Category: New Business

Community, Construction, Food and Drink, New Business, New Residence

Timberview VIII Apartments Lifts Gateway

The eight-story Timberview VIII Apartments at 540 NE 99th Avenue will open to new residents in October. Currently Gateway District’s tallest building, this mass timber affordable housing project brings environmentally forward construction to a prominent section of NE Glisan Street. The bar-shaped structure elevates income-restricted housing design and features apartments for households of varying sizes up to three bedrooms. The 105-unit multifamily building will connect to the community through a ground-level food hall that will support eateries within walking distance of a housing-dense area.

  • Array Food Hall rendering, courtesy Access Architecture
  • Array Food Hall rendering, courtesy Access Architecture
  • Array Food Hall, courtesy Access Architecture

The publicly accessible dining hall has four food spaces and one bar business arranged in a sawtooth pattern that provides definition for each business’s counter area. When open, guests can use the shared seating that wraps around the windowed walls or take items to go. Two restaurant units have full kitchens, while the other stalls offer smaller food prep areas suitable for deli or juice bar tenants. The building’s owner implemented the ground floor commercial space with a focus on supporting small business owners. Contractors will complete units to a move-in-ready state, so a business only needs to install their specific cooking equipment and branding. This level of buildout lowers costs for starting eateries that will not have pricey tenant improvement expenses.

Array Food Hall floor plan, courtesy Access Architecture

Although a convenient amenity for the Timberview VIII residents, the Array Food Hall is accessible independently of the adjacent lobby and leasing area. The food hall is a community resource that bolsters the Gateway District’s walkability. Zoning density in this part of Portland is second only to Downtown, and area residents will need to rely on transit and walkable destinations. Cyclists living in the apartments can access a main-level cargo bike parking room and a basement storage area. Around 70 residences offer additional in-unit bike storage, bringing the building’s bicycle capacity to 160. This project was approved before recent code changes reduced bicycle parking numbers, and the builder chose to stick with the higher capacity. Thanks to the developer leading this project, many aspects of this building go beyond the base requirements for affordable housing.

Stacked bike racks in basement parking room

Brendan Sanchez, Principal at Access Architecture, explained that the project’s owner, Rystadt Development, had a vision for this property early on. “One of the client’s primary goals from the get-go was that it be mass timber and affordable housing,” said Sanchez. “Our structural engineer was DCI, and they actually are the ones that connected me with the client.” Mass timber is a relatively new method of building using an engineered wood product to support a building that would often require concrete or steel. The wood-centric structure offers improved construction speed with large sections fabricated offsite, and the naturally grown materials used in the construction reduce a project’s carbon footprint.

Steel and concrete have high amounts of embodied carbon (carbon released into the atmosphere during production), so reducing those building products will have significant environmental benefits. Additionally, wood products sequester carbon, mitigating climate change. Trees pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow, trapping carbon within their cells until the wood burns or decomposes. Buildings with mass timber products hold carbon within the structure for its lifetime. Mass timber has environmentally friendly benefits beyond the manufacturing process. The multi-layered, solid wood panels and beams weigh less than similar structural materials, allowing for smaller concrete foundations. This weight savings is also where the more expensive mass timber product can become competitive. In some soil conditions, heavier buildings require a more substantial footing, driving up an engineer’s time and construction costs. In those cases, the lighter mass timber building saves money.

The environmental considerations of this project continue inside the building, with radiant floor heating in each unit. High-end builders often install this feature in residences because it effectively distributes consistent warmth throughout a home. It is also energy efficient and should contribute to the development team’s goal of being a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum building. During planning, the project team targeted a LEED Gold rating but discovered that they could achieve higher energy efficiency with just a little more effort. This building will offer residents portable air conditioners they can install in units seasonally.

View from coworking space

The Timberview VIII building is one of Oregon’s first type IV-C construction type (mass timber) structures permitted through a codified code path instead of through permit appeals that previously allowed this building type’s construction, explained Sanchez. “We worked hand in hand with the City of Portland to make sure that when we submitted for permit review, they were already expecting what we were going to be submitting. To the City’s credit, they did a great job. I think everyone felt good about that process.” The Timberview VIII is not the tallest mass timber building. However, it is pushing the limits of the district’s skyline. “It’s the tallest building that we have designed. It’s not technically a high rise. It came in just under high-rise heights,” remarked Sanchez. “While our building currently will be the highest, we expect that other taller buildings will come online over the next five to ten years, so we just want to make sure that we have a building that feels like it is of high quality.”

