I’ve learned two key things in the four months I’ve been writing this column: 1) businesses, especially restaurants, will always take longer to open than the initial announcement predicted; and 2) the stream of new Portland businesses making their debut doesn’t show any sign of drying up. You should see the list of rumors I’ve kept to follow up on—every time a place finally graduates to reality, there are three more spots in the works to take its place!
Maybe I wasn’t paying such close attention in the past, but it seems to me that more people are dreaming big and following through on their plans to realize their passion than ever before. The momentum keeps building as the year goes on, and during the past month we saw some much-anticipated projects finally open their doors—Sterling Coffee Roasters, Fieldwork Floral, Immortal Pie and Larder, Pastrygirl, a second Extracto Coffee, and Migration Brewing. I can’t wait to enjoy the fruits of their love and labor, and I hope this column becomes a sort of to-do list for you, too, to support the incredible creativity in our city.
And keep those tips comin’—I like to stay busy! Email me at newbizpdx@gmail.com.
The Bar Method
NORTHWEST
The Bar Method Since 2001, this exercise method—a combination of aerobic interval training, muscle shaping isometrics, body elongating dance conditioning, and scientific physical therapy—has taken so many cities by storm that it’s been trademarked. Now Portlanders can try the Bar Method for themselves. Classes started in the Pearl District studio late last month, with a special offer for new clients: a month of unlimited classes for only $100 (usually $200).
904 NW Hoyt Street
Portland, OR 97209
503.954.3811
portland.barmethod.com
Hours: Classes vary, check the online schedule
Breken Kitchen Justa Pasta co-founder Jessica Carfagno has moved from bucatini to biscuits at her new breakfast and lunch spot in the Northwest District. Formerly Sydney’s, Breken (which means “break” in Dutch) Kitchen serves pastries from an on-site bakery, fresh and sustainable salads and sandwiches, and coffee and tea (and coffee with tea in their signature tea lattes).
1800 NW 16th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209
503.841.6359
www.brekenkitchen.com
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. & Saturday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Mr. Jolly’s Coffee & Wine Bar Mornings offer fresh housemade mini doughnuts (free to first time visitors!) and coffee, evenings bring pasta and wine, all in a decadently vintage setting in the Pearl: crystal chandeliers, antique books and globes, chalkboard menus, and even live swing music. Sounds like a recipe to keep me jolly, day or night!
903 NW Everett Street
Portland, OR 97209
503.206.6388
www.mrjollys.com
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday & Saturday, 7 a.m.-12 a.m., Sunday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Servello Spa Room Tamara Green combined her Italian grandmother’s natural health and beauty rituals with her biology degree and lab research experience to create entirely organic and pure skincare products that have long been used at spas and sold at stores around the country. Now she’s opened her own space in the Northwest District offering specialized facials, body treatments, hand and foot care, and waxing—all designed to make the most of her incredibly effective recipes.
1720 NW Lovejoy Street, #337
Portland, OR 97209
503.888.1573
www.servellobody.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. & other times available by appointment
Sterling Coffee Roasters Coffee lovers got the best Valentine on February 14 when Coffeehouse Northwest’s Adam McGovern finally opened his micro-roaster kiosk next to Trader Joe’s in the Northwest District. He hopes the Old World-inspired space becomes an interactive experience, with customers able to watch and learn about the roasting process as they enjoy a hot cup o’ joe. Like Barista in the Pearl District, he’ll continually rotate the selection of beans, which are available to take home in reusable glass cylinders.
2120 NW Glisan Street
Portland, OR 97210
www.sterlingcoffeeroasters.com
Hours: Daily, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Umpqua Bank What can I say about Umpqua Bank that you don’t already know? They offer modern design, comfy lounge seating, free wi-fi, coffee, cookies, even movie and Wii nights. The newest branch in Northwest opened in December, and considering the Move Your Money movement, I’m looking forward to more branches of this Oregon-based bank (hint, hint, Southeast should be next!)
467 NW 23rd Avenue
Portland, OR 97210
503.219.6100
www.umpquabank.com
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. & Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
The Spice & Tea Exchange
SOUTHWEST
Spice & Tea Exchange What’s the spice of life? Well, spices. And herbs and teas and sugars and salts….life would be awfully boring without some flavor, in the most literal sense. This Downtown shop, the first on the West Coast (others in Florida, Texas, and the Carolinas) specializes in extensive traditional and exotic seasonings and teas, including over 60 signature blends and rubs, flavored sugars (green chile, raspberry, ginger), pure spices and herbs, and even offers custom blends to suit your tastes. Be careful, I’ve heard shopping (and sampling) here can become addictive.
536 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97205
503.208.2886
www.spiceandtea.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. & Sunday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m.
Fieldwork Floral. Photo by Amaren Colosi
SOUTHEAST
Fieldwork Floral We usually only think about florists on special occasions—weddings, holidays, anniversaries—but what if you just feel like brightening your day with a fresh bouquet? You could easily grab something at Freddie’s, but I recommend you pop into Megan Arambul’s sun-drenched studio in Hosford-Abernethy's Ford Building and pick from her incredible flower market. She also takes orders for gorgeous arrangements in antique containers, bouquets wrapped in vintage fabric, and yes, of course, good ole fashioned weddings.
2505 SE 11th Avenue, #272
Porland, OR 97202
503.719.1950
www.dearfieldwork.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (market on Wed & Fri)
Immortal Pie and Larder First there was Whiffies, late-night deep-fried foodie “Hot Pockets”; then there was Pacific Pie Co., with their Aussie meat pies. Now Immortal Pie and Larder in Montavilla completes the Portland savory pie trifecta, dishing out inventive fillings like coconut curry chicken, sausage apple sage, and cowgirl chili, wrapped in flaky, buttery crust. The shop also sells gourmet pantry goods including French candy, cheese, buffalo jerky, and beer and wine to wash it all down. Don’t miss the Grand Opening party this Sunday, March 7, with Daedalus wines, music by Rio Con Brio, and, of course, plenty o’ pie (4 p.m.-7:30 p.m.).
