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The shopping landscape in Portland has changed significantly in recent years, perhaps not quite as dramatically as the much-buzzed-about culinary scene, but in similar (pardon the pun) fashion. Specifically, those same hip and indie-spirited neighborhoods around the city that have become hot spots for food and drink—areas like the Pearl District, downtown West End, Alberta, North Mississippi, and Central East Side—are also enjoying a steady influx of distinctive, well-curated boutiques specializing in edgy fashion and jewelry, handcrafted home accessories and household goods, and artisanal foods.
The city’s longstanding shopping hubs, including the downtown core, Nob Hill, and the Hawthorne District continue to support a number of both established and up-and-coming retailers, too. Generally speaking, you’ll find more of Portland’s nationally known chain stores in these traditional commercial districts, especially around downtown’s Pioneer Courthouse Square, the Pearl District (particularly the lower half of the neighborhood, nearest Burnside Street), and along the lower blocks of Nob Hill’s N.W. 23rd Avenue. Additionally, on the East Side, the prosaic but convenient Lloyd Center Mall and surrounding neighborhood has plenty of chain stores.
Keep in mind that Portland has no sales tax, which can translate to huge savings for visitors; it’s one reason you might even plan to set aside some time browsing in chain shops that you already have back home.
Downtown Portland merchants are generally open Monday–Saturday between 9 or 10 am and 6 pm, and on Sunday noon–6. Smaller, independent retailers often keep limited or somewhat unpredictable hours—many establishments in the laid-back and quirky East Side neighborhoods don’t open until 11 or noon, and some stay open until 7 or 8; these sorts of places also sometimes close one or two days a week, usually either Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday. It’s always best to call first before making a special trip to visit a shop.
An animal-rights-minded shop located inside Cargo Emporium, Herbivore is a terrific resource if you're seeking clothing and accessories—from cotton-rayon tees and sweaters to braided canvas belts and wallets fashioned out of reclaimed bike and truck tubes—that have been created without the harm or use of animals. There's also a great selection of books on veganism, plus food, health-care products, and gifts.
Upscale boutique Imelda's has funky, fun shoes for women, and its adjacent brother shop, Louie's, offers the same style and flair in footwear for men. In both shops, you'll also find a good mix of accessories, jewelry, and bags.
This small, colorful store sells models and stuffed animals as well as other toys.
On the MAX light-rail line, Lloyd Center has more than 170 shops (including Nordstrom, Sears, and Macy's), a food court, a multiscreen cinema, and an ice-skating pavilion. It's a fairly run-of-the-mill mall, and in a similarly bland neighborhood, but it is the largest centrally located shopping center in the city, and it began an extensive 18-month renovation in 2015, to add outdoor stores and to greatly upgrade the food court, common areas, and ice rink. The mall remains open during construction.
This upscale, men's clothier carries one of the best selections of fashion-forward, emerging labels in the city. In addition to Machus's own private-label dress shirts and tees, check out threads by A.P.C., Ksubi, and Purple Brand Denim. You won't find many—or any—pastels or bright prints in here; expect clean classics, with lots of blacks, grays, and whites.
For funky vintage garb that dates from the 1950s through the 1990s, look no further than this colorful nest of fashion treasures. Jewelry, shoes, dresses, coats, and even rhinestone tiaras can be found here.
Walking into this store feels like walking into an antique shop that specializes in fine jewelry, including some pieces from the 18th century. Rare and vintage designs, many of them purchased from luxury estates, fill the sparkling glass cases.
The oldest record store in the Pacific Northwest, Music Millennium stocks a huge selection of new and used music in every possible category, including local punk groups. The store also hosts a number of in-store performances, often by top-name artists, which have included Lucinda Williams, Richard Thompson, Sheryl Crow, and Randy Newman.
Between Overton and Pettygrove, this expansive bookstore is dedicated to New Age and metaphysical books as well as crystals, meditation cushions, wind chimes, and more. It's also a place to get astrology, palmistry, tarot, and other readings.
It's all about the gear here. Next Adventure Sports carries new and used sporting goods, including camping gear, snowboards, kayaks, and mountaineering supplies. Kayak classes and Outdoor School provide plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy Oregon like a local. They also operate Portland Paddle Sports Center, just a few blocks southeast at 624 S.E. 7th Avenue.
This discount outlet of the famed and locally based athletic retailer sells products that have been on the market six months or more.
It's safe to assume that Nike's flagship Portland store, just a short drive from the company's mammoth HQ campus in Beaverton, has the latest and greatest in swoosh-adorned products. The high-tech setting has athlete profiles, photos, and interactive displays.
Fine charcuterie and cheeses, organic produce, and an exceptional selection of Italian wines, cookware, and fresh-made pastas and sauces are all sold at this spacious market in Hawthorne, adjoining Powell's Books for Home and Garden. There's a second location in Nob Hill.
Here, science and biology mix with whimsy and imagination. You'll find everything from taxidermied scorpions and baby goats to ostrich eggs and ceramic chimes. It's a fascinating and strangely beguiling mix of goods, although not for the faint of heart.
One of Northwest Portland's longest-running and most respected art spaces, this large gallery features rotating exhibitions in a range of materials from an impressive roster of both local and national artists. The striking space is inside a quonset hut in Slabtown.
A trip to the perfume counter at a large department store is for amateurs. If you're seeking an olfactory experience and a signature scent, you'll find it at this emporium to fragrance. Hundreds of big-name fragrances for women and men are sold here under the guidance of a trained and knowledgeable staff.
If you want real-deal western gear—saddles, Stetsons, boots, and shirts—head to this old-school, no-nonsense store which stubbornly resists all that is trendy, both in clothes and decor. The red neon sign, depicting a cowboy riding a bucking horse, is a Downtown icon.
This store stocks clothing by the famous local apparel maker, whose woolen mills were established in 1863 and continue to produce sturdy, brightly patterned blankets and rugs as well as men's and women's shirts, sweaters, outerwear, and gear that's as popular with octogenarians as with twentysomethings.
The inventory at this Powell's location, a couple of doors down from a general outpost on Hawthorne, focuses on cooking and gardening books, with a sizable selection of crafting books and unique gift items.
A beautifully designed cannabis shop in which carefully curated marijuana is displayed in blue ceramic dishes inside blond-wood cases, Serra stands out for its knowledgeable staff and decidedly artisanal aesthetic. They'll lend you a bronze magnifying glass if you want a closer inspection of the products, which also include cannabis-infused local chocolates, gummies, and other edibles. There's a similar branch in Southeast on Belmont Street.
Portland's largest antiques mall, Stars has two stores across the street from each other in the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood. Since it rents its space to about 200 antiques dealers, you might find anything from low-end 1950s kitsch to high-end treasures.
The urbane, free-spirited fashions carried in this friendly Alberta Street boutique capture the essence of the neighborhood—many of the short dresses, leather handbags, and unpretentious necklaces and bracelets are in the blacks, grays, and tans favored by East Sider Portlanders, although you'll find the occasional floral-print top or rose-hued handbag in the mix. Major brands include Pink Martini, Biko, and Spitfire.
The retail shop of the eponymous Portland record label founded by Jared and Brianne Mees carries not only music but also cool hand-printed cards, posters, and T-shirts, along with an artistic selection of handcrafted lifestyle goods, from pastel miniature vases and squiggle-shaped earrings to ceramic fox trinkets and illustrated prints. You'll find additional locations on Hawthorne, in Nob Hill, at Bridgeport Village, and in the airport.
Billing itself as Portland's "most hands-on store," Thinker Toys offers puppets, games, educational toys, and a large wooden playhouse that kids can hang out in.
