Photos: Courtesy of Yo Vintage; Frances May
Shop
Yo Vintage
Upon stumbling into this store (literally), we were instantly taken aback by the
vivid colors, quirky wares, and oh-so-sweet staff. Owner Sarah Radcliffe does an
incredible job of mixing in vintage duds with enviable new pieces. The store is
chockfull of cutesy vignettes of the girly and colorful variety. And not only is
the brick-and-mortar spot-on, but the online store is a high-fashion e-commerce
experience. If you plan on shopping in Portland, skipping this store would be a
travesty.
Yo Vintage, 413 Southwest 13th Avenue (near West Burnside Street); 971-266-8811.
Beam & Anchor
Okay, this retail gem isn’t a joy to get to — it’s kind of off the beaten path, if you
will. But, once you walk in you will quickly realize the trek was totally worth it.
This locally driven store is brimming with Americana-inspired relics from all over
— we even spotted Oakland’s own Marisa Haskell up in there. The raw layout,
rustic accoutrements, and relaxing music will make you feel right at home. This is
a shopper’s paradise.
Beam & Anchor, 2710 North Interstate Avenue (near North Knott Street); 503-367-3230.
Frances May
Itching to get your hands on some A.P.C., Rachel Comey, Rag & Bone, MM6,
and other notable brands in PDX? Then mosey on into Frances May — its star-studded selection definitely wowed us and it was refreshing to see such hard-to-find labels smack-dab in the middle of the downtown Portland area. The minimal
spot really allows the merch to take center stage. If you’re looking to score some
sleek and stylish threads, you’ve met your match.
Frances May, 1013 Southwest Washington Street (at Southwest 10th Avenue); 503-227-3402.
Palace
We don’t think Palace could possibly get any cuter — sprinkled
with lovely little home accessories, soaps, clothing, and purses, it’s definitely on
our must-shop list for a reason. It offers a fun assortment of local brands and
hard-to-nab designers, with an overall craft-like, very down to earth ambiance.
It may have been the smell of Diptyque candles that lured us in, or the quirky
colors, but either way — we’re glad we popped by!
Palace, 828 Southeast 34th Street (near Southeast Belmont Street); 503-517-0123.
Lowell
The biggest perk that comes with shopping in Portland? There is absolutely
no sales tax! So, you don’t have to feel that guilty when you board the
plane with a slew of shopping bags. And another spot that ranks high
on our retail radar is Lowell. Packed with teeny-tiny trinkets and other
miscellaneous artifacts, this store is one you could spend days prowling
around. Seriously, if you are the least bit into antiques, this is a shop you
need to scope out. It is primarily focused on Southwestern art pieces, but
does have something for everyone. We bet you didn’t even know you
needed a sculpture of two bears balancing on a seesaw, did ya?
Lowell, 819 North Russell Street (near North Albina Avenue); 503-753-3608.
Other notables:
Stand-Up Comedy, 811 East Burnside Street, #111 (at Southeast 8th Avenue); 503-233-3382.
Tanner Goods, 1308 West Burnside Street (at Northwest 13th Avenue); 503-222-2774.
Animal Traffic, 4000 North Mississippi Avenue (near North Shaver Street); 503-249-4000.
Solestruck, 417 Southwest 13th Avenue (between West Burnside and Southwest Washington streets); 503-224-3591.
Machus, 542 East Burnside Street (at Northeast 6th Avenue); 503-206-8626.
Bridge And Burn, 1122 Southwest Morrison Street (near Southwest 12th Avenue); 971-279-4077.
