Now Open: 16 New Portland Neighborhood Businesses Opened in March

There’s a commercial I’ve been seeing on television a lot lately, with career folks talking about what they really want to do when they grow up. That spirit of reinvention, the belief that it’s never too late to follow a dream, is something I saw echoed over and over again as I learned about the new local businesses on this month’s list: the lawyer running an antique shop, the bookkeeper retailing her clients’ creations.

And if it isn’t always someone making an extreme change of industry, it’s a business that’s found success in one incarnation branching into something new, not afraid to experiment with new concepts, locations, goods, and menus. If there's a town that’s the perfect place to shed the rigid how-to’s, the shoulds, the supposed to’s, it’s Portland. So I hope maybe you’re inspired by these folks to try something new yourself. Who knows, maybe it will turn into a fabulous new business I’ll be writing about soon!  And if you or anyone you know is taking the plunge into wild and wonderful world of entrepreneurship, let me know at newbizpdx@gmail.com.

Korean Fried Chicken at Koifusion@1

NORTHWEST

Koifusion@1  After attracting a ravenous following (literally) by tweeting their whereabouts around town since last May, the roving Korean BBQ truck is pioneering new territory once again with this new pop-up restaurant. Koi Fusion has partnered with the former Solo Bar to serve their mouth-watering, obsession-inducing tacos, burritos, quesadillas, sliders, and K-dogs in the subterranean Pearl District space below OfficeMax. The bigger kitchen and full bar have attracted Chef Joe Anderson (formerly at Carlyle) and Bar Manager Joshua Palmer (from Typhoon/Bo Bar), who expanded the menu to include artisan cocktails, house-made infusions, and Korean Fried Chicken (the only place you can find this cult favorite in Oregon). Look for new lunch hours, happy hour, and full dinner in the intimate lounge setting in the coming days, as well as future KoiFusion@ collaborations around town. And, of course, if you still want the fun of working for your food, the truck will remain on the streets dishing out the deliciousness.

1300 NW Lovejoy Street
Portland, OR 97209
www.koifusionpdx.com
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 4 p.m.-12 a.m. (expanding soon to Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. & 5 p.m.-12 a.m.)

Beauty Bar. Photo courtesy of Beauty Bar.

SOUTHWEST

Beauty Bar  Finally, Portland has officially joined the ranks of the cool kids! Okay, I’m kidding, we’ve always been too cool for school. But we are now in good company with New York, Brooklyn, San Francisco, Chicago, Vegas, and Austin with our very own Beauty Bar, the retro beauty parlor-themed (and hipster-favorite) hot spot. The historic, two-story Old Town-Chinatown space, within walking distance of Berbati’s, Shanghai Tunnel, and Valentines, received a makeover in pink and gold, with vintage salon chairs and hair dryers, nightly DJs, and of course, a photo booth. Don’t miss the Martini & Manicure Happy Hour (both for just $10) weekdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 6 p.m. ‘til midnight.

111 SW Ash Street
Portland, OR 97204
503.224.0773
www.beautybar.com/portland
Hours: Monday-Friday, 4 p.m.-2:30 a.m. & Saturday, 6 p.m.-2:30 a.m.

Switch Shoes & Clothing  For the past four years, Rina Menashe and Jennifer Robinson have brought a wordly sophistication to ladies’ feet all over Portland. The unique, timeless shoes at Switch come from Israeli and other international designers who often can’t be found in Portland and sometimes even in the U.S. And this month they’ve expanded their Multnomah Village shop to carry clothing and accessories in the same vein. Check out the new romantic chic space—designed by Rina with lots of reused materials—and the new inventory—a wide variety of styles and price points—at the Grand Reopening/Anniversary celebration on April 8 (6 p.m.), which kicks off a four-day sale. And make sure you try their new line of signature Possibility teas.

7871 SW Capitol Highway
Portland, OR 97219
503.445.4585
www.switch-shoes.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. & Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Magic Hour. Photo courtesy of Magic Hour.

