Tag: SE Stark

Food and Drink, New Business

Chick-fil-A Opens on SE Stark Street

On January 22nd, Portland’s first free-standing Chick-fil-A restaurant opened in the Gateway district across from Mall 205. The store is unique in several ways from the other locations in the outer Portland area. It has a larger kitchen than most stores, a kids’ play area less often included in new facilities, and no drive-through window. Instead of hosting lines of cars, the fast food destination will serve guests with a digitized version of a drive-in model, allowing customers to park and order via a mobile app, with meals brought to the vehicle. First-time franchise operator Austin Morrow has worked toward this moment since age sixteen, learning all he can about building an inclusive, family-oriented establishment.

Indoor playground structure featuring climbing features, slides, and hanging rings, in a brightly lit room.
Kids’ play area

For the last 12 years, Morrow has dedicated his career to Chick-fil-A, with the last four spent in the Leadership Development program. That helped in the competitive process to become an operator. In this franchise model, the company owns the restaurant building and equipment, but operators control the local business. “I have 100% flexibility. I rent the space from Chick-fil-A, but I am an independent business owner, and all the staff work in my organization here. I have direct influence on how I give back to the community, how I serve my team, and how I can offer opportunities for my team,” explained Morrow.

A smiling man in a blazer stands beside a large Chick-fil-A sign with a welcoming message, surrounded by colorful balloons and decorations.
Franchise operator Austin Morrow

Morrow moved to the area last September, but had visited before when considering the opportunity. “When I was looking at coming to Portland, I went down [to the Clackamas location] and met with Brian Davis, the operator there. Just like me, he’s from the south, and he moved his family up here,” said Morrow. What he found was that most people did not have direct experience with the company on the West Coast, which allowed operators to shape the experience in a meaningful way. “In the south, Chick-fil-A is everywhere, so to be able to come to a community where it might be that first bite… there’s something special about when you’re sharing that first impression.”

A tidy dining area featuring wooden tables and metal chairs with black seat cushions, decorated with vases of roses at each table. Bright natural light streams in through large windows, providing a welcoming atmosphere.

Unlike the auto-focused Clackamas store, this location will need to serve customers arriving in a variety of ways. “I think we’re going to be pretty foot traffic heavy,” said Morrow. “We have a lot of people who walk or use public transportation. Even my team members live really local in the community and walk here to work, so I think we will be a high foot traffic area.” Additionally, the city’s building code did not allow them to build a standard fast-food restaurant targeting people in vehicles. 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, which prevents it from qualifying for a prior-existence exemption. 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 a building entrance with a sign for 'Delivery Drivers' and curbside order markers.
Delivery Driver entrance and numbered parking stalls for app orders staff will bring to customer’s cars

Although they have improved pedestrian infrastructure around the property, the freeway-adjacent location will continue to attract motorists. Without the drive-through option, Morrow and his staff will be creative to meet customer demand. “We have 15 curbside spots where we’ll be offering a similar experience [to other locations] where you don’t have to get out of the car, and we’ll bring the food to you,” said Austin Morrow. “They can order ahead of time, or they could park and then order in the parking spot.” The dedicated and numbered stalls are at the northwest corner of the parking lot, adjacent to the delivery driver entrance. People working with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub have a dedicated, inside, welcoming space to pick up orders. Delivery apps can make up 10 to 30% of a day’s orders, and having the separated space helps get them on the road faster without imposing on customers in line.

Interior of a fast-food restaurant kitchen featuring a checkout counter with a payment terminal, promotional signage for free beverages, and organized shelves with kitchen equipment.
Delivery Driver pickup counter

Morrow said that customer experience is paramount to his efforts in Portland, but he also wants to support the nearly 100 employees joining his team. “My mission is to exceed the expectations of my guests and my team members. I want to be a premier employer for the team that’s working here, explained Morrow. At the base level, that is with a paycheck and a meal. “Sometimes we’ll have team members who come in and may not have food at home. This [shift] may be their only opportunity. So I want to make sure that they can have a hot meal for free that day.” Morrow said that he also wants to help his staff beyond their time at Chick-fil-A. “One thing I’m going to offer is I’m offering is a program where they can go to college. If you can work 30 hours a week, that will enable you to be able to go to college and hope for a better future. Because it’s not my hope that someone joins this organization and stays here for the rest of their life.”