8029 SE Stark Street
Portland, OR 97215
Facebook
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Pastrygirl There is some serious baking going on in Montavilla! Along with Immortal pies and Bipartison’s sweet pies, Laura Widener has finally opened her “dessert destination” on the street, creating inventive treats like Earl Grey Cake, gluten-free brownies, and chocolate peanut butter tarts. Deeeeee-lish!
7919 SE Stark Street
Portland, OR 97215
503.254.5433
Facebook
Hours: Monday, Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Extracto Coffee House
NORTHEAST
The Dragontree at PDX One of the most organic day spas, focusing on holistic ayurvedic treatments and Chinese medicine, in one of the most rustic settings (an old carriage turnaround) in town — not the first spot I would expect to expand to the fast-paced airport. But maybe that’s exactly what’s so Portland. Other city’s airports offer sleek, modern salons and rushed treatments, but PDX travelers can relax the body and mind with Pad Abhyangha, a rhythmic Indian foot massage focusing on key energy points, or facials with pure herbal products, as well as refresh with waxing, lash and brow tinting, and makeup, even a take simple half-hour “Sweet Slumber” nap with aromatherapy, eye pack, and soothing music.
7000 NE Airport Way, Concourse C
Portland, OR 97218
503.331.1131
www.thedragontreepdx.com
Hours: Daily, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Extracto Coffee House With the addition of a second Extracto location in the building, which we’ve been waiting for since November, the corner of 15th & Prescott can now serve your needs any time of day (morning coffee, lunch at Podnah’s, cocktails and dinner at Tiga). The original café on Killingsworth has developed a cult following for their house roasted and single-origin espresso, which now takes center stage at this cozy (only 660 square feet) branch in Sabin.
1465 NE Prescott Street, Suite B
Portland, OR 97211
503.284.1380
www.extractocoffeehouse.com
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
Migration Brewing Another spot that I’ve been closely tracking since November (hey, it’s in walking distance of my apartment and across the street from one of my favorite restaurants, Pambiche!), Migration Brewing finally tapped the kegs at the end of last month and just debuted their first brew, the Migration Pale Ale, yesterday. The Kerns pub also serves up a variety of the best Oregon micros, a menu of snacks, sandwiches and salads, and Rip City happy hour with deals throughout Blazer games. It’s family-friendly until 8 p.m.
2828 NE Glisan Street
Portland, OR 97232
503.206.5221
www.migrationbrewing.com
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 3 p.m.-12 a.m. & Sunday, 12 p.m.-10 p.m.
The Fixin' To
NORTH
Divina Kenton seems poised to be Portland's next up-and-coming neighborhood—M. Ward even played an impromptu acoustic set at Posies Café last week! Cocktail lounge Divina hopes to take advantage of the buzz; they’ve debuted with a small but delicious food and drink menu, with plans to expand the offerings and start game and movie nights. It sounds like it’ll be the place to hang in the summer, with outdoor seating and a view of Kenton Park.
2135 N Willis Boulevard
Portland, OR 97217
503.933.8548
The Fixin’ To Portland Monthly Senior Editor Bart Blasengame grew up in Arkansas—as he told Eater PDX, “at one time or another, [both he and cook Grant Miller] lived in actual trailer parks”—so don’t call him a hipster imposter hopping on the blue collar trend with his new Southern-style bar in St. Johns. Along with his wife, Marli, her cousin, and fellow southern boy Miller running the kitchen, The Fixin’ To hopes to stay true to the distinct St. Johns character while enticing neighbors from all over Portland to make the trek northward. Mason jars, Frito Pie, picnic tables in the courtyard, even a vintage painting bedecked mantle over the fireplace—it has all the fixins to become a favorite Portland hang out.
8218 N Lombard Street
Portland, OR 97203
503.477.4995
www.thefixinto.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. & Sunday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m.
Plew’s Brews The former Plew’s Market has been reborn has a beer lover’s paradise—at least that’s the plan. Randy Plew transformed the St. Johns mart into a taproom, with plans to feature over ten taps of rotating Oregon micros, along with hearty pub-type food, brewing supplies for sale, and growler refills for only $7 (growlers themselves are just four bucks if you don’t yet own one). Word on the street is that he’s planning to add sidewalk seating as it warms up and even launch a St. Johns Brew Festival in September.
8409 N Lombard Street
Portland, OR 97203
Yelp
Hours: Just pop in, Randy will probably be there!
Ooolala! So many new things to try. Thanks for the great roundup.
A group of us recently ventured north to The Fixin' To. The Frito Pie, Rotel Tomato Dip and other southern delights will definitely keep us coming back for more. Love the low-key vibe. (Looking forward to sipping cocktails on the patio!) Seems destined to become a much-loved neighborhood hangout—even for neighbors (like our group!) from Concordia, Woodlawn and the Pearl.
Oooh, nice work as usual! Especially cxcited to try Pastrygirl –I want to eat my way through Montavilla 'til it hurts.
LOL! Montavilla's business district is fast becoming one of my favorite (and most frequent) destinations. I feel like I need a diet plan to eat my way through Montavilla. I'm pretty sure I'm eaten my weight in pumpkin oatmeal pancakes (!!!) at Country Cat. Not sure my body can take stops at Pastrygirl and Immortal Pie and Larder, too. (But I intend to give it a try, anyways.)
You guys are too cute - and making my tummy rumble! You don't know how many times I look up my own article when I'm trying to find a yummy new place to eat. Our tastebuds are so lucky to live here!