Category Archives: Local Businesses

By Tamara Anne Fowler | CNA Media Team

You are sure you hear Frank Sinatra croon “My Way” as you enter furniture store A Life Designed (ALD).

Owner and curator Randy Sloan created ALD 4.5 years ago while living in Scottsdale, Arizona. His style leans toward “sophisticated man cave,” Randy explained. “Martinis, the Rat Pack, low lighting, leather.”
But, when he makes purchases for ALD, Randy does not speculate. He buys only what he loves, what speaks to him. And, as this is the case, many clients find more than one piece to purchase. They all work together.

While Randy was living in Scottsdale, he moved five times within three years. Each time he needed to downsize, and each time he sold his excess items on Craigslist.

During one of those downsizings a husband and wife contacted him. They were buying furniture for their son in Soho. They were scavenging Craigslist for pieces. They were astonished by all that Randy was selling.

“Your taste is exactly what our son loves,” he was told. “Are you an interior designer? You should be.” The couple asked what he would charge for everything: couches, art work, everything. They cleaned him out, packed everything in their trailer and headed off to New York.

ALD started as an online business in 2013 – ALDPDX.com – which thrives to this day. Randy buys a lot from Los Angeles estate sales and people moving.

He has clients in Toronto, Scottsdale and even Tokyo. Shipping alone cost a Tokyo client twice what he paid for a 1950s midcentury modern desk.

Scottsdale was getting expensive and Randy had no real storefront. Coming to Portland, Randy looked in the Pearl, but it would have limited him. “There was no storefront. I would have been selling out of my apartment just like in Scottsdale,” he said.

Randy got on Craigslist. A space had just become available in the Alberta Arts District. He moved in at the tail end of August and opened ALD in September. It’s at 4966 N.E. 14th Ave. Current hours are Mondays – Fridays 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., and evenings and weekends by appointment by calling 360.359.8458.

Now that Randy has his own shop, he has the freedom to add vendors. The inaugural vendor is a candle maker out of Brooklyn, Urban Sundry. The candles emit scents that are unmistakably masculine.

Randy plans to set up gallery showings. He would not take commissions for any of the pieces sold. He would be doing it primarily to share community.

Tamara is Edit Kitten, a writer with 20-plus years of experience offering a softer, gentler approach to editing and coaching. Her personal editors – Armani, Max Factor and Spicey’D – are also her cats. Visit her at EditKitten.com or contact her at Tamara@editkitten.com.

By Joel Dippold | CNA Media Team

Concordia residents just got another great reason to go out and drink beer, with the recent opening of Imperial Bottle Shop and Taproom at 2006 N.E. Alberta St.

Imperial features a well-curated selection of bottles and 22 high-quality beers on tap – and two wines, three ciders and even a sake – complemented by an inviting brick-and-wood interior.

The husband-wife team of Alex Kurnellas and Shawn Stackpoole were living in Concordia, right behind Thai Noon, when they decided to open their first business. But in spite of – or because of – the smell of Thai cooking wafting through their windows and the fact that Alex’s father and grandfather had owned restaurants, Alex and Shawn wanted to work in the world of beer.

“We opened because we loved beer,” Shawn said. “We didn’t say, ‘Hey, beer is a growing thing, let’s cash in.'”

But they couldn’t find the right retail space in northeast and ended up opening their first shop on southeast Division Street, just as development there was exploding. All those upscale housing developments were good for business but, with the opening of the Alberta taproom, Shawn reported, “It’s nice to be back in the neighborhood.

“One of the rewarding experiences of opening a bar was becoming part of the community,” she said on a recent afternoon and, as if on cue, a customer stopped by the table for a discussion of where to go for the best chicken wings.

Shawn and Alex hope to cement their ties to the northeast community by hosting fundraisers for local school and community groups. Their event at the Division location raised money to buy uniforms for the Cleveland High School marching band.

The tap list also reflects their interest in community, with its emphasis on local: about 75 percent of the beers are local, and there are no imports or beers from the megabreweries. Their ever-evolving tap list is online at ImperialBottleShop. com/alberta.

