodles, and pumpkin and sun garden pate. Also fresh juices and smoothies.
925 NW Davis Street
Portland, OR 97209
503.224.3993
www.prasadcuisine.com
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. & Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
The Salt Grotto Before or after a delicious and cleansing meal at Prasad, consider trying out the healing powers of salt—yep, salt—at this new relaxing getaway in the Pearl, the first “salt cave” on the West Coast. For 45 minutes, you’ll relax in a beach chair in a room filled with Dead Sea salt and with walls lined with salt tiles from Pakistan and Poland. These getaways, both naturally-occurring and man-made, have long been popular in Europe for relieving respiratory problems, skin conditions, allergies, high blood pressure, and a variety of other stress-related ailments. According to owner Karla Komers, a doctor from the Czech Republic, the negative ions naturally purify the air and the concentrated minerals are anti-imflammatory. There’s also a room for massages and yoga classes in the salt on Saturdays.
906 NW 14th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209
971.255.1053
www.thesaltgrotto.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. & Sunday, 12 p.m.-7 p.m. (45-minute sessions start on the hour, every hour)
Grab some lunch at Cafe Velo. Photo: Amaren Colosi
SOUTHWEST
Café Velo Rick Wilson earned so many fans pedaling his single-origin, drip coffee to local farmers markets that he had to find a place to park Downtown (on the new transit mall) and serve it every day of the week. The one-time Zefiro chef also added Mediterranean “street food” (falafel, flatbreads, a rotating selection of paellas and tangines) and his wife’s baked goods (biscottis, orange almond Florentines, and seriously the best shortbread I’ve ever had!). Of course, the coffee is still the draw, with a rotating selection of artisanal beans from local roasters.
600 SW Pine Street
Portland, OR 97205
503.719.0287
www.cafe-velo.com
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Don’t worry, that sense of déjà vu is for real. The modern furniture store closed almost a year ago when the licensed owner (kind of like a franchise) decided to move on, so Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams took over the Downtown space and three weeks ago opened it’s first company store in the region. They redid the floors, knocked out some walls, and are now the first location to preview the new Spring 2010 collection. Don’t miss the grand opening party on February 11th, when Mitchell, Bob, and “the most outrageous drag queen in the U.S.” Lady Bunny will be in town to celebrate.
1106 W Burnside
Portland, OR 97209
503.972.5000
www.mgbwhome.com
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10-8, sat 10-6, sun 11-6
Savory pies rule at Pacific Pie Company. Photo: Amaren Colosi
SOUTHEAST
Barre3 The ballet+yoga+pilates workout studio has proven so popular that they’ve expanded to a second location in Hosford-Abernethy. Owners Sadie and Chris Lincoln live in the area, so are very plugged into the neighborhood—they even based some class times on the local school drop-off times. There’s also childcare for infants and older in the gorgeous, sky-lit brick space.
2523 SE 22nd Avenue
Portland, OR 97202
503.206.4453
www.barre3.com
Hours: Daily class times vary
Taqueria Los Gorditos As a food cart on 50th & Division, Los Gorditos developed quite a following over the past three years for its delicious, affordable, and vegan/veggie-friendly Mexican food. In fact, this past summer was so crazy that they realized they needed a bigger kitchen to keep up with all the orders. Now, the expanded sit-down restaurant in Hosford-Abernethy has allowed them to add new items to the menu (like hand-made corn tortillas!) and start catering events.
1212 SE Division Street
Portland, OR 97202
503.445.6289
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Microcosm Publishing This indie publisher’s book shop in Buckman may have been smallest store in Portland, and even that tiny square footage was on the verge of closing before one little book (Make Your Place) became a bestseller. Now that took over the space next door, there’s the enough room to browse the great collection of zines and books held by one of the largest zine distributors in the world (wow!).
833 SE Main Street, #108
Portland, OR 97214
503.232.3666
www.microcosmpublishing.com
Hours: Daily, 12 p.m.-7 p.m.
Oblique Coffee Roasters Last summer, John and Heather Chandler were honored with Willamette Week’s “Best Labor of Love” for the intense restoration work they were doing on the 1891 building on the corner of Stark & 30th Place. Now they can show off the results at their “Victorian Coffee Mercantile” in Kerns, where the beans are micro roasted in a German cast iron roaster named Bart. We like that almost as much as their (soon to-be) sunny patio!
3039 SE Stark Street
Portland, OR 97214
503.228.7883
Facebook
Hours: Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-7 p.m. & Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Pacific Pie Co. Things haven’t been the same here after last week’s Australia Day. These savory pies (like beef & stout, creamy chicken, lentil & coconut), pasties (pulled pork with spicy slaw – yum!), and sausage rolls are typical lunch fare Down Under, where owners Chris Powell (an Aussie) and Sarah Curtis-Fawley met. Their ravenous following began with ex-pats at farmers markets this past summer, and now, after some very enthusiastic press, the few seats in their new commissary kitchen in Buckman are almost always taken and the frozen take-home versions need to be ordered ahead of time. Still, even with the demand, there are always fresh, hot pies filled with local, organic ingredients ready for your rumbling tummy—one bite and you may be compelled to order a dozen.
