Category: New Business

Infrastructure, New Business, View of Montavilla January 5, 2026

New Pedestrian Infrastructure Opens Around Chick-fil-A

As Portland’s first free-standing Chick-fil-A restaurant prepares to open in early 2026, pedestrians traveling around the Mall 205 area in the Gateway district gain access to wider sidewalks with street furniture offering places to rest. Recently, crews removed construction fencing around the new fast food destination at 9950 SE Stark Street, fully opening the area to street users.

Concrete seating pods and newly reconstructed sidewalk along SE 99th Avenue near the upcoming Chick-fil-A location in Portland, with trees and street furniture enhancing pedestrian accessibility. — *_{Cluster of three round concrete seating on the southeast corner of SE 99th and Stark St}*

Construction work at this restaurant location began last April, triggering requirements for sidewalk and curb ramp reconstruction to meet modern standards for its Civic Main Street classification on the south and north sides of the site. Improvements to the 15-foot public right-of-way feature street trees planted between the curb and pedestrian through zone, offering a buffer between the fast-paced traffic on the SE Stark Street and Washington Street couplet. Chick-fil-A contractors installed round concrete seating pods along the property’s SE 99th Avenue frontage with a cluster of three on the southeast corner of SE 99th and Stark Street. A new traffic signal pole at the northeast corner of SE 99th and Washington Street features mounting points for future mast arms to support traffic lights, replacing the antiquated cable-hung hardware at the intersection. An additional mounting bracket at the top of the pole has a place for a new street light to further illuminate this high-volume crossing, while building-hung sconces add human-scale lighting.

Close-up of a traffic signal pole with mounting points for future traffic lights and a new street light, set against a blue sky. — *_{Mounting points on a new traffic signal pole at the northeast corner of SE 99th and Washington St. for future mast arms to support traffic lights}*

The Portland building code mandated many pedestrian improvements along the three frontages of this 0.78-acre property. These upgrades serve the district as a whole as it becomes less car-centric. However, this restaurant’s patrons may depend on these updates, as there is expected to be higher foot traffic here than at other Chick-fil-A stores in the area. The Portland City Council voted in 2018 to prohibit new drive-through construction within commercial zones. Although this project is a near-complete renovation of an existing building, the structure never included a drive-through service window. This project dates back to May 2022, when the national fast food chain explored development at 9950 SE Stark Street, opting to renovate the original structure to maintain its nonconforming use of the existing site for food service. The 1984-era structure previously hosted Rax Roast Beef, Tony Roma’s, and Hooters restaurants before converting to Mystic Gentlemen’s Club and later Venue Gentlemen’s Club.

Exterior view of the new Chick-fil-A at Mall 205 showing large windows, modern lighting fixtures, and sidewalk planters. — *_{SE 99th Avenue frontage with human-scale lighting and seating}*

Without a drive-through window, most motorists will need to park onsite and enter the establishment for service. Other Chick-fil-A locations have been known to create traffic jams at times as drivers queue for in-vehicle sales. At this new location, people may need to park at another location and walk over for service during peak times. To help speed up orders and clear the parking lot more quickly, operators will implement digital tools for customers. “We will be offering curbside delivery as an alternative,” wrote a store social media representative on Facebook. This will require more staff time but will allow customers to remain in their vehicles. Additionally, this restaurant features a dedicated delivery driver entrance so people can order via smartphone apps and have their food brought to them.

Exterior view of the new Chick-fil-A location at 9950 SE Stark Street in Portland, featuring signs for delivery drivers, a tree, and nearby street furniture. — *Delivery driver entrance*

Franchise operator for this location, Austin Morrow, has worked for Chick-fil-A since 2014. In this specific franchise model, the property, building, and equipment are owned by the corporation, with individuals competing to become the location’s operator. The “Chick-fil-A Mall 205” store will be Portland’s only location within city limits since the Lloyd Center food court location closed in 2003. Community members have mixed opinions on the opening. Some are excited for the renowned chicken sandwich provider to come in and revitalize a commercial corridor that has experienced a decline in previous decades. Others worry about the increased traffic near the Interstate 205 ramps caused by this new high-demand destination. Additional perspectives oppose the company as a whole because of the ownership’s support for organizations that oppose LGBTQ rights.

A new sidewalk and landscaping along SE Stark Street near the upcoming Chick-fil-A Mall 205, featuring newly planted trees and a clear pedestrian path. — *_{New wider sidewalk on SE Washington St. with street trees}*

The operator of Chick-fil-A Mall 205 has yet to announce an official opening date, but indicated it will welcome guests soon. Regardless of the restaurant’s impact on the business district and community, the renovations of this former strip club have improved the public infrastructure on this half block. The corporate endorsement of the area could also incentivize other investments along the corridor, spurring redevelopment with infrastructure improvements and denser land use, fitting the Gateway District’s Central Commercial zoning that encourages city-center-sized projects.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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Food and Drink, New Business November 22, 2025

Bookstore Joins Hungry Heart Bakery

On November 13th, Endless Wonders Books opened a sales corner at Hungry Heart Bakery, 414 SE 80th Avenue. The new integrated business relationship between the distinct companies adds operating hours to the storefront while offering a selection of titles featuring marginalized communities or written by authors identifying as members of underrepresented groups.

Owners Zo Nicole and Mags Burke created Endless Wonders Books as a mobile and online bookstore before meeting Hungry Heart’s owner, Jax Hart, at a pride pop-up event at the Jupiter Hotel. That introduction eventually led to the book seller’s first store location after a string of positive interactions, bringing them to the neighborhood. “We did the street fair circuit this summer, using it as an opportunity to meet different neighborhoods. We had a really good time at the Montavilla Street Fair and knew pretty quickly that we were ready to think about something more long-term, rather than going to new places every weekend,” recalled Burke. “We did a three-day pop-up here in [Hungry Heart], and it was really fun and felt good. So we asked Jax if we could have a longer-term conversation.”