“It’s pretty amazing what beers can be,” Alex explained. “You look at wine and it’s basically red or white. But with beer, you have a range that’s like the difference between a Chihuahua and a St. Bernard.”

There’s no kitchen, but outside food is actively encouraged. “Thankfully, if you want grab and go, you’ve got so much here,” Shawn said.

And if you like to drink beer, there’s so much to like about Imperial Bottle Shop and Taproom.

Joel is a freelance writer and editor who has lived in Concordia since 2000.

By Nancy Varekamp, CNews Editor

Soon this month, 4520 N.E. 42nd Ave. will be the latest place for people who want to move.

Call it exercise, fitness or movement. Our 42nd Avenue sponsors the new business and calls it “community in motion,” (com)motion for short. The parentheses are silent.

Collaborative efforts between Our 42nd Avenue, Theresia Munywoki and community members are funding the build out. Once open, Theresia will manage the space and oversee its operation while acting as liaison between teachers.

Classes may range from quiet, gentle yoga to the less quiet voguing, Zumba, dance and martial arts. Although no one will be turned away, the emphasis at (com)motion is on teachers and students of diverse backgrounds.

“We want underrepresented teachers to have a place to teach and for underrepresented people to have a place to come to learn,” Theresia explained. “Portland has a shortage of diverse spaces and a shortage of spaces for diverse people.

“So I’m reaching out to teachers of color, body inclusive teachers, teachers with disabilities and queer teachers,” she explained. “This is a place for diverse people to be seen, and to see each other.

“It’s important to make space for that. Our goal is for everyone to think this is a place where they fit in.” A longtime yoga practitioner – and now certified yoga instructor – plus a 16-year veteran of various dance styles, Theresia is enjoying the job.

“I’ve worked as a manager before, but never on a project like this,” she said with a laugh. Now she and business partner Laura Voss are involved with the process from meeting teachers, to inspections, to convening with Nick and Risa Boyer, the builders/owners of Makers Row.

And she’s learned to be patient with delays. “The rain slowed down the beginning of construction. Even the ash impacted us because construction workers were released early a couple of days when the air quality got bad, and when we were nearing completion.”

Makers Row is a three-story project, with (com)motion as one of two businesses – along with Rawdacious Desserts – on the ground floor. Nineteen apartments share the rest of the building.

As of press time, (com)motion’s grand opening was being planned for some time in October. For details, contact Theresia at 971.217.8240 or Theresia.commotion@gmail.com, or visit commotionpdx.org.

By Nancy Varekamp, CNews Editor

Eden just got bigger. So did its menu of meals and treats to tempt you.

The Back to Eden 500 – square foot bakery storefront now has a neighboring 1,193-square-foot café that offers breakfast, Sunday brunch, lunch and dinner.

It’s the latest in the ever-growing business for John Blomgren and Garrett Jones. They first opened in 2007 as a wholesale bakery, complete with organic garden, in a house at 58th Avenue and Killingsworth Street.

“By 2009, we realized we wanted a different experience,” John recalled. “We wanted to connect with the community. We wanted to see people enjoy our baked goods.”

They leased the small space that’s now called the Back to Eden Dessert Bar at 2217 N.E. Alberta, and reduced their wholesale sales.

When a building behind the new Back to Eden Café at 2215 N.E. Alberta became available in 2011, they moved the kitchen there.

In 2013, the 3,000-square–foot space behind the original shop became available, and now serves as office and storage space.

Notice the growth spurts are in odd-numbered years?

In 2015, they were asked to join a food cart pod at S.E. 28th Place and Division Street. “It’s more like a shop than a cart,” John said of the wood exterior. That year they also resumed more of their wholesale business.

Each of the three retail outlets carry the same branding, with a pastel color palette that’s clean, quiet and refreshing.

What began with a vegan cupcake and two employees – John and Garrett – in 2007 now tops 40 employees and countless edible offerings.