Wood veneer panel protecting mass timber structure

Access Architecture designed the building to show off its unique structure and become a showpiece for the surrounding community and its residents. “We wanted to highlight the use of mass timber. On the exterior, we’ve carved away the building facade to reveal the structural system. It starts at the ground floor, where the public spaces are. Then that carveout wraps up the building on the South facade and terminates at the top level community room’s outdoor patio that has views towards Downtown and Mount Hood,” said Sanchez. Exposing the supporting frame of any building to the elements can weaken it over time, especially for wood products. “That’s a little bit difficult to do in the northwest. It takes additional consideration because of our weather and just the amount of precipitation we receive. So we were intentional about where we exposed the mass timber, and then in other areas, we wrapped it in a wood siding that still has the look of wood but is protecting the structural material,” explained Sanchez. Crews covered the exposed mass timber in a wood veneer product that uses natural wood glued on a panel with a protective coating. That product’s manufacturer warranties it for 20 years of outdoor exposure while still presenting the wood structure forward. “So that’s what we’ve used in the areas where we wanted to express the structural frame, but we didn’t want to have the actual structural frame exposed to the elements,” said Sanchez.

Community room and outdoor patio

The exposed timber became a key element within the building as well. “We tried to expose as much wood as possible with biophilic design principles, utilizing the natural beauty of the Doug Fur cross-laminated timber as ceilings,” said Sanchez. This design left many mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems exposed to residents that tradespeople took care to keep organized along corridors. Lighting in this building is usually attached to the walls to avoid running electrical conduit over the wood panels. The LED lighting design creates softer illumination throughout the units and hallways in stark contrast to the sometimes harsh lighting used in other buildings. Residents will also benefit from significant natural light through tall windows in each unit and an eighth-floor amenity space that is all about the scenery. “We knew that it would be, at least for now, the tallest building in the area. So we have some great views and wanted to take advantage of that,” remarked Sanchez. The designers used part of the top floor for a community room and outdoor terrace where all building residents can enjoy a penthouse vista.

Westward view from the eighth floor patio

Many affordable housing buildings place community space on the ground floor, where having bedroom windows close to the sidewalk would make people uncomfortable. In this building, they split communal space between the top-level views and a ground-floor coworking space off the main lobby. This choice also provided more floor area for the public food hall, which should bring people from the neighborhood into the building. Diners within that space will activate this corner of NE Glisan and 99th Avenue, creating a lively streetscape that feels safer and attractive to those passing by. That effect is thanks to its tall glass storefront and rollup doors that can open in the summer. However, Sanchez explained maintaining human-scale design is critical to creating an attractive pedestrian space. The designers intentionally avoided a long glass wall around the first floor by using the building structure to create smaller compartments. “One of the unique things we try to do with this project, compared to some other projects, is you’ll notice the mass timber columns on the ground floor are pulled away from the building facade. When you’ve got large expanses of glass along a sidewalk, studies show that our brain starts to get anxious, and someone will walk past it a little bit faster because a long storefront can feel cold,” said Sanchez.

Crews installing outdoor awnings

Additionally, people at the base of the building will benefit from steel awnings attached to the mass timber frame, providing rain coverage and sun protection. In the summertime, the glass-paneled rollup doors can expose the food hall to the street and allow seating to extend outside. This indoor-outdoor connection should further connect the building with the community and make NE Glisan a lively space for people walking the streets.

Rollup door in food hall

The Timberview VIII Apartments will have six three-bedroom and 15 two-bedroom units, meeting a considerable need for family-sized affordable housing. “It’s hard to make family-size units pencil, but that was another commitment by the developers to have family units included, so we’re lucky to get a nice full range of unit types,” remarked Sanchez. The largest apartments feature two bathrooms and in-unit laundry hookups for those residents who want to use their own machines instead of the shared laundry room. Architects place the three-bedroom units on the south side of the building and offer expansive views of the street below.

Window placement in the Timberview VIII Apartments brings a tremendous amount of natural light into the building while shaping the outward design. “We have a tall and wide building, especially on the West facade, and so we wanted to break that up and introduce a little bit of playfulness on that facade by staggering the window openings. If you look at the elevation design, many of the Windows stack. We have two window types, a larger one and then a narrower one next to it. That narrower one creates a stepping visual as you go across the facade. It steps diagonally down to bring your eye down to the main southwest intersection,” explained Sanchez. The window openings within the siding also added to the texture of the structure. The designers used furring material to lift the metal panels out past the windows, creating the appearance of thicker walls with set-back glazing. Sanchez noted depth adds to the building’s visual interest and creates subtle shadows that people pick up on.