SOUTHEAST

Bare Bones Café  The new tenants of the old Muddy Waters coffee shop have, as their name implies, simplified things. The lighter, brighter, modernized space in Sunnyside is welcoming in itself, before you even see the menu, which features the usual (coffee, tea, pastries) as well as homemade pie, Acme donuts, and gourmet sandwiches like pulled pork with creamy mustard slaw and smoked keilbasa with sauerkraut, spicy mustard, basil, and horseradish havarti cheese.

2908 SE Belmont Street
Portland, OR 97214
503.719.7128
Facebook
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. & Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Cheese Bar  Steve Jones, probably Portland’s premiere cheesemonger, has expanded his gourmet horizons beyond the counter at Square Deal Wines, much to the delight of foodies all over town (and especially those lucky neighbors in Mt. Tabor). His new Cheese Bar is one part cheese counter, one part charcuterie (thanks to Olympic Provisions), one part gourmet grocery (and perfect picnic shop!), and entirely neighborhood hangout, with a bar counter, tables, a menu with sandwiches and salads, and yep, beer and wine as carefully selected as the food.

6031 SE Belmont Street
Portland, OR 97215
503.222.6014
www.cheese-bar.com
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Magic Hour  Eclectic, Euro-vintage Nationale moved down the street to the 811 building across from Doug Fir, and local designer Dawn Sharp moved right in to the Buckman spot with her “live boutique” that showcases indie designers like Honey Owens, Scout, Miss KK, and Alexandra Grecco. The dressing room-sized shop is the perfect place for experimenting with new looks, from Sharp’s fantasy drapes and animal prints to Owens’ graphic mini dresses.

2730 E Burnside
Portland, OR 97212
www.magichourboutique.blogspot.com
Hours: Sunday-Monday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m. & Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Open Space Café  Calling itself a “conservationist café,” Open Space is a new Creston-Kenilworth coffee shop that serves local products (Stumptown coffee, Black Sheep vegan pastries, Dave’s Killer Bread) and encourages sustainable practices like bringing your own mug. They plan to expand into weekend brunch and grown-up drinks featuring local liquors. Earth Day (April 22) will launch recurring info sessions and demos on recycling, composting, green cleaning, and ingredient sourcing.

2815 SE Holgate Boulevard
Portland, OR 97202
503.233.6736
www.openspacecafe.com
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. & Saturday-Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Tasty n Sons

NORTHEAST

Café Hibiscus  Swiss is IT. Grüner brought Alpine cuisine to local foodies’ attention, and now Café Hibiscus puts their own more casual and homespun, but no less delicious, spin on it in the King neighborhood. Co-owner Jennie Wyss grew up in Hawaii with her Swiss father running a successful—yep, you guessed it—Swiss restaurant. Since 2007, she and friend Dani Thiel have been whipping up his signature salad dressing, now sold at 24 regional stores, and with the new café, can showcase more of his recipes, like Rösti (hash brown sautéed with bacon and onions), Croute Emmental (ham, Swiss, and mushroom cream sauce toasted on bread), and of course, Wienerschnitzel and many different salads all tossed with Martin’s Swiss Dressing.

4950 NE 14th Avenue
Portland, OR 97211
503.477.9224
www.martinswissdressing.com
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Chocolate Craft Studio  After 20 years creating edible centerpieces out of chocolate and sugar, and selling her materials and kits online to anyone wanting to try their hand at some sweet crafts, Peggy bought an adorable Victorian house in Boise and has opened the doors to a studio space available for parties (kids’ birthdays, girls nights out) and designated drop-in times that include materials and guidance. Check out the first round of projects this weekend in honor of Easter: Put a Face on that Lollipop ($7.95), Bunny in the Blooms ($10.95), Bunny Hop ($18.95), and Panoramic Egg Scene ($18.95).

