Recently, the auto-wrecking salvage yard at 9245 E Burnside Street closed permanently with a handwritten note on the door reading “Closed going out of business.” The property owners sold the expansive land to a developer last week, and that buyer will construct 16 single-family homes on the nearly one-acre parcel. Cleanup crews are working to remove the remnants of the site’s industrial past ahead of redevelopment.
Image from Portland Maps with MV News illustrations
Each two-story home will have an attached garage and offer residents just under 1,500 square feet of living space. The 400-foot-long property has vehicle access along its eastern edge via an unpaved alleyway that extends from E Burnside to NE Glisan Street. Developing the homes fronted on the alley would allow for 25-foot wide lots with 15-foot wide structures, similar to traditional split-lot skinny infill housing.
Burnside Used Truck Parts was the primary business at this location. Several other entities used this address for automotive repair services and vehicle acquisition. According to the business’s now offline website, the wrecking company began operation in 1949. The decades of vehicle salvage at the site have left substantial vehicular debris on the property. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality cited the business for improper tire storage earlier this year. However, that infraction is minor, considering the type of work practiced at the site over the years. An excavator is on site clearing the back lots and reworking the base soil. The developer will demolish the office building after the city approves those permits.
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The Clogs-N-More shoe store closed its Montavilla location at 7821 SE Stark Street on July 23rd, consolidating operations to its Westmoreland location. JaMpdx will expand from their shared workspace in the back of the storefront to occupy the entire shop, developing a retail space. The unique ceramics maker predominantly sells online and at events, making this their first dedicated store.
The new retail space will take on the name Glaze and offer various products alongside the company’s hand-crafted products. “We’ll carry our own JaMpdx ceramics as well as bring in some other products we love – tea, honey, candles, some work by other artists – with intentions to expand our selection as business allows,” explained Meghan Radick of JaMpdx. Reworking the front space will take a month to complete. The JaMpdx owners anticipate holding a Grand Opening by September 1st.
Clogs-N-More and JaMpdx took over the former Pottery Fun location on Stark Street in September 2020. Meghan Radick worked for Clogs-N-More for 12 years, so when the shoe store owner found the Montavilla space with kilns in the backroom, they instantly thought of sharing a new retail location with the former employee. At the time, each business only needed part of the square footage available, and JaMpdx was primarily interested in production space. The cooperative leasing worked out for three years, but changes in both companies have shifted, presenting this new opportunity.
Expect signage to change over the next few weeks as the interior takes on a new design. Follow the JaMpdx Instagram for updates about the storefront’s transformation and opening dates. People looking for Clogs-N-More should visit their 6809 SE Milwaukie Avenue location eight miles away. That location is open seven days a week.
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On July 1st, Thai Fresh at 8409 SE Division Street closed its doors after nearly 15 years. Owners Vong Soutavong and Aroon Onchumchit made the difficult choice to cease operations after a series of events prompted the couple’s eventual relocation to Thailand later this year. HÂP Restaurant will move into the space, opening later this summer with startup help from the Thai Fresh owners.
Thai Fresh began in 2008 after Soutavong and Onchumchit lost their jobs. After a decade of employment, the company they worked for sold, leaving them searching for new opportunities. A family-run restaurant was an attractive option for the partners. However, they faced challenges getting started in a difficult economy. “We looked around for a couple of months, then we gave up because the rent and leases were so crazy expensive,” remembered Soutavong. He started working at another restaurant but kept an eye on available spaces. “One morning, I just looked at Craigslist and saw the ad for a price that we were looking for,” said Soutavong.
The storefront was appealing, with affordable rent, but the new restaurateurs were concerned that they may not thrive around existing businesses. “At first, we were scared because we looked around the neighborhood, and it was all Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants in that area. I was like, ‘Oh my God, we’ll be the only Thai restaurant,'” explained Soutavong. However, despite early concern, they signed the lease and began building their restaurant with Soutavong’s older sister, Khemphone, as the head chef. Even before opening, people from the neighborhood would offer encouragement for the new food option, affirming their decision to open on SE Division Street.
That early support from neighbors was essential to Soutavong and Onchumchit’s sense of community. They feel strongly that their business needs to offer more than food to neighbors. Since opening, Thai Fresh has supported numerous school fundraisers and educational events for students interested in business. The owners supported the formation of the Jade District and have catered many community events throughout the region. Their social impact in the area is nearly as well known as their freshly prepared food.
