It is an exciting year when February brings us one additional day to support local businesses in Portland! This article from Here Is Oregon makes some recommendations on how to celebrate Leap Year in Portland this Thursday. On February 29th, consider going out into local business districts to show your appreciation. It is no secret that small businesses all around PDX are really suffering. With 94% of businesses in Multomah County being small businesses, this is a big deal. Each dollar spent at a local business stays within your community, contributing to its growth, boosting employment and supporting services we all rely on. Consider checking out some of the businesses below this week!
Beaumont: Shop Adorn sells women’s clothing, shoes & accessories in a chic, stylish boutique setting. Check them out for your new spring wardrobe! While you’re on Fremont St, check out the shop at Paperjam Press. They feature an excellent selection of beautiful cards for any occasion.
Brooklyn: Everyone loves a good charcuterie board! Consider getting a board delivered from Charcuterie Me for your Leap Year party, or just because you want to enjoy amazing cheese, meats, and more.
Central Eastside: Urbanite features Portland’s best designers and makers, serving as a platform for established and emerging NW artists to showcase their unique aesthetic, from curated vintage works to large scale murals, to interactive tactile design pieces. What an inspiring place to shop!
Foster Area: For an easy shopping experience, check out the corner of Holgate & SE Foster, where Higher Self and Larkspur share a building. The former is an artist-run gift shop that leans heavy into colorful, illustrative, psychedelic, introspective, and spiritual art and merchandise. Next-door, Larkspur specializes in house plants, but also has a sweet collection of locally-sourced art, botanically-inspired décor, and other gift items.
Hawthorne: Spoil your pet on Leap Year by going on a shopping spree at Portland Pet Supply!
Hillsdale: Since 1975, Paloma Clothing has specialized in women’s fashion, 70% of which is made in the USA.
Historic Parkrose: Sandy O’s is one of Parkrose’s newest restaurants offering delicious sandwiches, burgers and more. Simple and straightforward, but absolutely on point. Give them a try!
Lents: Visit CoCo Garden Thai located at the Food Hall of The Zed. Celebrating their 1 year anniversary this month, they launched their custom brew called Coco Garden Lager from Zoiglhaus Brewery. Give it a try and pair it with salivating Pad Thai!
Lloyd: Green Bridge Coffee is a welcoming and hip coffee shop serving hot drinks & light bites with a focus on supporting local charities.
Midway: Visit Yuan Su Vegetarian and experience a down-to-earth eatery offering traditional Chinese dishes with lots of vegetarian and vegan options.
Mississippi Ave: Honey I’m home was created as a space where people come together to form human connection. In addition to selling beautifully styled home goods, they offer a lounge area to chat/work in, free home buying and investing classes, and fun maker classes (think bath bombs, candle making, terrarium making, and more!).
Montavilla: Get your kiddos a little something special this Leap Year at Beanstalk. Committed to preserving the environment and giving back to the community, this resale shop offers gently used baby clothes, children’s clothes, shoes, toys, books, and more!
St John’s: Vinyl Resting Place is a sweet spot that buys and sells records, CDs, cassette tapes, and collectibles. Offering new and used items, this is a fun place to spend some time and find musical treasures.
Williams District: Monochromatic is a woman-owned shop providing pronoun-inclusive, ethically-made clothing with a playful workwear vibe.
This list is non-exhaustive. If you get out there and shop local this Leap Year, please post a picture and tag us on Instagram and Facebook.