Interior view of a restaurant featuring modern decor with wooden accents, red pendant lights, and tables set with small vases of roses.

In addition to staff support, the organization encourages locations to participate in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program, donating leftover protein to groups feeding the community. Morrow selected the Highland Christian Center to receive unserved food items that are cooled and ready for storage for use in the church’s meal program at 7600 NE Glisan Street. With this program, community kitchens will receive unused chicken that can be incorporated into other dishes. So recipients will not get the traditional sandwiches and may not know where the protein came from, but the leftover food will go to good use, feeding people with limited access to food. This philosophy of sharing food started even before the doors opened. “We’ve been training here [ahead of opening] so we actually donated a thousand sandwiches within the community, and so we use that as an opportunity to train our team,” said Morrow.

Interior of a Chick-fil-A restaurant featuring a long table with red chairs and several gift bags with pink tissue paper lined up on top.

Morrow explained that he is committed to joining the community and improving the area around his store. “I want people to feel that local ownership aspect. We operate under a large brand that says Chick-fil-A, but I want people in the community to feel like this is a local organization.” He expressed how much he appreciates Portland’s cultural and intellectual diversity, noting that people have been far more welcoming than he anticipated. “It’s my hope that when you come into my restaurant, you’re going to see through my team members, all different backgrounds, all different walks of life. And it’s my hope that we can create a culture in our community that everyone is welcome in this restaurant,” said Morrow. Starting today, the Chick-fil-A Mall 205 location will open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. They anticipate significant demand during the first few days and recommend people consider parking in the Mall 205 parking lot and crossing SE Washington Street if the main parking lot is full.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Greg Beddor – SEO Specialist, an Oregon based digital marketing consultancy. The company markets customer’s websites and provide SEO services to grow their business. We thank them for their support.

Infrastructure, New Business, View of Montavilla

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.

Update January 18, 2026: The Chick-fil-A Mall 205 location will open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday starting Thursday, January 22nd.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Greg Beddor – SEO Specialist, an Oregon based digital marketing consultancy. The company markets customer’s websites and provide SEO services to grow their business. We thank them for their support.

Community, Event, Food and Drink

Montavilla’s 2025 Fall Crawl and Trick or Treat Events

Starting October 17th, visitors to select Montavilla businesses can pick up a “Fall Crawl Passport” card from participating locations and collect stickers with purchases to earn a raffle entry. Completed passports are due back at Arbor Hall on SE Stark Street or Replicant/Mudd Works Cafe by the close of the event on October 31st. During the sticker collecting and business visiting event, the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) will also host a Trick or Treat event on Sunday, October 26th. A printed map shows key participants, and the METBA site displays individual business hours for the candy giveaway.

METBA organized both events as part of its annual tradition to create a safe and fun celebration of Autumn. The idea of a Montavilla pub crawl grew in popularity in 2019 when Threshold opened the neighborhood’s second brewery in the historic SE Stark Street downtown area. The concept grew into a more formalized event as part of METBA’s Harvest Festival and now includes a variety of activities, including a week-long shopping event for a chance to win a prize. Additionally, bars, restaurants, and other participating businesses may offer special entertainment and discounts.

A decorated house at night with colorful green and red lights, featuring Halloween decorations, including skeletons, pumpkin lanterns, and a ghost figure.
Montavilla home decorated for Halloween

Burgerville at 8218 NE Glisan Street will offer a free coupon for a food item with purchase for passport holders. Kim’s Tae Kwon-Do at 9003 SE Stark Street will provide free classes for passport holders on Tuesday and Thursday during the event from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street will host a special beer release on Halloween, celebrating its three new fall/winter seasonal brews. NightOwl Custom Apparel will offer free stickers and treats for those visiting the shop at 7114 NE Glisan Street in costume. The Glisan Fred Meyers branch of OnPoint Community Credit Union, located at 6615 NE Glisan Street, will feature a prize wheel on October 31st and offer candy on all other passport dates.