Interior of Endless Wonders Books store featuring a wall of colorful books and greeting cards, with a large wooden table and chairs in front, and a bright window view.

Nicole describes themselves as a lifelong reader who grew tired of a tech career and used a layoff as the catalyst to pursue a dream of opening a bookstore that would surface works that include often overlooked or inaccurately represented communities. “I grew up never really seeing myself necessarily represented in literature, and I know that’s true for a lot of other people. I also believe that being able to read stories of folks that are from different backgrounds as yours can help build empathy and understanding.” explained Nicole. They felt uplifting those stories “severely underrepresented across traditionally published books” was critically needed in this current point in America’s social trajectory. Burke added that they “hope that having a bookstore with this focus will give people avenues to drive towards action, not just reading books and expanding their perspectives but also letting that impact them to take action in some ways.”

Although the titles selected by the booksellers are purpose-driven, they created a general-interest bookstore that carries many genres and serves a wide age range of readers. They have picture books for preliterate customers alongside titles written for middle graders, young adults, and adult readers. Visitors will find books shelved in a traditional manner that honors the content ahead of the community. “We don’t categorize by identity. We categorize by genre,” explained Burke. “Within a genre, multiple identities are represented because we believe that integration is how we actually exist in the world. We don’t have a black southern American versus a Nigerian section versus an AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) section.” The store staff can help customers find works by or including specific identities, but that is not how they anticipate customers will browse the bookstore’s catalog.

Bookshelves filled with various titles organized by genre, including New Releases, Memoir, Young Adult, Romance, and Fantasy, in a cozy bookstore setting at Hungry Heart Bakery.

The bookstore’s path to brick-and-mortar has progressed quickly, and the owners feel that they will one day expand into a dedicated space. However, the embedded store within the Hungry Heart Bakery feels like an ideal location to meet readers outside the digital world, allowing people to connect with others while exploring written works. “One thing I love about growing up and going to indie bookstores is grabbing a book off the shelf, finding a comfortable chair, and reading the first chapter or picking out a couple of poems from a poetry collection,” said Nicole. “Just seeing if you’re vibing with it or not.” The partners also envision the store as a place to help people find books to gift to readers who are not seeing the subjects they want elsewhere. “It’s one of the most fun moments if someone comes in saying, ‘my 15-year-old is bored with reading this and starting to get interested in that, can you help me pick out a book?'” said Burke. They will have hundreds of titles available on the shelf and even more available via the online store. The offer local delivery in a six-mile radius centered on SE 58th Avenue and Division Street.

Exterior view of Hungry Heart Bakery, featuring an open sign and 'Endless Wonders' bookstore displayed in the window, showcasing the combined retail space.

Endless Wonders Books has overlapping hours with Hungry Heart Bakery: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. In the morning, the bakery staff can assist customers who are looking to buy a book, a gift card, or other merchandise the bookstore sells. Zo Nicole starts work mid-day, recommending titles to shoppers and covering Hungry Heart’s sales counter. “The Hungry Hearts staff will be able to ring people up for their bookstore purchases in addition to their coffee and pastries, burritos, whatever else they’re getting. And then I’m coming in by noon every day. I’ll be here to help folks with book recommendations, ringing them up for any cards or prints, and I’m also keeping [Hungry Heart’s] coffee and pastry service going into the evening,” said Nicole.

Interior of Endless Wonders Books showing a brightly lit bookshelf filled with colorful book covers, a wooden table with metal chairs, and decorative plants.

This dual-occupation of the SE 80th Avenue storefront off the Montavilla SE Stark main street adds four hours to the popular Hungry Heart Bakery while bringing a bookstore back to the area. The owners encourage readers to stop in and browse the titles, and they will gladly speak with customers about expanding the selection to meet the literary needs of visitors. The shop strives to showcase the works of small publishers, and visitors are likely to find titles and voices not well represented in other bookstores.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

New Business November 12, 2025

Blackfang Tattoos and More on SE Stark

A new tattoo shop and retail storefront will open at 7925 SE Stark Street in the former Maintain Yourself PDX space on the historic downtown Montavilla main street. Blackfang Tattoos and More will have space for five resident tattoo artists, along with an all-ages storefront featuring works by local artists, stickers, clothing, plants, and jewelry.

Owners Alyssa Black and Gerrit Smith live blocks away from their new shop and have strong ties to the neighborhood. Smith previously worked from a tattoo shop located in the back of Pinky PDX on NW 23rd Avenue. However, he trained to become a tattoo artist in Montavilla at the now-closed Forbidden School of Body Art, whose storefront is currently home to Sanctuary Tattoo and Piercing. With their growing family living in the neighborhood and the couple’s history in the community, opening a shop on SE Stark Street became an attainable dream, materializing at just the right time for Smith, who was considering a change. “It is something we talked about for years, but then we bought the house in Montavilla, and I had always said if I ever opened a shop, I’d want to be in Montavilla because I just love this area,” recalled Smith. “Then we walked by and saw this place that looks pretty cool.” The couple initially assumed it would be too expensive, but the landlord worked with them to make it happen. “Very serendipitous, I think,” said Black. “The stars aligning and something opening up six blocks from our house at the right time.”

Entrance of Blackfang Tattoos and More shop showcasing large lettering on a glass window, with a brick facade and address number 7925 visible.

Smith inks under the name Happy Fangs Tattoo, but did not want the new shop to only reference his work because up to four other artists will rent rooms in the space for their tattooing businesses. In choosing a title for the space, they used a concatenation of Alyssa Black’s last name and Smith’s business name. “I’ve done art under the name Happy Fangs for 15 years, so it’s just something we always talked about if we opened the shop, we would combine the two and call it Blackfang,” explained Smith. “Just as a happenstance, if you think about the image of a black fang, it looks like a tattoo needle,” added Black. Currently, two other tattoo artists have rented space in the new shop: Zoe Cox (@zmctattoo) and Collin Horner (@bonedoctor.tattoo).

