Whether you have lived in Portland a decade or your whole life, you undoubtedly have noticed all that has changed. Making way for the new often leaves many older places a thing of the past. Here are a list of 12 places that are long gone in Portland, but we are all kind of nostalgic over.
1. 24-Hour Church of Elvis
The coin-operated window display began operation in 1985 and changed locations several times before closing its doors for good in 2013.
2. Lipman's Department Store
The department store on 5th and Washington opened in 1912 to fierce competition across the street at Meier and Frank. While the store did give us the lasting tradition of the Cinnamon Bear, it shuttered its doors in 1986 and is now Hotel Monaco.
3. JJ Newberrys
JJ Newberrys was based in Pennsylvania and operate over 400 stores in its heyday. However, it filed for bankruptcy in 1992 and the Portland store was one of the last ones standing, shuttering its doors in 2001.
4. Djangos
Notable as the first all-used record shop in the city, Djangos has a 30-year run before it closed its doors for good in the early 2000s.
5. Ozone Records
A premier location for independent music, Ozone met its end in 2007. It was replaced by Buffalo Exchange in its former location across the street from Powell's.
6. Greek Cuisina Octopus
Greek Cuisina was a downtown mainstay until its closure in 2010 over code violations. While the iconic octopus is long gone, its memory remains.
7. Meier & Frank
After a 150-year run, Portland's own department store folded. In 2005, Macy's bought the store and rebranded it, but it too left the building in 2017.
8. Coffee People
At its peak, Coffee People operated over 40 stores, but by 2007, the once strong coffee empire had dwindled down to just 5 stores. While there are no longer shops all around town, original owner Jim and Patty Roberts still serve up their great brews at four local Jim and Patty's Coffee Shops around town.
9. GI Joe's
This Wilsonville-based chain operated 30 stores in the Northwest from 1952 to 2007, but ultimately filed for bankruptcy.
10. Olds & Kings
Another classic Portland department store, Olds and Kings operated at 10th and Morrison from 1910 to 1974 before becoming The Galleria.
11. Charles F Berg
Once a leading women's clothing store, Charles F Berg was a force from 1930 to 1983, when the sale of the building signaled the end of an era and the store closed.
12. Kupie Cone
Kupie Cone was a favorite local spot for soft serve and shakes from 1964 to 1990. While we have plenty of ice cream in Portland, there is nothing like this Portland original.
What do you miss about old Portland? Let us know in the comments below.
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