For October 26th specific activities, Beanstalk Children’s Resale at 8021 SE Stark Street will have “trick-or-treat goodies for the kiddos” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. DolFUN Dynamics will host a free Halloween party from 2 to 3 p.m. for children twelve years old and younger at 9260 SE Stark Street, along with a discount of $50 off the first month of classes for new enrollments. Personal Beast at 8119 SE Stark Street is offering a 25% discount on select dog and cat bulk treats from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Although not included on the map, Threshold Brewing & Blending, Academy Theater, and Flying Pie Pizza will participate in the Trick or Treat event.

A spooky Halloween-themed display featuring a creepy clown figure with glowing yellow eyes, holding a large lollipop, surrounded by colorful banners and festive decorations.
2023 Nightmare on Taylor Street haunted walkthrough animated creature

Many more locations will participate. An extensive list is available on the METBA Fall Events website page at metba.org. People trying to win the raffle can receive two stickers per purchase of $5 or more from participating locations, and every five stickers counts towards a raffle entry to increase the chances of winning. For a scarier, yet family-friendly event, consider “Nightmare on Taylor St,” featuring The Madhouse of MonstaVilla at 7926 SE Taylor Street. That October 31st event is a haunted walkthrough hosted by a resident who creates an elaborate experience for the neighborhood. As with most years, Montavilla plans to have an active fall celebration throughout the last half of October. Look for these events and more through the neighborhood.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Infrastructure

Pedestrian Struck at Inactive Signal

Around 7:25 PM on August 18th, a car driving westbound on SE Stark Street crashed into a pedestrian crossing the road at 80th Avenue. An ambulance transported the person to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The marked crosswalk at the intersection had newly installed Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) signals meant to indicate to drivers that they should yield to people crossing. However, the RRFB lights never began blinking because crews had not activated the equipment in the six months since Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) contractors installed them.

In January, crews installed signal equipment on SE Washington Street at 86th Avenue and SE Stark Street at 80th Avenue. These RRFBs remained unavailable to people trying to cross those intersections while city staff waited for road markings and new electric service from the power company PGE. Six months later, around August 2nd, linemen connected power lines to the safety signals at both intersections. However, crews only activated the RRFB signals on SE Washington Street at 86th Avenue. Despite the service line connection earlier this month, PBOT representative Dylan Rivera explained that power service is not yet active on SE Stark Street at 80th Avenue, leaving people crossing there less protected. While this equipment remained inoperable, residents complained that these inactive signals created an unsafe condition where motorists were unsure of people’s intent to cross because they had not activated the crossing signal.

PGE attached power line from August 2nd

Crews working for PBOT started construction on safety upgrades at SE Stark Street and 80th Avenue over a year ago. People visiting the historic Montavilla Downtown area frequently use this marked crosswalk. This fast-paced street has limited safe crossing points with two lanes for automotive westbound traffic. PBOT engineers decided to update safety infrastructure here as part of the 70s Neighborhood Greenway project that will increase non-automotive uses at this intersection. In June 2023, crews reconstructed street corners to widen the sidewalk and install mounting infrastructure to support the new signal hardware. Road workers patched and repaved the intersection after trenching and laying new conduits between the corners in September 2023. In January 2024, with snow still on the ground, signal specialists installed RRFB hardware on SE Washington Street and SE Stark Street at 80th Avenue.

