Wow! Since I created this section over 10 months ago, there has been quite a restructuring in the Portland junk-shopping scene. A few old farmiliars have closed up shop, a few are on their way out, but there are also an impressive number of newcomers just opening up. I will attempt to keep up with them, but I need your help! If your favorite isn't listed here - email me!
UPDATED 4/5/02
Northwest Portland
All in the Hunt. Junk shopping at it's finest - much in the same vein as the delightful 'Fairly Honest Bills' in SE Portland. The junk is great quality, and is stacked, thrown, stuffed, and in great heaps everywhere you look. Their basement is yet another of the city's finest examples of the 'treasure cave.'
Habromania. What a fabulous place this is. If you’ve ever seen the film Mystery Men, this shop looks a lot like Heller’s laboratory. They have tons of retro tchotchkes, vintage neon signs reprieved from the wrecking ball, carnival ride parts, and toasters, toasters, toasters. But be warned, the warehouse is only open on Saturdays from 11-5, and by appointment. 1211 NW 17th Ave. Soon to close, unfortunately... www.habromania.com
Keep ‘Em Flying. This is a tiny vintage clothing shop on NW 21st Ave. They specialize in really choice pieces, and yes - you do pay for the quality. 510 NW 21st Ave.
Three Monkeys. Need a light-up Bloody Mary night light? This place has ‘em. They specialize in modern kitsch,classic joke-shop pieces, rhinestones, and a shocking amount of swag with the word “princess” printed on it. Oh, and new tiki stuff GALORE. A must. 803 NW 23rd Ave.
Wacky Willy’s. I honestly don’t know exactly how to describe this place. This is where evil geniuses go to get pieces to build their fiendish experiments. It’s very Devo in spirit. They sell everything from medical surplus to craft supplies, and they have literally a gross of old Teddy Ruxpin dolls lining the back wall. Very creepy, yet fascinating. 2374 NW Vaughn St.
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Southwest Portland
Ray's Ragtime. The most well-established vintage cloting shop in town. Great stuff, they supply the vintage clothing needs for most of the movie productions that come through town. The owner's really helpful, as well! 1021 SW Morrison St
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Palookaville. Another great emporium of mid-century objects, in the spirit of Habromania (with whom they used to be neighbors). It’s a tiny space, but is crammed with an incredible array of objects. They have a lot of great 3-sheets for old beach movies and Mexican horror films. Also, a great bunch of magazines and ephemera from the 50s & 60s. The perfect place to re-create your childhood rec room (well, if you’re a boomer). Don’t tell anyone, but they get a lot of their inventory from an unnamed (and un-phone numbered) antique shop in Albany, Oregon. Palookaville - 211 SW Ninth Ave.
Avalon. Where all those neo-swing kids get their clothes. They’ve got antiques, too, but the real focus is vintage clothing. They’ve got an impressive selection of 1920s suits, dresses, and accessories. Just moved to 410 SW Oak.
Callin Novelties. Portland’s only magic shop, to my knowledge. It used to be a lot cooler when I was a kid, resembling the magic shop where Pee-wee does his stocking up in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. Now it’s shockingly well-lit, but they have a nice selection of magic props and gag gifts. The only place in Portland that still carries Chop Suey Specs (though they’re not called that any more!). 1013 SW Washington St.
Magpie. This is a vintage clothing shop that caters to the new young retro movement. They are to the 70s what Avalon is to the 20s and 30s. By all means, if you’re trying for that Charlie’s Angels look - GO! 520 SW Ninth Ave.
Billy Galaxy. Take a trip back to the early 80s, as you thrill to Pac-Man video games in their original boxes, the Strawberry Shortcake dolls that used to stink up your room, and myriad other toys! Sure they’ve got a nice selection of toys from the last 50 years, but one gets the feeling that the heart of this shop lies in the 70s and 80s. In the same block as Avalon and Palookaville. 912 W. Burnside St.
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Northeast Portland
Gilgamesh. They specifically cater to the kitsch-obsessed. Every Christmas they have a fabulous supply of aluminum trees and color wheels. They’re also great if you are looking for Walter Keane and other big-eye artists. My only gripe about this place is their prices are pretty high. Still, if you’re looking for that special object that you just can’t find ANYWHERE, (and that you’ll pay anything for,) they’ll probably have it. Oh, and it’s a coffee shop, too. 2800 NE Sandy Blvd.
Home Ec. This place ALMOST went out of business, and man am I glad they didn’t! Now they’ve relocated from Broadway to Sandy and switched owners, but their selection and prices can’t be beat. They specialize in housewares, tiki, big-eye art, barware, and mercifully there's not a single reproduction in the place. It’s the perfect place to gather authentic objects for your 50s kitchen. 3554 NE Sandy Blvd.