The storefront portion of the business will need to wait until early 2026, with the storefront mostly open during appointments. However, they want people to feel comfortable coming and interacting with the space. Smith says they intend to line the hallway walls with works by local artists in a gallery format. Additionally, Smith positioned his studio and chair in the shop’s front window so that passersby can see the work underway, provided they draw back the privacy curtain. Making tattoos approachable is essential to the way Smith practices his craft, influencing the need to have a shop attached to the business. “I think that’s one reason why we want to have the retail spot. We want it to feel non-intimidating. We want it to feel comfortable to walk in,” explained Smith. “That’s one thing I learned about working at Pinky in the back of the retail space. There are so many people who I did their first tattoo ever because they came into a retail shop, and said, ‘Oh, wow, tattoos. I’ve always wanted to get one, but I’ve been intimidated to walk into a shop, and here I am standing in one.’ And they get tattooed. So I just wanted to create that kind of level of comfort walking in the door.” When the retail space is ready, they anticipate opening Wednesday through Sunday. Until then, they will open the doors while clients are on site for prescheduled appointments.

Exterior view of the Blackfang tattoo shop with large window signage displaying the name 'BLACKFANG', located on SE Stark Street.

Black and Smith have several ideas on how they will keep the storefront active, even when the tattoo chair is empty. “We also want to do events here. We want to have art shows, possibly music shows. Just different things,” said Smith. They also plan to offer temporary tattoos for kids or anyone looking to try out the look without the commitment. They expect that service to be in high demand during next year’s street fair.

Eventually, the shop will support walk-in customers for tattoos, which will occur sporadically until they establish regular hours. The owners recommend that customers schedule sessions with individual artists working from the space via their Instagram links. Smith’s work (@happyfangstattoo) covers most styles of tattoo, but he prefers botanical themes in black ink. “Mostly black work, but I like doing color. My favorite thing to do is my own version of floral. If people ask me for a specific flower, I’ll do it, but my favorite thing is to make up a flower. Flowers are so endlessly different and crazy that you can kind of do anything and it looks like a natural flower, no matter how wild you get with it,” explained Smith.

People walking along SE Stark Street should start to see increasing activity in the storefront leading up to a grand opening event. Black and Smith recommend following the shop’s Instagram account, @blackfangpdx, for updates on the event and retail opening, with a company website launching closer to the new year.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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New Business, Services November 11, 2025

Holy Moly Salon on SE Stark

On November 1st, Holy Moly Salon and Gallery opened at 7819 SE Stark Street in the former Harashay storefront with four stations and a back wall dedicated to showcasing local artists. The owners designed the newly renovated space to offer an “elevated experience” that is approachable to area residents and serves the full spectrum of haircare desires for all people.

Interior view of Holy Moly Salon and Gallery, showcasing a cozy seating area with wooden chairs and a round table, surrounded by plants and natural light from a large window.

Owners Jamie Roy and Rachel Jones had worked together at Fringe and Friends prior to the pandemic, remaining friends as Jones went on to create Grace Harry Salon. “We continued to cut each other’s hair and go to continuing education classes together,” recalled Roy. “We always thought about hair the same way, passionate in the same way, and have the same ethos for what a salon should be.” Jones discovered the storefront on Montavilla’s historic main street and brought in Roy to transition into this space. The speed at which they approached the new partnership is summed up in its whimsical name. “It’s just fun and reflects how we feel because we didn’t have any plan of opening a salon together. Within days of seeing this place, we just signed the lease. So it’s like holy moly, what’s happening?” explained Jones.

Two women smiling while sitting at a wooden counter in a salon, with a lamp and a flower arrangement in the foreground. — *_{Salon owners Rachel Jones and Jamie Roy}*

They appreciated that the previous tenant of the space used it for haircare as well because it required less work to reconfigure the shop than if they had to transform it from an incompatible business. However, they discovered it would require plumbing updates and some electrical work. Overall, they are pleased with the reduced amount of basic work the older building required, allowing them to focus on filling the ample floor space. They soon discovered that instead of needing to be creative to make the space seem less cramped, they would instead need to think on a larger scale. “With the big space, we would put furniture in here, and then it would look tiny compared to the space. A couple of bookshelves we got were half the size at first, and we said, ‘Well, that looks wild.’ So we had to get bigger bookshelves,” remarked Roy. Fortunately, the ordered Minerva styling chairs and other finishes filled in the space well, with the capacity to expand the number of stations as stylists join Holy Moly Salon.

Interior of Holy Moly Salon featuring two styling chairs and a shampoo station with products on display.

The partners chose many furnishings they had appreciated from their combined decades of experience in the industry, but decided to have a custom-built front counter. The upsized shelves around that counter offer products from local makers along with purchasable supplies of the hair products the shop uses in their services. “We put a lot of thought into the products that we chose,” Roy said. They primarily offer products by Innersense Beauty, Cult + King, Lulu Organics, and Afterworld Organics. They focus on smaller brands because they feel those producers bring more practical experience into their lines. “A lot of the smaller brands come from hairstylists who are not finding products that they like, so they create products in small, cool little brands that do everything right,” said Jones. Sustainability in product lines is also important, with some options utilizing refillable containers. For those that do not offer refills, Holy Moly has joined Green Circle Salons, a network of shops working to recycle most of the materials used, including traditionally unrecoverable and hard-to-recycle items such as hair clippings, foils, excess hair color, aerosol cans, and color tubes.