Completed and active signal equipment on SE Washington Street at 86th Avenue

The RRFB equipment remained inactive, awaiting the prolonged dry weather painting contractors require when applying high-visibility crosswalks to the road surface. PBOT representatives explained that the bureau’s policy requires street markings before activating crossing signals like RRFBs. Hicks Striping & Curbing completed the crosswalk work this April, and PBOT activated the RRFB at SE Washington Street and 80th Avenue soon after. However, the SE Stark Street unit remained unpowered and offline, along with an RRFB at SE 86th Avenue and Washington Street that crews completed as part of another project. At times, PBOT marked the dormant safety devices with caution tape, alerting pedestrians and cyclists to the non-functional equipment. After a prolonged delay, the utility company added power line connections to RRFB control equipment in early August.

Reader submitted photo taken minutes after the August 18th crash

This Sunday night crash occurred in the evening as the sun set behind Mt. Tabor, possibly limiting visibility. The RRFB equipment is designed to aid crossing pedestrians where light conditions or other distractions make them less visible to drivers. At the time of the crash, the activation buttons at this intersection were covered in caution tape, indicating they were not functioning. Witness reports say that one vehicle stopped for the pedestrian while a car in the second lane of the one-way street continued past, striking the southbound pedestrian and sending them to the ground. People at the nearby bar and restaurant residents saw the incident and called emergency services. Portland Fire & Rescue workers assisted the injured person until the ambulance arrived, and the driver of the car cooperated with the investigation.

Rivera expressed PBOT’s concern for the pedestrian and reinforced the need for signal equipment. “Injuries from crashes like this can impact a person for years, and our thoughts are with them and their community. Pedestrian beacons and crossing improvements such as the one nearly completed at this location can greatly improve visibility for pedestrians, and they have been shown nationally to reduce the chances of a fatal or serious injury crash. Even after the beacon is activated, we need everyone to use caution when driving on our streets.” PBOT has not set a timeline for activating this new safety equipment and is waiting on the utility company.

Update: As of August 20th, the RRFB signals on SE Stark Street at 80th Avenue are functional.

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, Event, Food and Drink

Miller Paint’s Opening Celebration BBQ

Miller Paint’s newest location at 9312 SE Stark Street will officially open on July 15th, with a week-long celebration running through the 20th. On Thursday, July 18th, people can join the paint store staff for a BBQ event from 11 a.m. through 3 p.m. Cookout guests will receive free grilled food and refreshments and could win raffled giveaways. Customers will receive discounts on all paint and painting supplies throughout the opening week.

Miller Paint began installing signage at its new Montavilla store at the beginning of the year. The 4,000-square-foot shop replaces the decades-old 10114 SE Division Street store that was recently closed to allow staff to transfer operations to SE Stark Street. Crews created a new shopfront for the store, which was previously part of Cascade Athletic Clubs and had no defined entrance. Demolition workers removed the dance studio stage and mirrored the wall to make way for the showroom and warehouse space. Around 1,000 square feet of retail floor area shows off paint colors and specialty supplies, while the remaining 3,000 square feet provide sufficient storage space to keep home improvers and professional painters working.

Miller Paint relocated this paint store to SE Stark Street due to its improved visibility and easy access. The Taco Bell adjacent building’s proximity to Interstate 205 makes it an accessible stop-off location for customers all over the area. Although the business district has several paint supply buying options, Miller Paint touts its Pacific Northwest-formulated paints and stains as a better choice for Portland buildings. The 1890-era Portland-based company was the first paint producer in the region and has gradually grown its network of stores across the Portland metro area and the Northwest. However, Miller Paint is committed to serving customers close to home, keeping its operations and management local.

Customers of the SE Division Street shop will recognize the store staff at the new location, including the shop dog Archer, named after the Star Trek Captain Jonathan Archer character. The store is open from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Employees began working from the new location on Monday, July 8th, and can help with many needs now but will not have the store fully stocked until opening week.

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.

History

Montavilla History Questions Answered: Stark Street

Q – Who is SE Stark Street named for?

A – SE Stark Street is named after Benjamin Stark (1820-1898), one of Portland’s earliest entrepreneurs active in Portland from 1845 to 1862.