3936 N Williams Avenue
Portland, OR 97212
503.505.0481
www.chocolatecraftstudio.com
Hours this weekend (future drop-in times will vary): Friday, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. & Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Florio Bakery  Pastry chef Carrie Birrer was the baking pioneer who turned the corner of SE 28th & Ankeny, now home to Crema, into a morning destination before she sold the spot in 2004. She returned last year with a line of bake-at-home frozen pastries sold at select local stores, but is now back full-force with a retail counter in Woodlawn that serves up her fresh from the oven pastries, scones, cookies, cupcakes, as well as Trailhead coffee, which is sourced from women-only growers and roasted in Portland.

435 NE Rosa Parks Way
Portland, OR 97211
503.928.9444
www.floriobakery.com
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. & Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Mattress Lot  Eat from local farmers, wear local designers, hang paintings from local artists…sleep on a locally-made mattress? Why not! Owners (and longtime Eastsiders) Michael and Mary Ruth Hanna strive to create a friendly, low-pressure atmosphere in their Kerns store to help you find affordable and environmentally-friendly mattresses made in Oregon and Washington. They also stock gorgeous wood platform beds.

2406 NE Sandy Boulevard
Portland, OR 97232
503.407.4409
www.mattresslot.com
Hours: Monday & Wednesday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m.

Modern Domestic  Alberta Street has a new jewel in its DIY crown—Modern Domestic sewing studio. The airy King neighborhood space features two classrooms, seating area, and plenty of open collaborative space. With machine sales and repair and a wide, ever-changing variety of classes, it’s the perfect place for newbies to learn and devoted seamstresses to find new inspiration.

1408 NE Alberta Street
Portland, OR 97211
503.808.9910
www.moderndomesticpdx.com
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tasty n Sons  Talk about fast turnover (pretty much unheard of in the restaurant industry)! After Anju closed after only a few months, John Gorham (of Toro Bravo) opened his new brunch spot in the same Boise neighborhood spot not even two months after rumors first hit the blogs. He’s not doing breakfast in the traditional way, either. The menu, which changes often, features international flavors and preparations, some reminiscent of his Spanish tapas restaurant, and also like Toro Bravo, they are designed to be shared family-style and don’t always come out at the same time. It makes a visit to Tasty n Sons a vibrant, communal adventure. And you can always get the biscuit sandwich (with fried chicken or sausage) or French toast (with rhubarb) if you’re in the mood for something more familiar.

3808 N Williams Avenue, Suite C
Portland, OR 97212
503.621.1400
www.tastynsons.com
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (open seven days soon)

Tolivar  A new shop/gallery devoted entirely to local designers and artists: I’m a believer that we can never have too many of those! Marion Slakie opened the Kerns space to showcase the beautiful work of her many bookkeeping clients, such as enamel animal pins and pendants by Happycake, tees by Little Red Press, and fashions by Heather Treadway and Chelsea Erhart. Check out the rotating gallery shows starting in May.

811 E Burnside #119
Portland, OR 97214
503.505.7273
www.tolivarportland.com
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Lucky Labrador's Overlook Tap Room

NORTH

The Consignment Shop  Dealing in antiques, first edition books, vintage appliances and clothing is a welcome change from being an attorney, says this shop’s owner. We’re much more excited, too, to browse through old quilts and fabulous vintage apparel rather than visit the law firm that used to house the space. Now the Piedmont building is full of fabulous discoveries from estate sales and consigners, and since it’s still under the radar (well, maybe until now!), you may have your first pick of the bunch. Visit before the word gets out.

6019 NE MLK Jr. Boulevard
Portland, OR 97212
503.735.9100
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Lucky Labrador Tap Room  Pups and their beer-loving humans have already been flocking to Lucky Lab’s fourth location in the former Roux space, which Lucky Lab folks say has been “distress[ed]…into a comfy Labish pub,” which serves 14 beers on tap, along with cider, wine, and the usual quality grub (pizza, sandwiches, salads, and soup). Let’s hope they get the solar-powered brewing in this Overlook hangout soon!

1700 N Killingsworth Street
Portland, OR 97217
503.505.9511
www.luckylab.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-12 a.m. & Sunday, 12 p.m.-12 a.m. (minors welcome until 10 p.m.)

Editor's Note: This article has been revised to include Florio Bakery's correct address (and neighborhood!). We regret the error.