A wooden counter with various hair products displayed on shelves above, set in an arched alcove. — *_{Hair color station}*

Environmental impact and neighborhood integration are core concerns for the partners. “Community was a big part of what we talked about when opening a salon,” recalled Roy. They envisioned the location being more active than just serving the salon customer base. This perspective included integrating event space uses and art shows. The “Salon and Gallery” in Holy Moly’s name is intentionally balanced to include the owner’s vision for the salon’s place in Montavilla. “The gallery wall is designated in the back. Right now, we have an artist, Sara Murphy, who has these ceramic altars,” explained Jones. “I’ve brought on a friend who’s curating the space. We’re still trying to dial in how often, but every two to three months, we’ll have an art opening potentially.” The salon does not currently offer walk-in services, but they encourage visitors to come in to schedule an appointment, browse their retail offerings, or view the artwork on display.

Wall display featuring a variety of colorful candle holders showcasing art pieces with lit LED candles. — *_{Art display of ceramic altars by Sara Murphy}*

Both Roy and Jones are excited to join the active business district on SE Stark Street and will work with local customers to meet their salon needs at a rate they can afford. Holy Moly Salon and Gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but hours may shift based on appointment schedules. They are looking to bring in two or three more stylists in the near future. Each person working from this salon will set their own pricing and availability, with the potential for walk-in services in the future. Stylists post their booking schedules and rates online at holymolysalon.com, and customers can call (503) 964-5244 during business hours to schedule over the phone.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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New Business, Property Sale, Renovation October 8, 2025October 8, 2025

Tool Building Grows NE Glisan Main Street

Painters recently covered the former O’Neills Tools & Equipment building at 7131 NE Glisan Street with a fresh coat of white paint as the new owners begin transforming the large corner building into a multi-tenant retail destination serving the community. The formerly barred and gated property now presents board-covered openings, as crews prepare it for storefront glazing, which will accommodate six to eight individual shops and a potential eatery.

Architectural rendering of the transformed former O'Neills Tools & Equipment building, featuring a white exterior and board-covered openings, designed for multiple retail spaces and potential eateries. — *_{NE Glisan Ave frontage of 7131 NE Glisan St, rendering courtesy EAO}*

Bill Neburka, Anthony Kell, and Michael Quinn formed the “BAM Collective” to shepherd this project from development through tenancy, with a long-term outlook centered on generational ownership and community investment. Project architect Bill Neburka owns Evident Architecture Office (EAO) located in a commercial building two blocks east at 7323 NE Glisan Street, and the other partners similarly invested in area properties. Quinn is the primary owner of Sparrow Salon’s building at 7243 NE Glisan Street. Anthony Kell explained that the group wants to preserve the charm of NE Glisan Street while rebuilding a commercial corridor for local Portlanders. “Our goal is to offer retail that will support the community and the neighborhood, making sure it [contains shops] that people can walk to and would be looking for. We’ll hopefully be homogeneous with the area. We’re not tearing it down and making this new ugly retail plus residential building. We’re going to be fairly picky about who we put in there and make sure that it is something that will support the community, so they don’t have to walk all the way over to Stark Street.”

A floor plan diagram for the transformation of a building into a multi-tenant retail space, detailing various suites and exterior work areas. — *_{Floor plan courtesy Evident Architecture Office (EAO)}*

Kell noted that business owners are already investing in restaurants, bars, and shops along the street, and he hopes that they will add to that momentum with space for more independent businesses. “It’s going to be micro-tenanting, smaller spaces for retail, and then possibly a wine bar and or restaurant,” said Kell. The remodeled building will offer spaces with exterior entrances on NE Glisan Street or NE 72nd Avenue, as well as some units that visitors can access from a shared central hallway. The designers have completed the subdivision plans; however, future business operators can work with the team to explore options. “We have a pretty good plan [for the layout], but there will be the ability for somebody to take two spaces or split one in half. We’ve got to demise in a way that is flexible for potential tenants,” explained Kell. The corner location adds a variety of arrangement options, including frontages on the quieter side of the structure. “There will be an entrance toward the back. That’s where the restaurant would most likely be, rear-accessed behind the building, so it’s kind of tucked away,” Kell said.

Architectural rendering of the transformed O'Neills Tools & Equipment building, featuring a modern facade with large windows, trees in front, and a pedestrian walking by. — *_{NE 72nd Ave frontage of 7131 NE Glisan St showing restaurant, rendering courtesy EAO}*

Anthony Kell explained that the September code amendment recommendations, approved unanimously by the Portland City Council, could help this project move forward faster. The vote temporarily suspends specific rules that apply to projects that add to or alter existing development. The four changes reduce the need to add particular street improvements, such as sidewalks, curb ramps, and street trees, when the project exceeds a specific dollar amount. It also removes the requirement for a seismic evaluation report. The temporary exemptions will only apply to building permits that are currently in the permit or inspection process. This group of updates, effective starting October 24th, is a short-term construction stimulus package designed to expedite the completion of existing projects. Kell feels that this will help them create a better rehabilitation of the building without worrying about cutting costs to avoid triggering those improvement requirements that could halt the project due to excessive expenses.

Street view of a corner building labeled 'O'Neills Tools & Equipment' with graffiti on the walls, a stop sign, and utility poles nearby. — *_{O’Neills Tools & Equipment building pre-sale, January 2025}*

The BAM Collective team expects they are six months away from opening the space for tenants to move into what they have tentatively named the “Tool Building,” in reference to O’Neill’s Tools’ long-standing tenancy there. People may see a short-term renter using the space until construction picks up. Kell explained that the group is interested in keeping the building in their family and ensuring it is first a community asset, rather than a personal investment tool. “We’re kind of old school Portlanders that want to do things the way that they used to be done. People coming in that are creatives and makers.” The building’s new owners anticipate the project will take shape in 2026, and the developers are eager to find the right tenants soon.

Rendering of a newly renovated building featuring storefronts with large windows, two individuals walking and standing outside, and a tree in the foreground. — *_{Rendering of NE Glisan frontage of 7131 NE Glisan St showing shared entry to center hallway, rendering courtesy EAO}*

Architectural rendering of a courtyard with a tree and a person standing in front of a large opening leading into an interior space, showcasing wooden tables and pendant lighting.