He was born in New Orleans and grew up in New London, Connecticut. In New York City, he studied law and worked in the shipping trade, traveling between the East Coast and the West Coast. He first stepped foot in Portland in 1845, as an agent in charge of cargo on the barque Toulon. With his share of the cargo’s profits, he bought land in what is now downtown Portland, the first of his many lucrative land and business investments in Portland.

Stark also had a brief career in politics during the Civil War years. In 1861, Governor John Whiteaker appointed him to the U. S. Senate, replacing Edward Baker, who had died in the Battle of Ball’s Bluff. Baker was a staunch Unionist, but Governor Whiteaker and Stark were Confederate sympathizers. 

SE Stark Street 2024. Photo by Jacob Loeb

The Oregonian unleashed a stream of invective against Stark. In its November 11, 1861 edition, he was called “a secessionist of the rankest dye.”. In 1862, the Oregon legislature refused to confirm Stark and chose instead pro-Unionist Benjamin F. Harding to complete Baker’s term. After the embarrassment of being rejected as Oregon’s Senator, Stark moved himself and his family to his boyhood home of New London, Connecticut, where he died in 1898.

The original Stark Street only existed in downtown Portland. It defined the southern boundary of Stark’s 48-acre property between what are now Naito Parkway and Burnside. Today, this is Harvey Milk Street, renamed in 2018 to commemorate the first openly-gay elected official in the U. S., who was assassinated in 1978.

While the Stark Street name no longer exists on the west side of the Willamette, it continues on the east side. There it was originally called Base Line Road since it follows the base line meridian established in the 1851 Federal land survey of Oregon and Washington.

Base Line Road (now SE Stark Street) early 1900s. Image courtesy Heyward Stewart, co-owner of the Academy theater.

When the City of East Portland was incorporated into the City of Portland its K Street became East Stark Street.

In Montavilla, the continuation of the street continued to be called Base Line Road until 1909, when it became East Stark Street. In 1933—as part of Portland’s new comprehensive street-name plan–it was renamed SE Stark Street.

I can imagine that if Benjamin Stark could see a map of Multnomah County today, he would be surprised to see his short-namesake street in downtown Portland no longer there and to see a new Stark Street stretching from the Willamette to the Sandy River.

By

Patricia Sanders

This is part of a new segment at Montavilla News called Montavilla History Questions Answered. If you have questions about Montavilla’s past that you’d like answered, local historian Patricia Sanders will investigate your question. Please email your questions to history@montavilla.net and we may feature it alongside Patricia Sanders’ research in a future post on this page.

Community, Event

Pet Food Fundraiser for Storefront Repair

On April 13th and 14th, Personal Beast Pet Supply invites people to shop at the store to help fund significant storefront repairs after a person smashed most of their windows. Since January 2024, staff have had to progressively cover the storefront in plywood at 8119 SE Stark Street, replacing broken glass from the acts of a vandal. Artistic pet images decorate the wood panels, while a handwritten sign assures people that the boarded-up shop is open. The store’s owner, Sara Philbrook, is now working to restore the glass and protect it with expensive polycarbonate coverings. This project is more than the shop’s budget can cover, even with support from the building’s owner. So, they worked with local supporters and vendors to develop a fundraiser with multiple ways to participate.

Personal Beast works with family-owned pet food companies and other vendors who regularly support the independent stores selling their products. Some of those brands will donate to the storefront repair for each pound of food sold on April 13th and 14th. Other vendors and supporters have donated goods for baskets that people can try to win in a raffle. Those without a pet can buy pet food to donate to a charity partner or contribute through the GoFundMe campaign.

Many Montavilla businesses have suffered broken windows. Sometimes criminals smash glass during a burglary, but this recent string of damage comes from vandalism, and its frequency is a dramatic change from what the Personal Beast has endured during its fourteen years. “This is the first time we’ve felt the financial burden of vandalism. Specifically, our door was broken the first time last summer,” recalled Philbrook. Other businesses had the same experience in June 2023. Glazers came out and replaced the door glass, and business returned to normal. However, in January 2024, a person was seen on camera breaking the windows next to the door. Then, over the next few months, the person smashed two more windows and the door. Philbrook says the video shows what looks to be the same person throwing rocks. Not all the rocks break the windows on each attempt, and the person never enters the building after breaking the glass.