John – a graduate of the school of hard knocks in managing the accounting, HR and payroll – credits the business’s success to the creativity and innate ability of self-taught vegan baker Garrett.

Five years ago, their response to customer requests for gluten-free products was so successful, they dedicated the kitchen to gluten-free ingredients.

“Everything is equal or better than the original recipes,” John reported.

Catering to customers’ health and environmental consciousness comes naturally to the business owners.

“We source our ingredients carefully and, as a business, we partner with organizations that agree with our environmental, political and social justice perspectives,” John pointed out. “We use our platforms to advocate for people who don’t have their own platforms.”

Has that cost them any business?

“No, we’ve found people want to do business with those who are aligned with their own values. We’ve received a really positive response.”

By Tyler Bullen, CNA Media Team

Longtime Concordia resident James Dixon opened Dixon’s Rib Pit Bar-B-Que in May in the parking lot of the former Rose’s Ice Cream.

The new business marks a third newcomer to the block’s restaurant scene in the past 18 months, following Pizza Jerk and Red Sauce, which both opened in 2016.

He was excited to locate on 42nd Avenue, where he’d been eyeing what he considers the right situation for years. James is a dedicated supporter of northeast Portland’s small business scene, having owned multiple businesses – including 30 years serving barbecue.

Born in Madera, California, James arrived in Portland in 1971 after serving two years as a Marine. He viewed Portland as a complete turnaround from California’s Central Valley. “It was hot and dry there, and Portland is green, with fresh air and stuff growing.”

He began work here as a pastor, and still serves at the Broken Church of God in Christ United, as well as the jurisdictional pastor for the church in Washington state.

James bought his first restaurant at Interstate Avenue and Jarrett Street in 1989. He acquired a second location at 9th Avenue and Broadway Street, and ran both with the help of his family.

MAX construction on Interstate in 2004 changed traffic patterns on the street and prompted him to close that location in favor of one on Alberta Street, first in the Rexall Building at 24th Avenue and later in a food cart. He’s always served barbecue – beef brisket, pulled pork, pork ribs and chicken. By sticking to the basics, he aims to keep the quality of the food high.

He considers his life successful, claiming he’s accomplished nearly everything he’s wanted. His aspirations for his business on 42nd, however, aren’t fulfilled yet. James plans to move into a full cart with outdoor seating at some point, but intends to remain outside the adjacent building, which will be occupied soon by Los Pepitos Tacos.

Throughout his time in northeast Portland, James has seen many changes, but still considers Portland the ideal place to be. “You can have it the way you want to have it here, even now. If you know what you want, you can make it happen here.”

After trying lunch or dinner at Dixon’s Rib Pit Bar-B-Que, you might be lucky enough to hear one of his observations on life, like this one, “Everything that is now is a sign of the times. Nothing is going to be as it used to be, but in the end every thing is going to work out.”

Tyler and his family live in east Concordia. He serves on the Concordia Neighborhood Association Board of Directors and is vice chair of its Land Use & Transportation Committee.

By Nancy Varekamp, CNews Editor

One year operating a fish and chips shop on Alberta Street convinced Aaron Peterson and Cedric Burton their concept was great, but the location wasn’t. It took another year to secure the new location at 5302 N.E. 42nd, and the move in April has paid off.

Renamed 42nd Avenue Fish & Chips, the restaurant has increased business by 75 percent and boasts an appreciative following, Aaron said.

“They couldn’t find us on Alberta,” he pointed out. Crowded sidewalks and limited parking worked against them.

Recommendations, a parking lot and A-frame signs at Killingsworth drive new customers to the new location between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. seven days a week. “We plan to be here for 10 years or more,” Aaron added.

One of the differences they’ve noticed at the new location is ethnicity. Aaron estimates half the customers now are people of color and the other half are white. On Alberta the ratio was 75:25.

But there’s one thing they all have in common. “They sit down, eat and give us high praises,” Cedric pointed out. Praises also come online from customers who take their food to go, and others who order delivery through Grubhook.