Cascade Management is currently accepting applications for units in the Timberview VIII Apartments. To qualify, residents can only earn up to 60% of the Median Family Income (MFI). In 2024, that means making less than $49,560 per year for an individual or $70,800 for a family of four. Units currently range from $1,168 to $1,760 per month. People will move in later this month, with the project team planning a grand opening ceremony in November. Expect to learn more about the food hall tenants as construction wraps up in that commercial space.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account for monthly support or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Bar, Food and Drink, New Business

Publican Beer Room Opens at CORE

On Friday, September 27th, the Publican Beer Room opened inside the Collective Oregon Eateries (CORE) food hall, supported by the bartending skills of Chris Shimamoto of Barrio fame. The CORE food cart pod and dining hall at 3612 SE 82nd Avenue recently took in carts displaced from Eastport Food Center’s closure. Now, they have made space for Shimamoto, who lost his Barrio Bar during the Portland Mercado fire on January 3rd. The grand opening weekend is as much a celebration of CORE’s growth as it is a homecoming for a beloved bartender and member of the community.

From left to right: Hanry Ho, Chris Shimamoto, and Mandy Kao behind the bar

Shimamoto met CORE’s owners, Mandy Kao and Hanry Ho, in April as they worked to open their Publican Beer Room. The fortuitous introduction gave Shimamoto an option to get back to his craft and join like-minded bar owners in launching the community space they have envisioned for years. “I didn’t do anything for nine months, so today’s about coming back and being part of the community. After owning a bar for ten years, that community is really important,” said Shimamoto. “I missed that piece of it, seeing people’s lives, and I missed all the dogs.”

Regulars greeted Shimamoto on opening day, with some making a significant effort to attend. “Rosie doesn’t leave her house [much], but she came once a week with her friends for nine years to my bar every Thursday at 1:30. So today, she made an exception and came out for the opening,” explained Shimamoto. It is the many customers like Rosie that motivated him to get back to work. “When your community shows up for you, you want to show up for the community,” said Shimamoto. He also wanted his college-age daughters to see how to face adversity. “You always want to show your best example to your kids, so I wanted to show them that after having something tragic happen you get back up. That’s just part of life.”

After the early morning fire destroyed his bar last January, Shimamoto received significant support from people who wanted to help with the recovery. Like many losses in life, it takes time to process, and even now, he is not ready to rebuild what the fire took. “It wasn’t time for me to reopen a bar, but I wanted to work for somebody that had a shared vision and a love of community, and Hanry and Mandy have that,” remarked Shimamoto. The opportunity to grow CORE’s offerings is the right fit for this next chapter in his life. Chris Shimamoto has a passion for wine, and Publican Beer Room has a wide selection for people to choose from. However, the bar owners plan to expand into a secluded neighboring space in the food hall with a second shop called Publican Wine Room. Shimamoto will also tend to that business, featuring a stone wine cellar motif and dedicated seating for a focused experience. Shimamoto will create a rotating menu of wines that will stand alone or pair well with the food served by CORE’s many vendors.

Chris Shimamoto knows many of the Barrio fans will follow him to this new location, and he intends to stock a full selection of Mexican beer along with the sangrias and micheladas he served at the Portland Mercado. However, he is excited to adjust the bar’s selection to serve the community surrounding 82nd Avenue. “We didn’t have the Asian population there [at the Mercado], but we have a huge Asian population in this area. So we’ll have a full selection of soju, sake, and makgeolli, which is Korean rice wine. And we’ll have a full selection of Asian beer,” explained Shimamoto. As remarkable as his old bar was, it had only five beer taps and 18 indoor seats, and this new bar offers much more variety than was possible in Barrio. “There’s ten beer taps. We could never do cider on tap there. Here, we can do two cider taps. I have Nitro taps. We have a full bar. I didn’t have a full liquor license at Barrio, just beer and wine. So now, I can make cocktails,” said Shimamoto.

Publican Beer Room features a dual-sided bar serving guests from the outside cart area and the interior food hall. Guests can take their drinks anywhere within the CORE seating areas, making it easy to grab meals and beverages wherever patrons are comfortable. Mandy Kao designed the bar and seating area. It creates a warm, defined gathering space at the center of the hall without walls, allowing guests to expand into the open seating of the naturally illuminated food hall. Soon, five televisions featuring a variety of programming will hang on the walls. “It’s not necessarily a sports bar per se. We’ll have sports playing, but we’ll have a little bit of everything,” said Hanry Ho. He explained that the bar and TVs are essential to creating a space where people can feel comfortable gathering and hanging out.

