Tag: 7112 NE Glisan

Community

Public Support Needed for NE Glisan Businesses

Several NE Glisan businesses seek community support to keep their doors open in a challenging economy. Mudd Works Roastery at 6922 NE Glisan Street started a GoFundMe campaign last month to bridge the gap caused by revenue shortfalls. After health issues and nearly two years of limited operations during the pandemic, the coffee house needs an infusion of money to make it another season. Hinterland at 7112 NE Glisan Street is also looking to make up for slower sales. Instead of fundraising, they created the Forever Feral 2022 Calendar to bolster income.

Mudd Works Roastery’s GoFundMe efforts began at the start of November. Winter is a notoriously slow season for the coffee company, and without the cash reserves from the previous months, continuing operations will be challenging. 

I am not one to ask for help too often but my life recently changed as I contracted COVID-19 for the second time. Luckily, I have some very great friends who have stepped up to keep things going while I focus on getting better. Mudd Works has been getting by for the last year and a half. But with the colder months and the ever-present COVID-19, we are suffering financially. This is the time of year where we typically see a drop in sales. But with people going out less and spending less due to the pandemic, sales are down. With sales going down in the past year and our expenses rising, it’s been a struggle. Despite it all, we’ve managed to stay open half days at one of our locations to provide fuel for our loyal patrons. Our issue in the simplest of terms is a lack of capital and customers. we thought a GoFundMe appeal seemed like the best option to raise money, share our story, and connect with those who care about small businesses. I know I’m not alone in this story of struggle. I’m sure I will be one of the many voices this season experiencing a similar situation. It’s not lost on me that so many in my industry and folks at home are only just getting by financially. Making this a lot harder to ask for help. I ask this, give until it feels good. That giving may look like a donation or it may be a reposting to your social media pages or even kind words of support. Any and all forms of giving have an impact. Donations will be used for rent and utilities, labor costs and inventory for coffee roasting and the bakery/cafe.

Mudd Works Roastery’s GoFundMe campaign page

The Hinterland Forever Feral 2022 Calendar celebrities the spirit of the store’s brand in pictures. The content of the calendar may not suit everyone’s style. However, they have many other products that can express the same powerful messages the company is known for. Of course, there is always coffee for sale at Hinterland, and every purchase helps.

The first (annual?) Hinterland calendar is here and it’s wild. This print run is super limited (it’s almost 2022 after all!). Grab one for yourself, share with your friends via social media: it all helps! I have to be honest with you all: while we’re having fun and making the best of things these days…shit is wildly tenuous with us and other small businesses. This holiday season will be a make-or-break for many small businesses and I hope you think of us when you’re sourcing coffee or cozies (or in this case saucy calendars). If you value what Hinterland brings to your lives–and what we bring the towns our brick and mortars reside in–please continue to support us. This calendar is probably not ideal for youngsters–but you decide. All photographs were taken by Kait Di Angeles in Portland, OR.

Hinterland December 1st email newsletter

Other restaurants on the street have also started less public GoFundMe campaigns, looking for customer assistance while circumstances force limited operation. The neighborhood businesses seeking support all recognize that they are not alone. Almost any small business in Montavilla needs more customers this season. However, these businesses are looking for extra consideration from the community and would be grateful for the added income to survive a difficult time.

Community, Property Sale

New Life for a Classic Glisan Storefront

Hinterland Coffee Company is buying the building currently housing the business. Three months ago, owner Trinia Jean opened the storefront in a 1914 era building at 7112 NE Glisan Street. During the initial buildout process, it became apparent that future growth would require a substantial renovation. That level of investment is impractical as a renter. Purchasing the building became the only way forward to expand Hinterland’s business and realize the building’s potential.

The current property owner is interested in selling to Trinia Jean, and a downpayment is all that is needed to move forward. Having just opened the store and already investing in repairs to the building, Jean launched a Kickstarter campaign to gather the necessary funds. The $60,000 goal will cover most of the downpayment and allow the business to further transform the space into a “comfortable, inviting place for good folx to gather.”