Interior concept rendering of a multi-tenant retail space featuring wooden tables, hanging lights, and an open layout with shelves along the walls.

Renderings courtesy BAM Collective and Evident Architecture Office (EAO)

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Food and Drink, New Business September 23, 2025

Essa Bakery Middle Eastern Desserts

Essa Bakery opened in August within the former Stop By Bakery & Deli space at 8243 SE Division Street. The new bakery’s owner, Essa Abdulsahib, is friends with the previous business owner and learned that the space was available after Stop By Bakery relocated to Beaverton. Abdulsahib is a lifelong baker who brought his father’s traditional recipes and techniques from Iraq to his new home in Portland. The sweet shop specializes in baklava, but also offers a diverse selection of other Middle Eastern desserts, with an expanding menu of options.

Caixa de baklava em destaque na frente, com várias peças de baklava em um tabuleiro ao fundo. — *_{Photo courtesy Essa Bakery}*

In early 2025, people began noticing a “coming soon” banner hanging in front of Stop By Bakery & Deli’s door, with window advertisements promoting the new shop’s name. However, the storefront on SE Stark Street remained closed for several months, awaiting an official opening date. Nabaa Altaie, Essa Abdulsahib’s nephew, who manages the store’s social media and oversees the shop, explained that sourcing issues with specialized equipment caused the delayed launch of Essa Bakery. Altaie said his uncle had purchased most of his baking equipment from Turkey, and they discovered damaged components during the installation. “Parts kept breaking and we had to fix that,” recalled Altaie. Replacement part shipping times kept pushing back the opening date, but the commercial kitchen equipment was critical to preserving Abdulsahib’s baking methods.

Exterior view of the Stop By Bakery & Deli storefront featuring a 'Coming Soon' banner and advertisements for baklava and other Middle Eastern desserts. — *_{Essa Bakery opened in the former Stop By Bakery & Deli storefront (Jacob Loeb)}*

Quality and variety are essential to Essa Bakery’s owner and head baker. “We make everything fresh in the back of the store with our equipment. We also are expanding our menu. We’re adding, basically, every Middle Eastern dessert you can think of in the future,” said Altaie. He also noted the shop is working on adding Dubai Chocolate bars filled with kadayif and a pistachio-tahini cream. “We use pistachios from California farms, so they’re fresh. We use Bolivian chocolate, which is the best chocolate you can get, on top. It’s a really popular trend,” said Altaie.

A beautifully arranged box of assorted Middle Eastern sweets, featuring baklava, rose-shaped pastries, colorful cookies, and chocolate-covered treats, displayed in a stylish tin with decorative designs. — *_{Photo courtesy Essa Bakery}*

Currently, Essa Bakery relies on support from the owner’s relatives to operate. Altaie explained that his uncle is so busy baking that they are having trouble finding time to create a new website, so instead, they focus on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. “It’s only family at the moment. Maybe we’ll need help when we expand it,” said Altaie. They are also looking to offer coffee and other bakery items. “We’re also trying to make bread in the near future,” remarked Altaie. The shop already offers savory options, incorporating meats and cheeses into some of their pastries. However, they remain invested in keeping their baklava the featured product at Essa Bakery.

A close-up of stacked pieces of baklava topped with crushed pistachios, showcasing its flaky layers and golden color. — *_{Photo courtesy Essa Bakery}*

Altaie said they are slowly earning loyal customers, and offering free tastes of their products is often all it takes to win people over. “When they come, they keep coming back because of how good it tastes. They say that the baklava is up to par with what they would have in good, expensive restaurants.” He also explained that they focus on meeting people’s budgets while still committed to quality baking practices. “We have to make it as affordable as we can for people. It’s $20 a pound, which is basically the best price I’ve seen for baklava. Because I usually buy it from food trucks and pay $4 a piece, and it doesn’t compare to our flavor at all,” said Altaie.

Close-up of a tray of baklava with a single piece showcased on a small plate, highlighting the layers and nuts. — *_{Photo courtesy Essa Bakery}*

Essa Bakery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. They want people to stop by often, as they continue to expand the menu with new options that visitors may not know they would appreciate. Altaie also said they would like to learn what customers want to see offered at the shop. He explained they want to be a reliable source for sweet baked goods in the neighborhood and hope people will enjoy what the family-run business has to offer.

Jacob Loeb

Event, Food and Drink, New Business, Top 2025 August 17, 2025January 1, 2026

Large Attendance at 99 Ranch Grand Opening

Crowds of eager shoppers packed the queue outside Portland’s first 99 Ranch Market on August 16th for the Pan-Asian grocery’s opening day celebration. Attendees waited in a one-hour-long line to enter the new 40,174 square foot store and waited another 25 minutes to check out. Inside, people found a brightly LED-lit and fully stocked store featuring fresh produce, live seafood, meats, housewares, and foods from domestic and Asian suppliers.

A large crowd of shoppers waits in line under a tent for the opening day of 99 Ranch Market in Portland, showcasing a diverse group of people excited for the new grocery store. — *_{Crowd waiting in line under event tents}*

The opening ceremony, featuring a lion dance, started just before 8:45. Then, organizers asked people to join the waiting area that had already grown beyond the double event tents constructed to shelter guests. Under the white canopy, a zigzagging felt rope controlled a holding area that felt more fitting for an amusement park ride queue than a store opening. However, it remained full for hours after the 9 a.m. launch, as Portlanders showed a large-scale interest in seeing inside this long-anticipated store. Event organizers kept the shop at a reasonable capacity, waiting for people to leave before letting new patrons enter. The crowded store was always functional with minimal challenges caused by competing interests in items blocked by the checkout line that wrapped around to the back of the store.

Crowded checkout area inside Portland's 99 Ranch Market on opening day, with shoppers in line and carts filled with groceries.