People attending the opening weekend can enjoy live music from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The September 28th performance features Hannah Sloane-Barton. “Hannah is a union organizer, she’s an activist, but she also has a background in opera. She plays violin and is one of the loveliest singers that played at my old bar,” remarked Shimamoto. In addition to a unique and varied selection of drinks, people can find an assortment of food from cart and food hall vendors. CORE has always offered a place for people to stop for a meal, but now the owners hope it will become a destination for the neighborhood to gather and feel connected. The bar is now open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the owners invite everyone to come see the bar and meet the bartender. “Chris is actually quite the character himself; he is definitely a big draw just being in a community for ten-plus years. So we love having him here,” said Hanry Ho.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Eastport Food Center carts that relocated to CORE:

Current CORE carts and hall vendors:

New Business, Services

ZenTech Auto Repair Opens on SE 82nd

ZenTech Auto Repair opened on August 3rd at 145 SE 82nd Avenue in the former auto spa location next to Hong Phat Food Center. This three-bay repair shop services all vehicle types, and the staff speaks Vietnamese and several Southern Chinese dialects in addition to English. Their fluency in people’s native languages sets this shop apart from other service centers, and the owner hopes it will allow his family-run business to support local residents and the broader Asian American community.

Wayne Zhen operates ZenTech with his father and mother. His father developed decades of experience servicing vehicles in China before moving to the United States 30 years ago and passed along his knowledge to Wayne. The family, with another employee, works on all makes and models. They specialize in full engine replacements and transmission work but pride themselves on fast, affordable work for whatever vehicle people bring in. They welcome walk-ins and offer a free check engine light diagnostic.

Trust and communication are vital to vehicle service work, which is why ZenTech Auto Repair considers its multi-lingual staff a great asset. “We mostly serve the Asian populations because [some] Chinese and Vietnamese people don’t speak English well. Then they’re afraid to go to dealerships and other shops. They find us more convenient, language-wise,” said Wayne Zhen. He also explained that understanding a variety of Chinese dialects like Taishanese is essential to supporting Portland’s diverse Asian community.

Finding a location for his first shop, Zhen looked for a place central to his prospective customers and equipped with a turnkey auto shop space. “This is a great location. It’s on the main road with lots of traffic, and people shopping next door [at Hong Phat] see the sign and come over,” explained Zhen. The only obstacle to opening was the road construction at SE 82nd Avenue and Ash Street. During their first month of operation, crews rebuilt their sidewalk corner and blocked off entrances to the property as workers reconstructed the intersection with new left turn controls.

ZenTech Auto Repair from August during the now completed sidewalk corner reconstruction

ZenTech Auto Repair is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. They welcome all car owners to bring their vehicles and hope to support the community as a local repair shop. They already have many customers but can often complete repairs in one or two days. In the future, ZenTech hopes to offer auto bodywork to its list of services. People can call them at 503-265-8778 or message them on the business’s Instagram account.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Bar, Food and Drink, New Business

Dingo’s Sports Pub for East SE Stark

In early September, Dingo’s Sports Pub opened at 8826 SE Stark Street, replacing the Beer Brats & Beats venue with an Australian-style sports bar. Owner Brendan Jones has transformed this space several times since opening in late 2021. This iteration pulls inspiration from his national roots with a light Aussie theme that offers a brighter, quieter sports bar experience.

Dingo’s displays four large screens showing American and Australian sports, with a variety of indoor table and bar seating. A bank of glass-fronted coolers behind the bar stock an array of local beer selections and two on-theme imports. “We absolutely support the Northwest beer because it’s the best in the world, having just reaffirmed that in my mind, going to Australia [recently]. There’s no comparison there, but I do have a couple of Australian beers, the iconic Foster’s Victoria Bitter and Coopers, which is our best craft beer,” said Jones. On the other hand, the majority of the food menu incorporates many flavors of his upbringing. “I’m focusing on the great Australian meat pie and the great Australian sausage roll. That food is such a huge part of our football sport culture because it’s readily available and easy to hold.” People can also order grilled cheese prepared several ways and veggie pies or spinach rolls as meat-free options. Dingo’s will continue to serve the espresso and full bar selection patrons of the previous iterations enjoyed.