“We’re pretty proud of the 5-star ratings we have on Facebook, Yelp and Yahoo,” Aaron added.

Fish choices are cod, catfish, tilapia and basa. The latter is a low-fat Asian fish. “Most people haven’t heard of it,” Cedric said. “But when you taste it, you fall in love.”

The basa and cod are the restaurant’s top sellers, and Aaron’s fish-on-a-stick appeals to people who want to eat on the run. It’s the fish version of a corndog – hold the mustard.

All fish is fried in a gluten-free, cornmeal-based batter with Southern seasoning. It’s the recipe of Aaron’s mother.

“Down South, we always cooked like that,” Cedric reported. He’s originally from Selma, Alabama. Aaron is from Los Angeles.

The two met as students at Adams High School, which stood only a block away from their new enterprise. They spent 30 years in separate careers. Aaron owned a newspaper, grocery store and barber shop, and he worked in a funeral home and as a band promoter. Cedric worked for Pendleton Woolen Mills.

“Owning a restaurant is a blessing, especially when people like your food,” Aaron pointed out. “What more could anyone ask for? It’s an American dream.”

By Carrie Wenninger – CNA Media Team

Local crafter and ingenious upcycler Mari Bartoo Jacobson of The Make House’s Rutabaga Redesign is preparing to shop the June 23 – 25 Concordia Neighborhood Association Annual Yard Sale. She’ll be looking for inspiring objects, doodads and diamonds in the rough.

What’s upcycling? It’s the process of bringing new, useful and often beautiful life to old, discarded materials. It’s the embodiment of the idea that “One person’s garbage is another’s treasure.”

Q: Why do you do what you do?
A: I‘ve always been keenly aware of our often ugly impact on the environment around us while, at the same time being deeply enamored of the beauty we can bring to light. I endeavor to turn what would otherwise become part of a landfill into something new and interesting. I also love the challenge of uncovering the loveliness of old, grungy metals and woods. Sometimes you really have to look. It’s a lot like finding buried treasure.

Q: How did you become interested in upcycling?
A: My dad was a carpenter when I was young, and I remember always feeling empowered to build things: tree houses, a rubber band gun, a marimba – those are a few of the things I built with my dad. In my family there was a lot of emphasis placed on “walking lightly on the earth.” So what I do now feels like a beautiful outgrowth of those opportunities and values I was given growing up.

Q: Where do you do your work?
A: I have a workshop space in The Make House at 1732 N.E. Alberta St. Six other artists and I have workspace in the building, and I also curate a retail space on the main floor called Rutabaga Redesign. My shop features local, handcrafted work from over 50 different artists and craftspeople, myself included.

Q: Explain the name.
A: Rutabaga Redesign is the name simply because I really like how it rolls off the tongue. Say it out loud. Isn’t that fun?

Carrie is a Concordia resident and lives on 29th Avenue. As a freelance writer with a penchant for poetic prose, she tries to look for the humor in everyday life. She also is a mom and world traveler who, with her partner, owns a company that restores and repurposes vintage homes. Contact her at WurdGurl@gmail.com.

By Susan Trabucco, CNews Managing Editor

The Cottage Pantry at 30th Avenue and Ainsworth Street celebrated its one-year anniversary with food and fun Aug. 8. The Concordia neighborhood coffee and baked goods café is the brainchild of proprietor and native Portlander Judy Louie, a self-taught baking aficionado who had always wanted her own restaurant. Now, with a year of experience under her belt, she’s feeling positive about her entrepreneurial adventure.

“I love the location and the people,” she said. “It’s awesome, and I can bike to work from where I live near Alberta.”

Judy also enjoys the café’s location near an English language school, which attracts students from all over the globe who are intent on learning English, which is required for local college enrollment eligibility.

“When I dreamed of opening my own place, I imagined I would do it in another country,” she explained. “With proximity to this school and the many types of wonderful people that brings to my café, I feel like I’m in a foreign land.”

Cottage Pantry is open 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.