Interior view of 99 Ranch Market showing busy shopping area with customers browsing fresh seafood and meat displays, colorful signage overhead, and a variety of products in a well-lit environment.

The store’s designers utilized an open ceiling configuration painted matte black, with much of the lighting hung low off the product shelving. The overhead illumination bounced back up from the polished concrete floor, making nearly all angles of merchandised space bright and easily seen. Hanging banners helped direct people to the food items they desired and sell the attributes of the shop’s selection.

Exterior view of the 99 Ranch Market during its grand opening, featuring a decorative entrance, balloons, and a crowd of attendees.

Shoppers can visit 99 Ranch Market from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily at 10544 SE Washington Street in the Gateway District east of Mall 205. The grocery destination has become the new anchor tenant of Plaza 205, operated by the Red Mountain Group, which is revitalizing the older shopping center with many Asian-American focused businesses. People can expect to see continued expansion at this location, including the opening of Teso Life, a Japanese fashion casual department store with a planned launch at the end of 2025.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

New Business August 13, 2025

Cookies Dispensary Reopens on SE Division Under New Ownership

After a prolonged closure, staff at the Cookies cannabis store at 7916 SE Division Street have turned on the open sign and hung a “Now Open!” banner in the front window ahead of the shop’s August 16th grand opening. It closed its doors in late 2023, with the site initially developing signs of neglect. The original owners posted a temporary construction-closure notice, and people cleaned up the site after some initial complaints. However, the storefront did not reopen as planned and sat empty with paper up in the windows until the new owner took over the space earlier this year. The people behind the Cookies location on SE 7th Avenue will reopen the SE Division Street store with Cookies’ products and a selection from local producers.

A display inside the Cookies cannabis store featuring a range of vape products on the left and edible items on the right, with a colorful Georgia Pie promotional graphic in the background.

Nate McCormick is the manager of the store, and Joseph “Joey” Mangione leads the business through a new company called GC3 LLC. McCormick explained that the new organization took over the SE Division Street location from its previous operator, TRP Co., as part of an agreement to rebrand the 621 SE 7th Avenue store from Gräs Cannabis to a Cookies franchise location. Part of the transfer of the Cookies brand use rights included the eventual expansion into the SE Division Street location. The takeover was supposed to be a turnkey move-in. However, McCormick said it required hours of work to get the store back into shape, along with other maintenance tasks needed during the store’s time closed.

Exterior view of the Cookies cannabis store featuring bright blue walls and a prominent 'NOW OPEN!' sign.

This shop will make the third Cookies location in Portland, but a different group owns the one on NE Halsey. This variation in ownership is due to the brand’s bifurcation. The cannabis breeding and marketing operation remains separate from the retail arm that employs a light franchise model. That allows the store to use the color scheme, logos, customer furnishings, and sell branded merchandise. Most notably, the store will feature the renowned Cookies created cannabis. “It’s either a strain, for instance, ‘Girl Scout Cookies’. That is a great strain, and there are a lot of great lineages that come from that strain. But Cookies was originally known for breeding, started by a guy named Berner (Gilbert Milam Jr.),” explained McCormick. “He was pretty big in the cannabis industry down in San Francisco, and he created strains that went viral, I guess you could say. So Cookies is a strain, but it’s also a mix of different strains that are bred by a team of Cookies breeders. For instance, ‘Georgia Pie’ and ‘Gary Payton’ are strains that are created by Cookies.”

Interior of the Cookies cannabis store featuring product displays, a central circular table, and artwork of the strains 'Gary Payton' and 'Georgia Pie' on the walls.

Because the store is a local chain using the national Cookies brand, the shop managers have the flexibility to sell other cannabis flower from local growers and feature products from vendors of their choosing, including the treat producer Sweet and Salty PDX. Nate McCormick explained that the store will veer away from prepackaged marijuana by adopting a deli-style showroom where bud tenders store each flower type in bulk within large glass jars and the staff portion out what the customer asks for. McCormick explained that this is a feature of quality dispensaries with well-trained staff who are used to serving discerning patrons in a competitive marketplace. “People want to see what they’re purchasing before they actually take it home. The [product] also smells different when it’s in the jar,” said McCormick. Cookies’ branded stores all have a display table with the shop’s selections represented in little labeled jars. People can twist open a vent on the bottom to smell the flower, but McCormick says customers will have the best purchasing experience when picking specific flower from the large storage jars. However, he noted that people enjoy the self-exploration found at the display table when the shop is busy or if they do not want to talk with the staff.

Display of cannabis flower jars in the Cookies dispensary showcasing various strains. — *_{Cookies branded display table with cannabis flower on display and sniff through a vent}*

Although employees sell their cannabis flower deli-style, the store’s range of edible products and vape products are pre-packed for consistency and convenience. The store works with P3 Distributing for packaging. They partner with that supplier to offer a recycling program to reduce waste. People can bring back empty mylar bags, glass drams, plastic drams, and the cardboard boxes some products come in for recycling. McCormick wishes they could recycle disposable vape products with batteries, but the program is limited to packaging at the moment.

_{Deli-style jars behind the sales counter}

McCormick explained that they want this location to have a lasting positive impact on its customers, offering more than intoxicants. The store will feature products from local artists, including Nug Nips apparel made by one of their bud tenders. People can also expect to see more events featuring a food cart and music on the property. They also have many products aimed at more of the wellness side of the cannabis industry, with products to reduce stress, help people sleep, or reduce pain with low-THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) items produced so people can stay alert.

Having a new owner at the property is a welcome change for many residents and former employees who were not happy with the first launch of the SE Division Street location. Brandon Johnson leads Cookies Retail (CRE) and also co-founded the Los Angeles-headquartered TRP Co., the former operator of this location. The difference between CRE and TRP is blurry, according to a June 17th MJBizDaily article detailing the outcome of a court battle between the main Cookies brand owner and one of its largest store operators. This recent brand dispute was just the most recent challenge for TRP, particularly when it came to this location across the Street from Portland Community College’s Southeast campus.