Despite loyal customers and a good reputation, they have faced many challenges. When Thai Fresh opened in 2008, the country was experiencing economic hardships, and people cut back on spending, including eating out. Even in that environment, the business took root and expanded into the neighboring storefront to add more dining space. The area grew in the first eleven years, and business was thriving. The pandemic nearly toppled that success, as it had for many restaurants. However, Thai Fresh survived shutdowns and closed dining rooms, again with the community’s support. Ultimately, Vong Soutavong feels the street reconfiguration of SE Division instigated his restaurant’s closure.
Left to right: Aroon Onchumchit, Mayor Ted Wheeler, Vong Soutavong. Image courtesy Thai Fresh
In 2022, the combined TriMet Division Transit Project and the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Outer Division Safety Project completed construction. These projects reconfigured much of the street, adding raised medians that prevent many left turns and protected bike lanes that substantially reduced street parking. Engineers removed Thai Fresh’s curbside parking and replaced it with a protected bike lane and two parking spaces between the bike traffic and the travel lanes. Thai Fresh guests must share those spaces with customers from the other businesses on the block. Soutavong observed a dramatic customer decrease after crews installed the raised medians and reduced the parking options. Although people may readjust to SE Division’s changes over time, waiting for that to happen was not feasible, making it time for the Thai Fresh owners to move on.
Vong Soutavong and Aroon Onchumchit will move to Onchumchit’s native Thailand to care for family and plan their next chapter in life. Chef Khemphone will retire knowing she held the highest standards for preparing fresh foods from scratch. That insistence on made-to-order cooking attracted many longtime customers with food allergies. Staff always considered any special request and could easily omit an ingredient to satisfy a guest.
The Thai Fresh owners are now helping the HÂP Restaurant staff prepare for a successful opening. Soutavong is already raving about HÂP’s food and the chef chosen for his steamed buns. “His job is to perfect that [dish] and trust me, he definitely perfected it,” remarked Soutavong. Over the last month, Soutavong and Onchumchit have repeatedly thanked their customers and business community for welcoming their restaurant and family into the community. They are sad to say goodbye to all their friends but remain optimistic about their coming adventure and the next chapter of life.
By
Jacob Loeb
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On July 22nd, Mixteca Restaurant announced on the company’s Instagram account that they plan to cease operations at their restaurant and bar, refocusing on the original business model of catering and farmers’ market food service. Staff will offer the final dinner service at 2320 SE 82nd Avenue on July 23rd from 4 to 9 p.m. This closure concludes a three-year effort to provide cuisine from Oaxaca, Mexico, at SE 82nd Avenue and Division Street.
Doña Paula Asunción was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, and brought her lifetime of cooking experience with her to Portland when she began working in the food industry in 1994. With training and support from Hacienda CDC’s Micro Merchant program, she began selling tamales and mole sauces at the St. John’s Farmers’ Market in 2012, eventually forming Mixteca Catering LLC in 2013. By 2016, they had a space at the Portland Mercado and the Cartlandia food cart pod (now called Springwater Cart Park). Those successful operations led to the expansion into a full restaurant in 2019.
Mixteca took over the former Buckley’s Catch Sports Pub on SE 82nd Avenue and transformed it into a space with outdoor seating and a welcoming exterior. As work began upgrading the new restaurant, the pandemic set in. Their first year open faced shutdowns and seating limits, followed by years of diminished business and vandalism. The official closing message on social media references those hardships and explains other reasons for the change in business operations.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the closing of Mixteca Restaurant. Our last last day at our location is tomorrow. These past three years have been incredibly challenging and rewarding. We opened at the onset of the pandemic and the experience has taught us a lot, however, the recent break ins and slow business made us rethink how to best move forward post pandemic. We want to thank all of our wonderful guests and employees for supporting us over these past years. What began as a dream venture grew into a place that had welcomed guests from all over Oregon and beyond who were looking for a small piece of Oaxacan food. We are extremely humbled that so many embraced our restaurant and that we were able to succeed as long as we had, in a very challenging time. For a restaurant to survive and thrive in such unprecedented times is an accomplishment of which we can all be proud. And we could not have done it without all of you. Please continue to follow our page, visit us at the local farmer’s markets and if you have upcoming events, please think of us for catering. We would love to be a part of your special events! Thank you all.” – Mixteca Restaurant’s Instagram account
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This week Lazy Susan announced plans to close their prominent charcoal-grill-centric restaurant on July 23rd after nearly three years in operation. Crews will then set to work renovating the storefront at 7937 SE Stark Street, transforming it into a new dining experience run by the same individuals behind Lazy Susan. The eatery’s owner will pivot to Thai-inspired cuisine, aligning the menu with his other successful restaurants.