609 SE Ankeny Street
Portland, OR 97214
www.pacificpieco.com
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Wood-fired pizza at Lovely's Fifty-Fifty. Photo: Amaren Colosi
NORTHEAST
Doc George’s Jazz Kitchen Jazz fans have only had a few venues to choose from around town— most notably, Jimmy Mak’s in the Pearl and Blue Monk on Belmont—and now thanks to Doc George (who are you, sir?), Beaumont-Wilshire has their own spot dedicated to the scene. There are weekly shows by the Andre St. James Trio, Ron Steen, and Ed Neumann, as well as jambalaya on the menu to evoke the Big Easy.
4605 NE Fremont Street
Portland, OR 97213
503.287.7067
Dovetail Bakery Vegan baker Morgan Grundstein-Helvey got her start at—you guessed it—the farmers market, and in a town experiencing a bit of a bakery boom, her delicious and beautiful treats have found a home of their own in Vernon. In addition to Aunt Miriam’s sticky buns, sweet and savory tarts, seasonal loafs, muffins, cookies, muffins, pies, cakes… (oh my!), there is housemade coconut yogurt and granola, French press Courier Coffee, and raw Magic Kombucha.
3039 NE Alberta Street
Portland, OR 97211
503.288.8839
dovetailbakery.blogspot.com
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
I Heart Retro We’re betting you’ve never noticed this tiny spot tucked away on NE Broadway, a street more known for zooming by in a car than strolling by on foot. But this vintage furniture and home décor store in Sullivan's Gulch is worth finding a parking spot; the small entrance opens up into a spacious showroom packed with amazing mid-century finds at great prices. I’ve got my eye on the Fisher-Price record player I had as a kid!
1726 NE Broadway
Portland, OR 97232
503.287.3764
www.iheartretro.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (Tuesday by appointment) & Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
The Kids Edge Children’s clothes are probably the best fit (ha, sorry for the pun) for the consignment biz—the pieces are outgrown before they’re really worn out. This new Sullivan's Gulch shop focuses on popular brands like Element, Diesel, and Joe’s Jeans, offering mini-style with a street, skate, and rock ‘n roll edge. There’s even a TV armed with Rock Band to make the kids (and maybe you) feel like rock stars.
2200 NE Broadway
Portland, OR 97232
503.284.3343
www.thekidsedge.com
Hours: tues-thurs 11-5 fri-sat 11-6 sun 12-5
Lovely's Fifty-Fifty The beloved Lovely Hula Hands will always be missed, but luckily owners Sarah and Jane Minnick have opened Lovely's Fifty-Fifty just a few doors down in the Boise 'hood's brand new, sustainable Numiss building. The more family-friendly restaurant serves wood-fired pizza and housemade, seasonal ice cream, as well as foodie-friendly appetizers like Belgian endive with grapefruit, olives, and lemon cream, all with a focus on local and organic suppliers. Lovely Hula Hands gift certificates will be honored here until June.
4039 N Mississippi Avenue, #101
Portland, OR 97227
503.281.4060
www.lovelysfiftyfifty.com
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m.
Pink Moon Apothecary Curious what 2010 has in store for you? I think they say it best: “Practical magic for magically practical folks!” Owner Mademoiselle Noelle uses her gifts to offer psychic readings, using tea leaves, Tarot cards, palms, and runes, as well as doing work with auras, spirit guides, animal communication, and house blessings. The Eliot neighborhood shop also creates “Southern-style, folk magic” perfumes, oils, organic soaps and bath treatments, plus custom-blended teas, herbs, candles, and other divination tools.
2023 NE MLK Boulevard
Portland, OR 97212
503.998.6616
www.pinkmoonapothecary.com
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Explore the past at Kenton Antiques. Photo: Amaren Colosi
NORTH
Kenton Antiques & Collectibles The new owners of this beloved Kenton shop are ushering in a new generation of “antiques.” The first order of business was organizing the treasures and opening up the space so shoppers could more easily explore the selection. There are still the classics—dainty gloves, old farm tools, Depression glass—but now more pop culture “artifacts” (a Snoopy sno-cone machine, Rainbow Brite, a talking ET doll) and an incredible selection of vintage magazines and catalogs. There’s also an entire book section that could be it’s own store. Reasonable prices, passionate and hilarious staff, and maybe even a café/wine bar in the future? This may be my new hangout.
8112 N Denver Avenue
Portland, OR 97217
503.285.5077
www.kentonantiquesandcollectibles.com
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. & Sunday, 12 p.m.-4 p.m.
Reviva! What did I say last month? About there being a resale clothing boutique in every neighborhood in a few years? Well, that may happen even sooner than I thought! Reviva! now has Piedmont covered, not only selling clothing, but also furniture, housewares, art, textiles, books, and accessories. Gentle-loved items and handcrafted items from local artists are sold on consignment, and inventory changes daily.
6359 NE MLK Boulevard
Portland, OR 97211
503.737.2277
www.revivapdx.com
Hours: Monday, Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. & Sunday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m.
Keep Up The Great Work Liz!
Thanks for this great tip sheet, Liz. We've already sampled Taqueria Los Gorditos and Pacific Pie Company—let's just say we'll be revisiting both. Next up: Café Velo. At this clip, perhaps a visit to Elite Kettlebell is in order, too? ;-)