Musical Chairs

Why Does One Coffee Shop Open Right Next to One That Just Closed?

Stumptown, Barista, and Coava locations might have recently closed, but the people will have their caffeine.

03/05/2024 By Jordan Michelman Photography by Michael Novak

Oil Crisis

How Many Oregonians Does It Take to Fill a Tank?

The city’s thousands of gas station attendants are still puzzled by the new pump law, but not as puzzled as customers.

02/26/2024 By Matthew Trueherz Illustrations by Ryan Garcia

The Long Game

Inside the Company That Owns Bamboo Sushi, Sizzle Pie, and Ava Gene’s

In the darkest days of the pandemic, the company Sortis Holdings emerged behind beloved brands like Bamboo Sushi, Sizzle Pie, and Ava Gene’s, and then nearly imploded.

02/08/2024 By Matthew Trueherz Illustrations by Giacomo Gambineri

Q&A

Ripping the City with Amir Morgan

The owner of Barnes and Morgan, a tea and fashion house, talks about the future of Chinatown and his take on Portland style.

01/29/2024 By Dalila Brent Illustrations by Betty Turbo

BUSINESS

Portland’s Only REI Store Closes for Good on February 1

But suburban shoppers, you’re in luck.

01/23/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

Jenga!

How to Turn That Property into an Income Stream, Portland Style

A women-owned local company enables a new type of developer: you.

01/09/2024 By Arianne Cohen Photography by Michael Novak

Subcultures

Portland's Knitters Are In Stitches and Having a Ball

This knitty-gritty town is hooked on fiber arts.

01/03/2024 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Most Innovative Restaurants

The Pizza Shop Run by One Guy. Yes, Just One.

Two years of operating Gracie’s Apizza solo taught Craig Melillo a new model for restaurants.

12/21/2023 By Arianne Cohen Photography by Michael Raines

Unionized

8th Time’s the Charm: Powell’s and Employees Agree to a Contract

Following a strike and more than 10 months of bargaining, employees at Powell’s Books have voted to ratify to the eighth contract on offer.

12/20/2023 By Matthew Trueherz

Most Innovative Restaurants

In Portland, Cooperation, Sharing, and Charity Are on the Menu

From collectives to cooperative ownership, Dame Collective, Mirisata, and Café Olli cook up sustainable business models in a notoriously tough industry.

12/20/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Our 20th Anniversary

Fixing Portland? They’re on It.

Here's the comeback story you've been awaiting. The city’s busiest minds are on it.

12/06/2023 By Arianne Cohen Illustrations by Tara Jacoby

Litmus Test

What 10 People Really Think about Portland

We posed hard questions to locals and tourists about our favorite city, and their answers struck a chord.

12/05/2023 By Arianne Cohen Illustrations by Rob Dobi

Book Business

Wanna Work at Powell’s Books? The Competition Is Steep.

5 booksellers who redefine “relevant prior experience.”

11/08/2023 By Matthew Trueherz Illustrations by Matty Newton

Civil War

Booksellers vs. Bookstore: Powell’s Books Staff Strikes

The war between staff and management at the beloved literary landmark plunges book lovers into anxiety. We investigated.

09/04/2023 By Matthew Trueherz

Fashion

A Portland Boutique’s Surprising Strategy to Thrive Downtown

After years of moves and downtown upheaval, Frances May puts down permanent roots ahead of an incoming wave of luxury.

08/25/2023 By Matthew Trueherz

Q&A

Ripping the City with Chris Yen

The owner of vintage teamwear shop Laundry dishes on his favorite summer eats, go-to Oregon road trip, and Portland’s best-kept secret.

05/09/2023 By Dalila Brent Illustrations by Betty Turbo

Business

The Queen of Influencers Lives Not in Hollywood but in West Linn

A manager to reality TV stars and social media influencers, Lindsay Nead of Parker Management is a homegrown talent in her own right.

05/02/2023 By Rachel Saslow Photography by Christopher Dibble

Portland in the Movies

A Nike Historian Weighs In on What Air Got Right—and Wrong

“People have told me a million times, ‘Scott, it’s not a documentary.’”

04/28/2023 By Margaret Seiler

Kitchen Gear

2 Pandemic-Born Portland Businesses Bring Some Style to Food Storage

Add some color to your counter with cool, mod cookie jars from Astro the Studio and washable food covers from Hanuk Design.

03/27/2023 By Margaret Seiler

Markets

Yes, Walmart and Green Zebra Are Closing. No, the World Isn’t Ending.

Portland is full of former grocery stores, from Kienow’s to Piggly Wiggly to lots of extraneous Safeways. Greg Abbott can chill.

03/15/2023 By Margaret Seiler