Akkapong “Earl” Ninsom started work on the Lazy Susan ahead of the pandemic, opening in one of the worst environments for dining amid shutdowns and seating restrictions. However, by outward appearances, Lazy Susan defied the odds building a loyal and regular following. Unfortunately, it never reached the same success as Ninsom’s other ventures, and the economics of this restaurant had too many headwinds. “Margins have been so tight that it’s time to make a pivot to benefit everybody that works here and the owners,” explained Tim Soucie, General Manager of the Lazy Susan. Soucie revealed the closure to staff on Monday, offering to find people positions at other Ninsom-owned locations and encouraging them to reapply for the new restaurant when it opens.
Earl Ninsom is known for creating food destinations focusing on distinct parts of Thai cooking, including recent successes like Phuket Cafe, PaaDee, and Eem. Lazy Susan was a departure from that model, and Tim Soucie says the new restaurant will align Montavilla’s location with Ninsom’s other ventures. “It will fit within the brand of the company,” remarked Soucie. The same woodworkers who created the Lazy Susan interior will update the restaurant, preserving what they can while creating a new seating experience. Painters will rework the color pallet, and electricians will change the lighting ahead of the relaunch.
Tim Soucie will continue to serve as General Manager when the space reopens, and he is excited about the change, having complete faith in Ninsom’s vision and track record. However, Soucie will miss the seasonal aspect of the old restaurant and its creative takes on American-style foods prepared over the charcoal grill. Ultanantly he is happy that the restaurant will remain on Stark Street and his staff can continue their efforts to delight Portlanders through food. “We appreciate how welcoming Montavilla has been with us. This is such a unique community within Portland. We want to bring something new and fresh that will draw more people to the neighborhood, something that is a little bit different, a little bit edgy,” said Soucie.
Fans of Lazy Susan have one week to enjoy their favorite items before the chefs retire the menu. Details about the new restaurant should arrive after the renovation crew begins work next month. However, Ninsom is known to have recently worked on a Bangkok Chinatown inspired restaurant idea. Information about that project places its opening date in alignment with this remodel, hinting at a potential theme for this space. Construction should last four to six weeks, with completion at the end of Summer.
By
Jacob Loeb
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Oregon Grown Dispensary quietly closed its pot sales store at 324 SE 82nd Avenue this month. The store and its owner often attracting widespread media attention to Portland’s Marijuana industry and the neighborhood. Its closure ends a 13-year history of cannabis use and sales in this building.
In July 2010, the Cannabis Cafe relocated to Montavilla from the Woodlawn neighborhood, taking over a basement bar space that previously held Aaron’s Wine Cellar and Piano Bar. Oregon NORMML operated the consumption space for people holding Oregon medical marijuana cards, charging entry fees and monthly dues. The 4,000-square-foot Cafe reused many of the wine bar’s existing furniture and game tables, making it a cozy gathering space for members. That community room closed down a few years later. However, the Cafe’s sign remained on site as part of Oregon Grown’s collection of memorabilia chronicling the regional legalization efforts.
An April 20th Washington Post article referred to Oregon Grown’s storefront as the “Library of Congress of Cannabis.” Since July 1, 2015, possession and use of recreational marijuana has been legal in the State of Oregon. That legislative reform has launched a wave of storefronts selling marijuana and derivative products. Oregon Grown claimed to be one of the oldest community-based dispensaries in Portland. True to its medicinal roots, the store offered discounts to medical card holders and focussed on small-batch, craft cannabis items.
People looking to buy recreational Cannabis have a wide selection in the area and across the city. However, this place was not just another storefront. It was a player in the nations shifting view on drug use, supporting the efforts of the people pushing for legalization. This dispensary’s closure could indicate that marijuana sales no longer has space for its early pioneers, but that reality is an almost inevitable outcome of any industry maturing.
Update: The shop owners name was removed from this article at their request.
By
Jacob Loeb
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After 46 years, Natural Furniture will permanently close its SE Stark Street home decor business. Shop owners Tammy and Rick Slagter plan to retire when the location’s lease ends in September. Store staff are selling through all inventory over the remaining months offering special discounts to clear out household furnishings from both the retail space and company warehouse.