Rancho Deluxe. This is an interesting shop - it seems to go on forever, and has plenty of nooks and crannies brimming with tchotchkes. It's a little hit-or-miss, items of unmistakable tastiness sit cheek-to-jowl with typical swap-meet fodder. Still, great finds! 1 N. Killingsworth.
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Southeast Portland
This is where the majority of the shops are. Guess a lot of cheap people like to live in this neighborhood. :)
Era.
Brand new! All modern furniture and art. Totally yummy! 7901 SE 13th Ave.
Glamour Gallery. An all-new spinoff of Lady Luck Vintage! They specialize in the early-70s retro fad. Still, some other cute pieces. Gang it up with Fair Honest Bill's, right across the street. 9 SE 28th.
Gallery Bink. The only art gallery in Portland that I can stand, since we lost Quintana Gallery (which always hosted fabulous Latin American artists). Gallery Bink is a tiny little shoebox of a place, with a penchant for pop art - the original works are quite expensive, but they have a big selection of Shag stickers and patches.
Fairly Honest Bill’s. If you like your junk shopping old-school and funky, you’ll love this place. It’s a sort of indoor swap meet, the aisles can’t be more than 2 feet wide, and are stocked 12 feet high with odds and ends of nearly every description. One thing is key - not a place to wear your new white frock. 40 SE 28th Ave.
Hippo House Parts. I just love to go here and browse. They specialize in reclaimed parts from houses of all eras (hence the name!). The light fixture room is incredible - I fantasize about buying one of their massive chandeliers and hanging it in my tiny apartment dining room. Welcome to dinner - don’t forget to duck! 1040 E Burnside St.
Lady Luck Vintage. I’ve found a lot of my 1950s prom dresses and accessories here. If there’s any clothing shop in town that can make a gal feel like Miss Yvonne, it’s this one. Their kitschy, yet elegant, formal-wear room recalls the Hefty Hideaway (minus the plus sizes) from John Waters' Hairspray. The store is very old school, and the clothes are in excellent repair. A great place to trade your old old stuff for new old stuff. #1 SE 28th St.
Powells’ Books for Cooks. Technically this is a cookbook store, but they have a great selection of gags and toys, also a lot of Asian-themed goodies. A lot cooler than the middle-aged-lady rep they’ve gotten. 3723 SE Hawthorne Boulevard.
The Gold Door. The Gold Door is amazing. They have the best selection of Day of the Dead objects, and bizarre Indonesian artifacts, as well as other weirdness from afar. They also have a decent selection of antiques. Don’t miss their basement - that’s where you’ll find some of the best cheap furniture in town! 1434 SE 37th Avenue.
Endangered Pieces. This is one of three shops that neighbor each other, and are all well worth exploring. EP is exactly what it sounds like! They’ve got a lot of weird wall art from the 50s and 60s. Lots of tasty kitsch-en stuff, too. 3315 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
The Aalto Lounge. You’ve heard of ‘theme’ restaurants - this one caters to furniture freaks. Especially mid-century. You can stop in for a glass of wine, some baked brie, and a Bertoia bird chair. A place after my own heart! 3356 SE Belmont St.
Fusion. You’re junk shopping and you’re hungry, satiate both needs here! Not only do they have a wonderful menu, but you get to eat in a pleasant antique-shop environment - where everything’s for sale! 4100 SE Division St.
Dr. Tongue’s 3D House of Collectible Toys. Simply, Portland’s best selection of vintage toys. The shop looks small, but it’s jam-packed. If they don't have what you're after, make sure you ask - they have a secret stash in the basement.1408 E. Burnside St.
Xtabay. In the spot where the delightful and lamented Clinton St. Antiques used to be - a fab new vintage clothes boutique has sprung up. They've captured my heart not only for their affinity for the work of Vladimir Tretchikoff, but also for their unbeatable prices and lovely atmosphere.
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Sellwood
Sellwood is Portland’s antique district. It’s pretty much a tourist trap, but you can find some good stuff there. And if you get bored, you can go roller skating at Oaks Park, where they still fire up the ‘Mighty Wurlitzer’ every Sunday. In my book, THE place to go is the Sellwood Antique Mall. You can’t miss it, it’s a big electric-blue building with red trim. The majority of their selection is very nicely displayed behind rows of glass cases. They have a lot of old toys and movie posters (therefore ensuring MY loyalty), and furniture. Their upstairs houses some of the best junk in the city. (Sellwood Antique Mall - 7875 SE 13th Avenue.)
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