Exterior view of the Cookies cannabis store with boarded windows and a damaged car parked outside, featuring a shattered windshield and graffiti. — *_{Cookies at 7916 SE Division St from September 2023 after it closed}*

Problems at this location began before it opened, with past employees describing a troubled point-of-sale equipment rollout and supply chain issues. The original staff worked to build a fitting Portland representation of the national Cookies brand, but said they were laid off and rehired as the former management addressed roadblocks. After the slow start, they were able to finally open the location. However, a car crashed through the storefront in November 2022, forcing customers to enter the store through makeshift plywood doors. The owners added additional bollards to protect the entryway, and a former patrol vehicle with Green-Way Medicinal markings began appearing frequently at the site. Not long after, the store closed for repairs that occurred almost a year later. An “opening soon” sign appeared in January 2024, but the location remained closed until July 2025, when the new operators opened the store with limited hours for a soft launch.

Exterior view of the Cookies cannabis store with a colorful mural on the wall, a truck parked outside, and several cars along the street. — *_{Crews fixing front doors on Cookies at 7916 SE Division Oct 16, 2023}*

The new owners want people to know that they are bringing a new approach to this store while also building on the Cookies brand. McCormick said that consumers think of Cookies as a premium product, but he said they will keep pricing competitive and have items for nearly any price point. They also have a customer loyalty program that helps keep pricing low for frequent shoppers. Their team has operated the SE 7th Avenue Cookies for a year and a half, and this expansion is a substantial endeavor for the small, locally owned business. They anticipate people at the Jade International Night Market will walk across the street to visit them on the August 16th grand opening. However, they will be open daily for people 21 years or older to stop and shop with them whenever convenient. Follow their Instagram account for more details.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Construction, New Business, New Residence July 26, 2025

1818 SE 82nd Sober Shelter Construction Starts August

Starting August 4th, demolition crews working with Multnomah County’s Homeless Services Department will begin preparing the site at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue to support a new sober shelter that Do Good Multnomah will operate after construction completes in the 2025-2026 winter season. With the reconstruction of SE Mill Street adjacent to the property complete, and road crews wrapping up repaving on SE 82nd Avenue in this area, contractors will have unobstructed access to the site to install 38 single-occupancy, shed-style shelters with supporting sanitation and cooking facilities.

Street view of the site at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue, featuring a fenced area with construction barrels and traffic signals indicating SE 82nd Avenue.

Multnomah County purchased the former recreational vehicle dealership at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue in December 2022 for $2.015 million. This 34,000-square-foot parcel was the second Montavilla location the County bought that year for temporary shelter services. The other shelter, Oak Street Village at 333 SE 82nd Avenue, opened in February and is currently operating at full capacity. The Joint Office of Homeless Services — now renamed the Homeless Services Department — has held several community meetings, with the most recent meeting in April announcing that Do Good Multnomah would operate the site as a sober shelter. Presenters explained that residents and staff are subject to drug testing, and policy strictly prohibits the possession of non-prescribed intoxicants on the property.

Selecting a sober format meets a specific need for people transitioning into stable housing who are in recovery from substance use disorder, and it better matches community desires for the site, which is located near two schools. The project designers will set back the new seven-foot-high chain-link fence on SE Mill Street to allow for more sidewalk-adjacent plantings, providing a buffer space and allowing for greater resident privacy beyond the plastic fence inserts that will obscure sightlines from the street.

A proposed site design for a new sober shelter, showing the layout of sleeping units, community space, staff areas, and essential facilities like showers and laundry. The design includes labeled areas for vehicle entry, landscaping, and fencing. — *_{Feb 2025 Design – courtesy JOHS}*

Workers will remove sections of the asphalt pavement in the parking lot to create green spaces and a pet relief area for residents. Portable units that will house showers, bathrooms, a kitchenette space, and a laundry facility for residents are placed along the SE 82nd Avenue frontage to create a sound barrier from the busy street. On-site parking is available for staff and service providers only. This site will not provide space for residents to park personal vehicles. Some neighbors questioned the original placement of the trash enclosure on the property, and updated designs relocated it away from the fence line, but still made it accessible for trash haulers.

As work on the site progresses this summer, Homeless Services Department staff will collaborate with community partners on a Good Neighbor Agreement, a process anticipated to take two months. Demolition work will take place through August with a planned completion date around the 22nd of that month. Electricians, plumbers, and other tradespeople will follow to install the below-ground routed services that will support the installation of the portable sleeping pods and the six support buildings.

Article and phots by

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The Author of this article servers on the board the 82nd Avenue Business Association which will work with Multnomah County on a Good Neighbor Agreement for the site.

New Business July 11, 2025

Cannabis Store Opening in Downtown Montavilla

Broadway Cannabis Market will open a new location in the former Tub and Tan building at 8028 SE Stark Street. The Oregon marijuana dispensary chain signed a five-year lease for the Montavilla storefront in a building currently listed for sale. The company’s owner, Tony Birch, is recognized for introducing an upscale design to the ubiquitous landscape of pot shops across the city, with a notable investment in downtown Portland. He now intends to bring that same model into Montavilla’s historic downtown, with Broadway Cannabis Market’s seventh store expected to open sometime in early 2026.