Rick Slagter started Natural Furniture in 1977, and his wife Tammy joined the business in 1989. Seven years ago, the Slagters moved their unfinished-furniture store to Montavilla from its original location in the Lloyd District after losing their lease. “The people that owned the building over on 8th and Broadway sold it. We had been at the other store for 40 years. I was like, ‘Oh no, it’s just terrible.’ I hate change, but it all turned out for the best because this location was so nice,” remembers Rick Slagter.
The move to Montavilla prompted some changes for the business. They began to sell more home accessories alongside the furniture and expanded the number of finished pieces sold in addition to their unfinished product. “We didn’t do accessories at the other location,” explained Tammy Slagter, noting that 95 percent of items sold were unfinished wood furniture before the move. Now she estimates 70 to 80 percent of their business is related to unfinished furniture. They have also expanded to more exotic wood furniture in recent years as the industry shifted to meet changing customer demand.
The decision to close was complicated for the couple as the business is strong, and they enjoy the work. However, after a recent birthday, it seemed like a good time to plan for a new chapter in their lives. “I turned 70 last month in May, and our lease is up in September. I just didn’t want to sign another lease,” said Rick Slagter. “I’m ready to relax and go play, go to the beach, go do things.”
Since announcing the pending store closure, customers have come in talking about how sad this news is for them. Although the Slagters will miss the welcoming community and the multiple generations of customers, this spin-down is a happy event for them. They had not tried to sell the business, but that is still an option they would consider. “It’s been a great business for all these years. We did really well, and it’s a fun store too. There’s no hard sell. You just answer questions and write tickets. The furniture sells itself,” said Rick Slagter.
Some of the four staff have already found new employment, and the Slagters have provided a long lead time for people to find other work. Although the lease ends in September, the store will close to the public when they sell through the remaining inventory. Most of the shop’s 20 vendors have existing relationships with other retailers. However, Carey’s Unfinished Furniture worked almost exclusively with Natural Furniture, and its owner will also take this opportunity to retire.
Tammy and Rick Slagter are grateful for their customers and thank the Montavilla community for the support they have received over the years. They hope to see some of those people stop by before they close and pick up something special. They feel this storefront at 7960 SE Stark Street is a great location and are excited to see another retail business take over the space. Until then, they will be at the shop saying goodbye and letting the items sell themselves.
By
Jacob Loeb
Disclosure: A relative of the author worked for Natural Furniture several years ago.
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On May 26th, Mall 205’s 24 Hour Fitness gym will close permanently, with current members transferring to the Hollywood location at 4224 NE Halsey Street. This closure is the second gym to cease operations in the area this year. The ample exercise space offered an indoor lap pool, steam room, sauna, basketball court, and the standard assortment of fitness equipment.
Representatives for 24 Hour Fitness did not provide a specific reason for the gym’s closure, saying only that it is “due to a combination of circumstances.” Like many in-person fitness locations, 24 Hour Fitness suffered financially during the mandatory pandemic closures and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 15th, 2020. Although the national chain recovered from that setback, emerging from bankruptcy in the same year, the company close over 100 locations as part of its restructuring plan. The Mall 205 location survived those cuts, but gyms have continued to suffer post-pandemic. Nearby Cascade Athletic Clubs closed its Montavilla location earlier this year, citing a slow recovery after reopening.
The fitness chain opened the soon-to-be shuttered location at 10052 SE Washington Street over two decades ago, occupying the southeast corner of the L-shaped building. Members access the exercise facility from the back parking lot. However, the location retained interior access prior to the recent mall reconfiguration. The shopping center failed to draw many customers to its interior corridors, and most stores relied on the outside doors for access when they could.
Site capture of 24hourfitness.com from June 9th, 2002. Curtesy archive.org
In 2022, the Mall property sold to an investment group that ended leases with the interior tenants. The property’s new owners will renovate the building to support larger storefronts independently accessed from the parking lot. Recent building permit applications state that Hobby Lobby will open a location somewhere on the property between Target and Home Depot. Other national brands are expected to take space in the revitalized shopping complex, and the 24 Hour Fitness vacancy should help with that transformation.
The exercise location’s closure, regardless of the cause, will leave just one general-use gym in the area. MUV Fitness is less than 1,000 feet from the 24 Hour Fitness Mall 205 location. That business attracted some former Cascade Athletic Clubs members and could become a viable option for 24 Hour Fitness members. People uninterested in switching to 24 Hour Fitness Hollywood location will likely consider MUV Fitness or look to alternative venues like Mt. Tabor CrossFit at 8028 NE Glisan Street.