Australian roll and meat pie pictures courtesy Dingo’s Sports Pub

Brendan Jones moved to the United States in 2001 and embraced his new country. However, a recent trip home rekindled his interest in his heritage. “I had a sort of a patriotic, nostalgic kind of reconnection to Australia when I went down there recently,” explained Jones. On his return, he set to work reshaping his storefront on SE Stark Street to match his vision, but not in the cartoonish fashion often seen in other Australian-themed ventures. Instead, he wanted to capture the feeling of his native country’s local pub, which primarily serves the neighborhood. “This really does feel like an Aussie pub, just straight off the bat because our drinking establishments are light. There are big windows, and you know it’s a very bright country in terms of sunlight, and that’s what I wanted to reflect here,” remarked Jones.

Unlike the classic American dark and loud sports pub, Dingo’s patrons will notice natural light streaming in from the nearly floor-to-ceiling windows and the general openness inside. Tables are widely spaced so people can come in groups and not feel on top of one another. Jones noted that he is conservative with screen placement around the pub, ensuring that TVs do not overstimulate guests. “I’ve been to those bars where you just sort of feel like your head’s gonna pop [from the distraction]. So it’s more of a happy balance of laid-back enjoyment without it being over the top,” said Jones. He explained that it is important for Montavilla residents living east of 82nd to have a “Local” in the British and Australian sense. A comfortable third place that is not home or work where neighborhood people can relax or meet friends.

Dingo’s Sports Pub is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. People can follow the company’s Instagram page for special games and updates. Visitors are welcome to walk in from the neighborhood. However, a newly resurfaced parking lot offers five standard parking stalls and one reserved accessible space for guests.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Food and Drink, New Business

Shorba Arabic Food Cart on SE 80th

On August 27th, the Shorba Arabic food cart opened for business after a weeks-long soft launch period. This uniquely sited cart sits adjacent to an apartment building on the northeast corner of the same block that hosts mainstay neighborhood restaurants, including Yaowarat and Redwood. The cart’s owner, Omer Alshahrabani, and his wife run lunch and dinner service from the sidewalk adjacent eatery at 307 SE 80th Avenue, bringing authentic recipes from Iraq to the Montavilla area.

Alshahrabani is an experienced food service worker who has cooked professionally since 2003. During those years, he developed the culinary skills to meet Portland diners’ various diets with gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options. Alshahrabani explained that even with dietary modifications, the recipes remain authentic to his Baghdad-based upbringing, with everything made by the couple from simple base ingredients. “We use quality products and keep everything fresh and authentic,” remarked Alshahrabani.

Unlike a collection of carts at a food cart pod, the business owner situated this eatery by itself at the edge of a commercial street near residences. Alshahrabani said this was an intentional choice that would set his operation apart. “I wanted to be the first one to have a food cart in the area. Since I know the landlord of our apartment, it was easier to make an agreement and get permission. The challenging part was getting approval from the city.” Residents walking by the future cart site watched as the operator gradually readied his eatery for opening in the apartment’s parking lot, with activity building up to a soft launch during the Montavilla Street Fair.

People familiar with Mediterranean menus will find familiar dishes, including a beef saj with seasoned beef shawarma served in a grilled saj flatbread wrap. Guests can also order seasoned beef and chicken over rice or salad. Meat free options include hummus, tzatziki, and falafel in several preparations. The menu also offers a namesake serving of lentil shorba (soup). For a sweet option, people can order baklawa, a dessert similar to Baklava but flavored with cardamom and other slight ingredient differences. Shorba is open daily for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. They are a friendly, family-run business that serves Arabic foods with a wide-reaching appeal.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

New Business, Top 2025

Storied Vintage Opening on SE Stark

On August 21st, Storied Vintage opened its new Montavilla location at 7850 SE Stark Street after relocating from a 1,000-square-foot space at the Brooklyn Mall on NE Sandy Boulevard. This leap into a dedicated storefront reflects three years of business growth for store owner Jana Fulop. The family-run shop is still developing its hours during this soft launch, but Fulop anticipates hosting an official opening in early September.

Store owner Jana Fulop

Jana Fulop grew her furniture restoration career from a 20-year-long hobby that has roots in her childhood. She grew up outside Portland near Mt. Hood, where pre-owned furniture was more abundant and cost-effective than new furniture. That foundational experience and a desire to reduce consumer waste led Fulop on a life-long effort to rescue quality furniture that is difficult to find in contemporary stores. During her downtime from her marketing and interior design profession, Fulop would put on music and restore furniture for private resale or on commission. However, when the pandemic left her without a job, she made the leap to full-time refinished furniture sales. With the encouragement of Fulop’s spouse, the business grew from 100 square foot space to 1,000 square feet.

