Last Friday, May 14, members of the Portland business community and Commissioner Mingus Mapps joined with four Downtown business owners during a walking tour to speak candidly on how businesses are operating throughout COVID-19 and civil unrest within the Downtown core. Business owners provided community tours of their properties and set aside time to respond to questions. Commissioner Mapps listened intently to their several pressing issues and how business owners can be supported moving forward.
Business owners were pleased to have representation from the City of Portland to address their concerns. Here’s a full list of businesses visited:
- Wildfang 404 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
- Founded in 2012 in Portland by Christin Ayala and Emma Mcllroy. What They Do: Revolutionize fashion for badass women. They are creating a safe and inclusive for women and members of the LGBTQ community. Stores now Portland and LA. Nationally famous for the Wild Feminist clothing lines
- Woonwinkel 935 SW Washington St, Portland, OR 97205
- Woonwinkel (Dutch for “Living Shop”) Founded in 2011 by former Nike Colorist Kristin VannBuskirk. What They Do: Home Goods from small companies from around the world. Focus is Color. Recently they set the goal of sourcing 15% of their inventory from Black-owned companies in 2021.
- Moxy Hotel 585 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
- Moxy is owned by Marriott and opened in Portland in March 2021 – Just a few weeks ago! What They Do: Moxy is an urban hotel brand with a uniquely activated lobby that combines the Front Desk with a bar. They are preparing to activate with food carts inside their lobby.
- Orox Leather 450 NW Couch St, Portland, OR 97209
- Orox Leather is a family-owned business. Owners include Jose Martin, John Carey, Martin Martinez & Levi. Founded (in a way in 1933), with a family baseball team and custom-made leather baseball gloves. What They Do: Leather goods are of heirloom quality. The Portland Business Journal’s 2019 Manufacturer of the Year. Please note: due to a series of break-ins and vandalism their store is closed pending repairs
- Nordstrom 701 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205
- Courtney Posey is the Chair of the Downtown Retail Council and very familiar with the downtown retail situation. Nordstrom’s is one of the Central City ‘anchor tenants as they generate a lot of business for smaller stores in the area. They have weathered multiple window breaks, vandalism, and graffiti. What They Do: Nordstrom’s was founded in 1901 by John W. Nordstrom (an immigrant from Sweden). Nordstrom’s started as a shoe store on fourth & pike in Seattle.