Personal Beast owner Sara Philbrook sitting in front of plywood covered windows

Although these attacks span months and seem focused, this is not the only store facing similar vandalism. “Unfortunately, I think it’s location. I don’t think that we’re being targeted. I don’t feel like there’s anything that we’ve specifically done that makes us more likely to get hit than another business. I think it’s just that we are in proximity to a major artery,” explained Philbrook. The store is one of the closest storefronts to SE 82nd Avenue and next to the McDonald’s parking lot. Philbrook said they have witnessed several drug-related crimes around the block and feel that their proximity to that behavior may contribute to the recent string of trouble.

Regardless of the issues, this pet store has served the community since 2008, and its owner is committed to remaining in Montavilla. “We’re really happy to be here regardless of what’s going on. As frustrating as it is, knowing that it’s just one person, it’s not like it’s something that we have to look forward to forever, and hopefully she can get some help,” said Philbrook. “Obviously, we’ll be pressing charges, but I understand that mental illness is a real crisis here, and my parents struggled with drug addiction. So, I have a lot of empathy for people who are in active addiction and can’t get services. I hope we can find a way to get her some help and move on from this situation.”

For Personal Beast, the first step in moving forward is replacing the glass panels. However, to protect the windows, they will install Riot Glass® on the outside of existing frames, creating a flexible barrier designed to take the impact of rocks without breaking. Other Portland stores have used this product, and it offers other benefits over cheaper solutions. “It’s one of the only polycarbonates that doesn’t yellow with direct sun exposure, which is why we chose it,” explained Philbrook. “We have this lovely southern exposure here, and any other polycarbonate would discolor so quickly that it wouldn’t be worth it.”

Sara Philbrook and the staff at Personal Beast have maintained a good attitude about the situation and hope the community’s support will help them restore the shop they love. People able to support the storefront improvements should shop there on April 13th and 14th, buy a raffle ticket, or contribute to the GoFundMe campaign. Personal Beast’s renowned shop cat will appreciate any help repairing the windows so they can return to watching over Stark Street again.

Correction: An earlier version of this article had an incorrect event date.

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

Miller Paint Opening on SE Stark

Miller Paint will open a new Montavilla store at 9312 SE Stark Street this March. The 4,000-square-foot shop will replace the SE Division Street store located one mile south. Crews will remodel the new storefront over the next two months, creating warehouse space and a retail sales floor.

After decades at 10114 SE Division Street, Miller Paint chose to relocate this paint store to SE Stark Street due to its visibility and easy access. A Miller Paint spokesperson explained that the Taco Bell adjacent building’s proximity to Interstate 205 makes it an easy stop-off location for their customers. The company’s locally manufactured paint products are used by professional painters and home improvement customers who need convenient access.

Ernest Carl Bernard Mueller founded Miller Paint in 1890. The Portland-based company opened its first storefront in 1895 and has grown its network of shops across the Portland Metro Area and three Northwest States. This relocated store is close enough to its previous space that most customers should not have trouble adjusting to the new location. Additionally, its new high-visibility placement on SE Stark should increase shoppers’ awareness of the local option. Look for a firm opening date in the coming months, and people can continue to shop at the SE Division Street store until this space opens.

Article and phots 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.

Construction, Infrastructure

RRFB Installed on SE Stark

On Monday, January 22nd, crews working along SE Stark Street at 80th Avenue installed rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFB) to aid pedestrians and bicyclists crossing the busy road. Recently, technicians installed RRFB signals mounted to new light poles located one block over on SE Washington Street. This work is part of the 70s Neighborhood Greenway project, which is nearing completion after a year of work.

Crews placed the four RRFB mounting poles on the sidewalk in alignment with SE 80th Avenue’s western crosswalk. Pedestrians and bike riders have separate signal request buttons at these intersections. Cyclists can use buttons mounted on short poles at the curb’s edge, allowing people to activate the flashing lights without dismounting from their bikes. Users traveling on the sidewalk can press buttons mounted near the curb ramp.