Not long after the Brooklyn Mall relocated from SE Milwaukie Avenue to NE Sandy Boulevard, curiosity prompted Fulop to look at a dedicated space where she could bring in her own partner creators and grow the company’s offerings. She was interested in the storefront recently vacated by Endure Vintage. However, she soon learned that Flipside Hats was moving into that smaller storefront, making their larger space with a 1,200 square foot showroom available. It was a tough choice to leave the comfort of her current situation and take on a larger, dedicated space. However, the location won them over. “The minute I walked in here, I’m like, ‘Yep, this is my store.’ It just works,” said Fulop. Even in the short time since she opened the doors, it has seemed like the right choice. “It’s been amazing, honestly, and the community has been fantastic. It’s just been really great, you know, some places you don’t get that,” remarked Fulop.

Although furniture and housewares are still arriving in the shop, Fulop has already filled the showroom with reconditioned items and new products that use reclaimed materials. Fulop tries to make sure she has reasonable prices on her items. Thinking back on her upbringing, she hopes people find essential items they can afford in her store alongside the higher-end showpiece furniture on display. The shop features a mix of styles spanning years of durable and creative furniture. “I’m not a purist in the sense that I have to stick to one style. I sell a little bit of everything. I do a lot of mid-century. I carry a lot of antiques and primitive pieces, such as art deco when it’s a good piece,” explained Fulop.

People can also find mixed animal prints on parchment from Whatif Creations. “Jesse is a local Portland artist, and she has all these funky animal prints. She was a social worker working with kids, and she’d draw little things for them to engage with. They would ask, ‘What would happen if you mixed a turtle and a giraffe? What would that look like?’ So she started making these [drawings], and then it turned into a full-time business for her,” said Fulop. Shoppers will find a collection of jewelry made from vintage 1970s tiles alongside other adornments on display next to the sales counter. Throughout the store, visitors will discover hardwood products made by Tropical Salvage. For nearly 30 years, that company has imported discarded wood from Indonesia to build furniture and homewares.

Managing a business will be a balancing act for someone like Jana Fulop, who is primarily interested in doing restoration work and needs that production time to ready items for sale. Fortunately, her niece watches the shop a couple of days a week, allowing the shop owner to work in the back, refinishing furniture or working on operational issues. However, she will also bring in more per-owned items that do not require refinishing. Additionally, partnering with environmentally friendly companies like Tropical Salvage is another way for the store to have inventory on the floor that does not require constant sourcing like the pre-owned items.

Fulop is happy with her move to Montavilla and looks forward to adapting the shop to meet local tastes and interests. The shop’s name comes from her desire to share stories through the pieces on display. With the large windows and skylights filling the sales floor with natural light, each classic piece of unique furniture can show its history and its refreshed potential to continue life in another home. Storied Vintage is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Jana Fulop and her husband are Seventh-day Adventists and do not work during the day on Saturdays.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Community, Event, New Business, Services

Way Home Studio Opens to the Community

On August 18th, the Way Home Studio will open next door to the Way Home Shop as a rentable event space for classes and gatherings. The four studio co-owners came together based on a common need for flexible space to host their sessions. The group’s community-building approach to business includes making the space rentable at an affordable rate to other educators or people needing room for gatherings. The storefront at 8435 SE Stark Street offers a long multi-purpose room and a back area for smaller groups.

The space formally housed an alarm company that relocated to a larger storefront next door. The Way Home Studio team replaced the flooring with a shock-absorbing base layer and a durable laminate surface. One wall will offer a 20-foot wide full-length mirror with a ballet bar for those needing dance space. Groups renting the studio can also use 30 company-provided chairs and five folding tables in various configurations to meet their particular needs. People will have access to coffee, tea, and free wireless internet. The rooms rent together by the hour on a sliding scale based on the time of day. Weekday rates range from $10 to $25 per hour or $15 to $30 per hour on weekends. Full-day pricing is available, and they offer a 10% discount for elders 65 and older, first responders, veterans, and people from the BIPOC community. The current rate card and calendar are available on the company’s website, thewayhomestudio.com.

This space grew out of the success next door at the Way Home Shop. “I had a dream back in February when this space became available next door to my shop,” explained Gergana Kirilova, who owns the shop and is a partner in the studio. Her limited meeting space in the back of the Way Home Shop was often reaching capacity, but expanding to the vacant adjoining shopfront on her own would not have kept it as active as she knew it could be. “I sent an e-mail to all my folks saying, ‘Who’s in? Let’s build this healing center where we have more space for our gatherings.’ Little by little, I connected with these wonderful women,” said Kirilova. Her visions resonated with Amanda Cheer, Ida Cavewoman, and Lindsey Peck, who she knew from the community that formed around her shop. “I think we all came together because we see the need for a true community space that brings people together for a healing center. We’re all practitioners, artists, or healing folk in some capacity, and we were looking for a place for ourselves while also making sure that other practitioners in the area have a space to do the same that’s reasonably priced,” remarked studio partner Ida Cavewoman.