3D drawing of the interior layout for a cannabis dispensary, featuring a reception counter, seating areas, and display sections. — *_{Rendering of Broadway Cannabis Market’s Montavilla sales area. Image curtesy Broadway Cannabis Market}*

The location ultimately met several requirements sought by the company when choosing a site for its new storefront. One factor the business owner looks for is a desirable commercial area that may have some underutilized storefronts. “I’m born and raised in Portland and so very familiar with Montavilla in general, and we’ve been keeping our eye on that little downtown strip specifically for quite some time,” said Birch. However, finding available space never surfaced in his research until a chance meeting presented this off-market opportunity. Birch frequents real estate networking events and bumped into the person trying to sell the old Tub and Tan building. “I ended up looking into the property and realized it actually meets all the zoning requirements and the setback requirements, as the land use [restrictions] for cannabis are pretty specific,” explained Birch. Before signing the lease, he visited the area and spoke with local business people to gauge how well his shop would integrate into the community on SE Stark Street. Birch said people seemed generally responsive to the idea of marijuana sales in the area and noted that shops on the street tend to close down around 10 p.m. “We have to close by 10, so it’s great that [Montavilla] wasn’t necessarily a late-night crowd. We have downtown Portland locations, and some of those are disadvantageous because there’s a big 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. crowd that we don’t capitalize on,” explained Birch. Those factors, along with the storefront’s proximity to bars and restaurants and the neighborhood’s general walkability, made it an exciting spot for the chain to expand to.

Map showing the location of Broadway Cannabis Market at 8028 SE Stark Street in Portland, with highlighted buffer zones and property information. — _{Portland Cannabis Application map showing Broadway Cannabis Market’s pending application at 8028 SE Stark St. Circles show 1,000 foot exclusion zone around schools in blue and other dispensaries shown in yellow}

The in-house design team at Broadway Cannabis Market is reworking the former hot-tubbing and tanning building to optimize customer flow and create back-of-house space that supports store operations. Birch noted that they differ from other marijuana dispensaries with a more open frontage during business hours. “We’re going to design it in a way that’s not ominous or intimidating from a passerby’s perspective. All the windows will be wide open, looking right into the business. We’re not going to have frosted glass or anything. I hate seeing dispensaries where they’re all covered up, it’s not very attractive.” At night, store staff will close external pulldown metal shutters covering the windows. They chose that security measure to avoid using bars in the windows, which Birch says makes places look like a jail and implies that the neighborhood is unsafe. Beyond that, they do not employ other visible security measures or security staff.

They plan to paint the building’s exterior black with a botanical leaf design, similar to other locations under the Broadway Cannabis Market brand. “It’s hand-painted. We’ve got two muralists that we’ve used in the past, Portland-based guys,” said Birch. “It’s very clean and modern, but also artistic, which I hope the neighborhood’s going to like. It’s always been well-received.” Except for paint and signage updates, the exterior will remain essentially unchanged, keeping the same doors and windows. Birch explained that the earthy artistic themes of the mural will extend into the shop. “The Broadway brand is grassroots, Oregon-vibed, Portland-vibed, wood tones, grass tones, neutral colors, artistic feeling on the inside. We’ll [display] poppy-art installations on the interior of the building that give a nice artistic feeling to it.”

Exterior view of the Broadway Cannabis Market building featuring a black facade with white botanical artwork, located in a commercial area. — *_{Broadway Cannabis Market downtown Portland showing exterior black paint with a botanical leaf mural design. Photo curtesy Broadway Cannabis Market}*

Attention to the retail space is almost as crucial to the company as its products, stemming from the founder’s background. Tony Birch entered the Cannabis industry through solar power. “My degree’s in renewable energy, and I did that for a handful of years after college and then made the switch to cannabis,” recalled Birch. Around 2014, he transitioned to cannabis growing, employing sustainable farming practices such as recycling rainwater and nutrient-rich water for reuse on the crops. They also used energy-efficient lighting mounted on light movers to reduce power usage, utilizing fewer fixtures that were repositioned over plants as needed, rather than lighting the entire facility. His eye towards environmental concerns followed in his switch to cannabis retail through the responsible sourcing of products. “We prioritize farms that have an eye on renewables. There are a lot of Oregon farms that are very pro-renewables, pro-recycling of their water, pro-living soil beds where they’re not even using [added] nutrients on the regular. We thankfully have great relationships with them, and we prioritize those companies,” said Birch.

Interior view of a cannabis dispensary featuring wooden display counters, various products in glass cases, and digital signage advertising promotions. — *_{Broadway Cannabis Market example interior design. Photo curtesy Broadway Cannabis Market}*

Birch explained that Broadway Cannabis Market uses well-informed staff, upscale store design, and competitively priced products to differentiate itself from other operators in the market. They primarily offer the standard dried and cured buds of the cannabis plant referred to as flower in the industry, but have a wide range of other products beyond that that contain elements of the plant. “Our number one selling category is flower, classic flower. Beyond that, it’s pre-rolls,” said Birch. Sister brands of the company manufacture those pre-rolled, ready-to-smoke marijuana cigarettes within a facility in Tigard, Oregon. Vaping cartridges used in electronic cigarettes account for over 20% of store sales, and he expects this to continue in a high-traffic area like Montavilla. They also sell Cannabis edibles. “Gummies are king. Everyone loves their gummies. But beyond that, baked goods, and a lot of cookie options. We’re seeing a lot of interest in the ratios,” explained Birch. Those products contain cannabinol (CBN) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in a variable ratio, producing differing effects. “For the people who want the sleepy time stuff, CBN is the cannabinoid that aids in sleep. So we’re increasingly stocking more of [CBN heavy products] and some other ratio gummies that are not just the pure THC,” He notes that this is indicative of people shifting from wanting to only get high on the products to a growing number of customers who are using it for sleep aids and other wellness activities.

Birch says he is excited to open the new Montavilla location and will look for ways to cross-promote with neighboring businesses. He also hopes neighbors will feel comfortable buying from the shop. He prides himself on having well-trained, uniformed staff that can educate a novice user or speak intelligently to a regular customer at any hour of operation. He also notes that the shop offers a product range that caters to a price point fitting many buyers. “We want people of any budget to come in, whether buying a $2 pre-roll or a $300 ounce,” said Birch. When the shop opens in the first quarter of 2026, it will operate from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Jacob Loeb

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