With just over ten days to go in the campaign, Hinterland made the original goal and is now collecting additional funds. New rewards are available for backers, and the extra money could accelerate plans for the building. Jean is happy with the funding model she chose because people are receiving something for their support. Although it is possible to donate money to the cause, most backers are stocking up on coffee beans and unique apparel through backer rewards.

With the sale not yet complete, buildout plans are still in the pre-planning stage. Trinia Jean did not let herself look too far ahead as owning the building was still just a dream until this weekend. However, there are several next steps for the business. Permits to open the cafe are needed, and outdoor seating behind the shop will enable Hinterland to grow the coffee side of the operation. Coffee bean roasting and drink sales are on the path to take over the business’s income stream. Selling their collection of products that embody Jean’s “weird sense of humor” will always be part of Hinterland’s operation. It just has a narrow audience, according to Jean, “we’re not for everybody, and that’s OK.” In contrast, their coffee has broad appeal and the power to bring people together inside the shop. 

Online retail continues to be the engine of Hinterland’s success. The people who take joy in the company’s creations have expanded thanks to the internet. Now the popularity of the brand has outgrown the capacity of their backroom print shop. In their early years, screen-printing was the main business for Hinterland. They provided commercial printing services for other companies and their selection of clothing. Recently they stopped taking outside work and soon will move all screen printing work to a local company.

While the rough space inside the building worked for screen printing, it will not work well for retail and cafe service. When building ownership is secured, and screen printing relocates, Trinia Jean will transform the whole building into a comfortable retail space. These improvements will take a restorative approach instead of modernization. She respects the 100-year-old building and enjoys its classic characteristics. Work will eventually uncover some of the building’s original architecture and repair it to survive many more years of use.

Sanborn Map 1924

Trinia Jean has received a warm welcome to the neighborhood and general excitement for her efforts. This section of NE Glisan has grown sleepy over the years and has needed a revival. The residents appreciate the recent resurgence of activity. “Everyone is just excited to have some life in a space that didn’t have a lot of life initially,” explained Jean. With the funded Kickstarter campaign, people should start to see further enhancements to these shops and more lively activity around them.

Food and Drink, New Business

Hinterland Coffee Roasters and Apparel

Hinterland will open its second location at 7112 NE Glisan Street, expanding from the existing store in Sonoma County, California. Although currently closed to the public, the new storefront will eventually offer prepared coffee drinks along with retail items. Until then, this location serves as the hub for online sales and production.

The Montavilla store houses a roastery for coffee bean production and a printshop for clothing and other items. Finished products are shipped back to the California store to sell from that location. Hinterland’s two owners decided to expand north, splitting store management between them. Owner Trinia Jean runs the Montavilla shop and is in charge of coffee and apparel production. Jean moved to the region due to its lower cost of living and proximity to the bulk of Hinterland’s customers.

Hinterland began in 2014 as a screen-printing collaboration that exclusively uses American made clothes for their prints. Before the pandemic, they decided to expand into coffee production. Jean has 16 years of experience with coffee preparation and sales. Durning the COVID-19 shutdowns, coffee sales kept the business healthy, with Coffee Subscriptions becoming a significant portion of the companies monthly sales. The store in Portland provides expanded space for coffee production and online order fulfillment.

The shopfront’s patina attracted the business owner to Montavilla. “The storefront was rough, and I like to improver places,” explained Jean. The 1914 building had the right character for the company’s esthetic, and the store’s interior buildout embraces those features. An old display case left in the store is now merged with a salvaged bar to form a key fixture for coffee service. Jean explained that “there will not be many new things” decorating the store outside of inventory items. Instead, aged and reused items are preferred.

Hinterland’s operational footprint expands beyond the single shop. Jean rents 7112 and 7114 NE Glisan Street, using the back half of Citrine Bloom next door for coffee roasting and product creation. Cooperation between the two stores will expand when they open to walk-in customers. A passageway between the shops let customers transition between coffee, clothing, and plant shopping.

An opening date is dependent on health and safety recommendations from the State and County. Fortunately, the company is not solely reliant on in-person customers. Shopping the Hinterland website is an equally effective way to support this Montavilla based retail and manufacturing business. Eventually, the storefront will be alive with coffee service and shoppers, adding to the Glisan Street revival.