The Way Home Studio owners. (from left to right) Lindsey Peck, Amanda Cheer, Ida Cavewoman, and Gergana Kirilova

Based on the group’s shared interests and expertise, the Way Home Studio will focus on renting to people fostering healing for individuals and the community. These uses include community gatherings, educational workshops, health and wellness classes, cultural events, support groups, healing circles, seasonal celebrations, crafting groups, and offering self-care resources. However, they are open to hearing about other potential uses as long as renters follow their principles regarding equitable access and respect for people in attendance. Public events in this space are viewable on the Way Home Studio’s website or via a calendar link. The Studio team invites interested community members to view event descriptions and follow the signup links available in most listings.

In addition to the core group of partners, other practitioners have shown interest in this space, with several securing time slots. Co-owner Amanda Cheer noted that the early interest is already rounding out the types of activities planned for the studio. “We already have quite a few [people] that are excited. I know we have a couple of yoga and Reiki practitioners. So we have some stuff already on the calendar.” They also have people interested in using the space for book signings and other one-time events. Because the rental rate includes the back room with padded armchairs, a couch, and an under-counter refrigerator, they expect some people will reserve the studio for counseling and small groups needing a private room. Eventually, the Way Home Shop and Studio will connect through an existing door so eventgoers can transition between the storefronts without going outside and give people a place to move to after the scheduled session.

People interested in seeing the space and learning more about the group running it can attend the grand opening event on Sunday, August 18th, from 1 to 5 p.m. It is free to attend without prior registration, and they will provide light refreshments.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Business Relocating, New Business

Flipside Hats Flips Storefronts

Flipside Hats recently moved one door down within the same building, taking over 7848 SE Stark Street from a previous tenant. The hat company relocated to Montavilla from SE Belmont Street in November 2021 after an extensive remodel of the building. Endure Vintage Furniture rented the smaller retail space at the hat-maker-owned building in February 2023 but closed the business last April. Flipside Hats and its related brands moved their operations out of the building two years ago, relocating to Tucson, Arizona, while maintaining Portland-based production. Since then, the company only used the showroom space on SE Stark Street. Flipping storefronts in the building allowed the owners to rent to a new furniture company, Storied Vintage, which could use the expanded floor space as they increase capacity.

Kori Giudici and Jacob Wollner co-own Flipside Hats and have had strong ties to Portland. The couple bought the Montavilla building at the beginning of 2021 and renovated it to serve as a showroom, warehouse, and design shop. However, after a year, circumstances changed, and they needed to move out of the state. “We moved most of our operations like our offices and our warehouse and our design to Arizona,” explained Wollner, adding, “We still have our production in Portland.”

When the last tenant vacated, Giudici and Wollner had the opportunity to consider leasing out the smaller space again or switching locations based on interest from prospective tenants. They found Storied Vintage looking for dedicated showroom space with a backroom workspace, prompting the change in locations. Wollner said the last occupants left significant repair work, so they would have already needed to invest in that space, further incentivizing the storefront swap. They have also seen a decrease in foot traffic walking into the shop and saw this as a way to update operations.

Empty Flipside Hat space at 7850 SE Stark St and the future home of Storied Vintage

The new storefront space will have slightly reduced operating hours but offer an increased product selection. “We are planning to expand our specialty item offerings from the shop, making it more interesting and engaging for people based on what they want,” said Wollner. The store will carry more items produced by maker partners, offering jewelry, cards, and other small craft items complementary to the hats on display. Flipside Hats will also expand its apparel lines and have a specialty line of Portland hats. They expect these changes will bring more people into the shop and keep their four store employees busy with guests seeking the right accessory.

Flipside Hats is open from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the weekends. They are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Customers can shop for the current hat collections online or in the store. The shop has unique items that are not always available online.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Community, Event, Food and Drink, New Business

Hong Phat Supercenter Celebration

Hông Phát celebrated the opening of its new Supercenter at 4200 SE 82nd Avenue on Friday, July 26th, with firecrackers, lion dancers, and speakers lauding the anticipated community contribution of this grocery store. Store staff filled the former Walmart location in Eastport Plaza’s campus with many of the fresh produce and imported brands found in the local chain’s other three locations. However, the added shelf space of this significantly larger grocery allows for a broader selection of brands often found in national stores like the one it replaced. This product diversity signals the subtle shift of the traditionally Asian food retailer into its position as a neighborhood grocery store while retaining its culturally specific roots.

