Pandemic shutdowns, decreased foot traffic, layoff-induced financial stresses, a sudden fever for mail order and curbside pickup—the past two years have thrown one curve ball after another at Portland’s retail scene, on top of shifting patterns and trends that were already changing our shopping landscape long before COVID-19. 

But the mass upheaval has also created new opportunities for some entrepreneurs, while plenty of our old favorites have hung on, offering Portland shoppers both undiscovered and familiar spaces to browse the shelves (including at Modern Provisions, pictured above, near Franklin High School in Southeast), feel the fabrics, try something on, learn something new, and find just the perfect thing—whatever strikes your fancy.