East Portland Chamber of Commerce

East Portland entrepreneurial pioneers and land developers of the early 1900′s realized the survival in the outskirts of “Stumptown” meant backbreaking hard labor, “out of the box” thinking (although they probably never used that term) and social networking skills without the use of texting or Iphones.   And yes, today, in our East Portland neighborhoods and business associations you will find those values revitalizing Portland still.

In 1914, my grandfather purchased a Montavilla pear orchard, unfortunately cut down most of the trees, replaced them with roses and built a 565 sq. foot home that remains in our family today.  Summer after summer our family of grandkids networked with the butcher, the lifeguard, the druggist, the restauranteurs; biked with their kids,  climbed and roamed Mt. Tabor, listened to the noon bells of what was the Precious Blood Monastery (now an Alzheimer’s Assisted Living)  and enjoyed the new stores, theaters and gas stations with their free dish-ware when dad filled the station wagon.  East Portland grew far beyond the boundaries my grandfather knew.  With that growth that village mentality seemed to be eroded.  Alas .., if it ever went away, it has returned.

Start your next weekend off with some time at a Farmers Market in Montavilla, During the week enjoy some flavored conversation with your morning coffee at the Bipartisan Cafe on Stark and then let Mia at Montavilla Community Acupuncture show you what a few well-placed needles can do for your health.  Need some help with your newsletters or writing skills or some help with your website?  Kristin of Mixed Media may be who you’ve been hoping to find.   And then, after a well spent day in the neighborhood, enjoy a new beer, a pale P5 brew at the Vintage – a beer named after the historical P5 stone marker found near 79th & Stark – a marker placed there by plat developers to signify 5 miles from downtown Portland and today also used by the Montavilla Business Association as part of their logo.  As you enjoy the people, the conversation, and the cool refreshment,  you will also undoubtedly capture a bit of the social networking and creative spirit that is revitalizing East Portland.

Today, as I was putting my thoughts together for this short blog article, I visited our family Montavillla home grandpa and grandma built (they would be proud of how well my brother Tim has maintained the place – and yes, even some of the original pear trees from the orchard it was still bear fruit)  and then ventured over to  another business area on 49th & NE Fremont.  There I found the same creative and forward thinking spirit at work in the Beaumont Business Association.  Dan LaGrande was hard at work putting the final paint touches on a new yogurt store his son, Andre LaGrande will be opening within the coming weeks.  (Note:  the new store, YoChoice Self-Serve is located at 4941 NE Fremont) But just as important as the building preparation, has been the social networking with Jim & Patty’s Coffee next door and David Dillenburg of American Family Insurance on the other side as well as the condo dwellers above the new store.  I would venture that it was not, and will not be, text messaging, an IPhone, blogging, or even the internet that will help open the doors and keep them open for Andre.

“Out of the Box” creative thinking and social networking is happening in East Portland in traditional and not so traditional ways.  Examples can be found throughout the membership of the East Portland Chamber of Commerce.   Join us for a Wednesday AM or an After Hours.  Check out the Chamber member specials and announcements found here on this blog.  Without a doubt, East Portland is a great place to own real estate and a great place to do business.

Oh by the way …  let us know what’s happening in your area of East Portland?