Business partners Brandon Wang (left) and Hoang Nguyen (right)

Opening ceremony attendees heard from the co-owners of the new 154,000-square-foot building, Brandon Wang and Dr. Hoang Nguyen. Wang, who started Hông Phát on NE Prescott Street in 2003, kept his remarks brief while Nguyen led the event. Oregon Representative Dr. Thuy Tran​ of District 45 spoke to the crowd about this store’s importance to the community as it will bring jobs and food resources back into an area abandoned by a national retailer. Religious leaders were in attendance alongside business supporters to cut the ribbon and welcome people into the store, led by lion dancers and followed by firecrackers.

The Hông Phát Supercenter supports several small businesses within the large building along the front of the store, with some unopened stores under construction along the rear wall. The prepared food vendor under the “Food Court” moniker, salon Wind Hair Design, and Ngoc Vi Jewelers sit between the Supercenter’s two front entrances. Inside the grocery area, local company Trazza Foods has a dedicated section offering its assortment of prepared and packaged traditional Lebanese dishes. DAT Furnishings – Harmony Decor’s shop at the back of the store is under construction, and Nguyen said they plan to add 20,000 square feet of additional tenant space.

Shoppers unfamiliar with many of the brands stocked in the Hông Phát Supercenter will still find foods found in non-Asian-focused markets. The store has a Vegan/Vegetarian and a Hispanic food section among other categories. People will discover Tillamook dairy products and other familiar domestic brands on the shelves throughout the store. However, guests will need to search for those products and explore less-known options to fill their pantries.

Americans have imported almost every dominant food type from other countries and cultures. At points in history, Italian sauces and pasta were considered “exotic” foods. Time changes grocery store selections, and it is easy to forget that some items were not in every store until recently. Bagels are no longer the specialty of Jewish delicatessens but now found in the bread aisle of nearly every national food seller. Many shoppers think of the change as gradual mass acceptance of adopted items, but it can also occur from rapid demographic shifts. Regional chains like Hông Phát are a variation of an evolving American diet shaped by its people. Not only will they stock products to meet diverse community demands, but the community may also adapt to what food is close to home, blending ingredients less common to generations before with modified family recipes.

Hông Phát Supercenter is still developing, with new tenant spaces due to open later in the year. Some aisle signage is missing, and a busy opening weekend has left empty shelf spaces. However, there is more to view in this vast store than most will want to tackle in one trip. Shoppers should see more updates over the next few months while the new neighborhood grocery store adapts to meet customers’ tastes. They are open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

New Business, View of Montavilla

Hong Phat Supercenter Opens July 26

Hong Phat Supercenter will open to the public on July 26th after a 30-minute ceremony that begins at 9 a.m. The store owners invite shoppers and community members to tour the new grocery store and indoor mall shops starting at 9:30 a.m. This Eastport Plaza situated location is the company’s fourth store, which opened a Tigard location last year. The store’s owner, with a partner, purchased this 154,000-square-foot building at 4200 SE 82nd Avenue from Walmart at the end of 2023. It now stands as one of the largest stores of its kind in the region, offering food familiar to Montavilla residents who have shopped at the brand’s 101 SE 82nd Avenue location since 2013.

The expansive building has room for many store-within-a-store shopfronts, offering retail spaces for smaller businesses. Shops open at launch include a hair salon, jewelry store, insurance office, beauty and skincare supplier, and a clothing boutique. One of the building’s owners explained two established food brands will rent around 20,000 square feet of space within the Supercenter later this year, expanding the variety shoppers will find during their visits.

In 2006, Fubonn Shopping Center at 2850 SE 82nd Avenue pioneered this model of an anchor Asian grocery store on 82nd Avenue, sharing its property with retail tenants. Hong Phat emulated that design slightly by adding an adjacent multi-storefront building to its Montavilla store in 2015. In 2019, SF (Shun Fat) Supermarket opened in the former Foster Road Fred Meyer building less than a mile from this newest Hong Phat location. This continued expansion indicates a successful model for joint grocery and retail operations.

Although these newer grocery stores predominantly offer culturally specific foods and brands, their size could allow them to meet most households’ general food-buying needs. As many national grocery stores consolidate and reduce the number of stores in the area, these growing food retailers are filling the gap in communities looking for neighborhood resources. Area residents can start stocking their pantries at this new Hong Phat store beginning Friday.

Update: Read the article covering the event with pictures of the store and celebration.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.