By
Jacob Loeb
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Kaiden Builds opened True North Studios just off NE Glisan Street in September 2019, offering a creative workspace to the community. The pandemic delayed early growth for the membership-based artistic hub at 455 NE 71st Avenue, and reliable funding never materialized. Consequentially, the space shut down permanently on April 30th. A fundraising campaign is underway to help cover the costs of terminating contracts and other debts.
Builds made the difficult decision to cease operations last month, giving members time to move out of the space. However, many artists have few options for a creative workspace. “Most of my members didn’t go to another community space. They went to their homes or another private space. A lot of people actually ended up leaving their craft for a moment or putting it on pause because all of their equipment ended up in storage,” explained Builds. “There’s nowhere that they can find space affordably to keep it operable. So all they can do is put it on pause, store it until they can find somewhere else.”
Builds spent the last 30 days donating or selling company-owned supplies and equipment. “A bunch of the lockers and cubbies went to Lewis and Clark College,” remarked Builds, explaining how they have tried to keep as many items in the community as possible. The experience has been challenging, leaving the True North Studios community questioning Portland’s reputation for supporting the arts. Kaiden Builds has yet to rule out attempting this type of creative-collaborative space again. However, they do not think it could exist in Portland, and it would require having a rent-free building to work from. The community workspace model is popular but not financially strong in the current market.
For Kaiden Builds, securing reliable funding is the most challenging aspect of running a creative space. The hard costs are constant, and membership fees alone do not cover the monthly obligations. “The rent is about $5,500 a month, and that’s $150.00 a day. I can’t get general operating expense help through any program that’s available right now,” said Builds. Although many grants favor nonprofits, Builds founded True North Studios as a for-profit company. However, they feel that was not the cause of the funding challenges. “I honestly don’t know if being a nonprofit would have helped me because my main hurdle is general operating expenses. A lot of the grants aren’t targeted for that,” explained Builds. “And we’ve had some people come back on our Instagram and say, ‘well, you just have to do kids programming,’ but if I put on kids programming, all that money has to go towards that program. So none of it can go to keeping the door open.”
Portland offers some support for small businesses. However, Builds says those programs did not apply to True North Studios. “The stuff that’s available through Prosper Portland and Venture Portland are all through [Tax Increment Finance] TIF districts, and we happen to be just outside of them.” True North Studios took out a $50,000 Small Business Administration (SBA) loan to keep the company running over the years. That outstanding debt and other termination costs are looming over the company as they close down the space. The fundraising campaign is an effort to offset those costs as much as possible.
Kaiden Builds is disappointed in how the city and regional government supports arts. However, they have not given up on True North Studios’ concept. It will take time to regroup from this setback and even longer to figure out where this idea can take root. “I would love to give back to the community again, but at this point, I’ve been running so dry and so thin that I have nothing left to give, and I have to spend some time recovering,” said Builds.
By
Jacob Loeb
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On January 4th, Tub and Tan closed its doors after failing to resolve a conflict with the property management company Dinihanian LLC. On March 28th, Tub and Tan’s owner abandoned reopening plans and announced online that he could not continue operations under current conditions. Now, the building’s owners have the 5,000-square-foot property listed for sale. The adjacent 5,488-square-foot property behind the store contains a portion of the hot tub rooms and may also become available for purchase at a later date.
In 1940, C. Lews began construction on the building at 8028 SE Stark Street to house a tile store. In 1964, Executive Barber College opened in this location with upwards of 20 barber stations. It served several other businesses throughout the years before becoming a hot tubbing location in the 1990s. After nearly 30 years, it may soon see redevelopment for a new use. However, the real estate listing for the property indicates that functional sauna and hot tub equipment remain on-site for a potential turnkey business. Still, only some of the facility is for sale because the tubbing company spanned two properties. 8025 SE Washington Street, along with Tub and Tan, are owned by John Captain III. The SE Washington property contains the outdoor hot tub rooms for the now-closed business. In a Facebook comment, Captain mentioned trying to reopen from the other property, but later social media posts indicate a diminished interest in continuing the business.
This Stark Street storefront is located in Historic Down Town Montavilla, where commercial properties rarely change hands and tend to sell quickly. People interested in purchasing the building can contact Jason VanAbrams with Marcus & Millichap by calling 503-200-2027 or emailing the agent.
By
Jacob Loeb
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Neighborhood news site focused on buildings and changing businesses