Engineers working on the Greenway project implemented extra safety enhancements to the SE Washington Street crossing. In addition to RRFB signals, new pedestrian scale lamp posts will illuminate people waiting to cross at SE 80th Avenue. These lights take the place of the plain metal poles often used for mounting signal hardware. The black powder-coated pole is wider and features a decorative shade placed at a height intended to brighten the sidewalk. Most street lighting in East Portland focuses on illuminating the road surface, often leaving pedestrians in the shadows until they cross. The new lighting on SE Washington Street should make people visible before they exit the sidewalk zone. This lighting upgrade is critical for this intersection because SE Washington is darker than SE Stark Street without the added lights from active businesses.

Crews have not yet activated the RRFBs at both intersections. Electricians must finish connecting the equipment through the underground conduit installed earlier in the project. Until then, pedestrians and cyclists should continue to use extreme caution at these intersections, mainly because they lack high-visibility crosswalk markings and drivers often fail to yield. Look for work on the safer crossing to continue over the coming weeks.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: We greatly appreciate the support of the community. Although no longer in print, running Montavilla News has costs. Paid subscribers and Supporting organizations help keep the publication going. If you would like to contribute monthly, please see the Montavilla News Patreon. For those who would like to make a single annual payment, we offer online options for both Subscribers and Sponsors. If you are looking to Sponsor for just one month at a time, we offer a Single Month Sponsor option.

New Business

The Way Home Shop on SE Stark

In December 2023, Gergana Kirilova opened The Way Home Shop on SE Stark Street just east of 82nd Avenue. The 1200-square-foot storefront at 8437 SE Stark Street sells tools for energy healing and craft items from local artists and creators worldwide. A small events room in the back of the shop provides space for Reiki healing sessions and educational events.

Gergana Kirilova left the corporate world last year, looking for something more spiritually fulfilling. “Back in September, my husband and I were just eating ice cream with our little one, and I said, ‘Oh, one day when I retire, I want to open up a hippie store.’ And he said, ‘Why wait?’ So here we are,” explained Kirilova. Growing up in conservative Nebraska, Kirilova and her family were part of the small, tight-knit community of people open to natural healing. However, her interest in expanding her knowledge began a decade ago. “I started taking things a little bit more seriously back in 2011 when I first got my Reiki certification,” said Kirilova. That Reiki training progressed through the levels until she reached teacher status. At some point during last summer, Gergana Kirilova realized that there was a conflict between her professional life and what she had learned through the energy healing community. She quit her job and started looking for a shop to rent.

When searching for a place to open, Kirilova discovered that not all property owners were interested in housing her business. “It was hard for me to find a location. I never thought getting somebody to allow you to open up a business would be the biggest hurdle,” explained Kirilova. The search area expanded beyond her neighborhood until she found this space in Montavilla with an encouraging landlord and community. “The owner of the building has been so wonderful and so nice. Everybody that’s stopped by that is from the neighborhood has been very welcoming,” said Kirilova.

Kirilova has filled the shop with energy-healing items sourced from around the world, including natural stone jewelry made by artists in Morocco, Egypt, and Iraq. Much of the clothing comes from Nepal and Tibet. A Portland creator crafts the wands made from wood and stone that fill the display case. Shane Reaney soaps are available at the shop alongside many giftable items. “You don’t necessarily have to use them for energy healing. Jewelry can always be used for gifts. You can just say that the stones are pretty,” remarked Kirilova.

The Way Home Shop is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. They offer free-to-attend classes, with some instructor-run events only asking for a modest donation. Gergana Kirilova encourages people to visit the shop to explore and ask questions. “The main reason for the store is to develop a community and make it feel homey. I want people in the store to feel warm and welcome. A place where they can find resources, not just the tools that we sell, but also find guides. Basically, a place where people can gather.”

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.