Portland’s blue collar roots are still evident in the Kenton neighborhood, but unlike a lot of neighborhoods that have been modernized with a slick hipster dress up, in Kenton you’ll find the kitsch tucks in neatly like a vintage handkerchief in faded blue jeans.
There is perhaps no better example of the Kenton vibe than Give & Take Resale a shop that displays all manner vintage treasures in an unpretentious thrift store atmosphere. Inside you’ll find an eclectic mix of housewares, clothes, records and brick-a-brac offered at extremely affordable prices. It’s worth a glance anytime you’re in the neighborhood.
For coffee and a tasty bite, you’ve got a couple of options. Posie’s Bakery and Cafe offers a peaceful place to sit back and enjoy the local color with a cup of joe and a delicious pastry. For a great weekend brunch, local chain Cup & Saucer has a Kenton site, and like its Hawthorne counterpart, serves the best buttery vanilla scones money can buy alongside hearty a menu of hearty breakfast options.
Kenton is also home to several small businesses offering specialized goods and services. Looking for affordable and original art prints or screen-printed items? Check out Little Red Press. Need bike repairs? Kenton Cycle Repair has you covered. For home repairs and remodels, Salvage Works offers an impressive selection of vintage building materials. If you’re looking for the perfect weathered lumber salvaged from an old barn or vintage fruit crates to organize your clutter, Salvage Works has you covered.
Another option for home upgrades is Bamboo Craftsman Company where you can select from myriad hand-crafted bamboo items, everything from cabinetry and flooring to creative porch swings and even toys all made from environmentally friendly bamboo. Of course you might need tools for your home repair or remodel job. Lucky for you local event space Kenton Firehouse has a tool library in its basement.
If you like a hoity toity salon experience you’ll probably need to look elsewhere, but if you like a cheap, no-nonsense haircut Kenton’s got you covered. 7 Bucks A Wack is a bit of a Portland institution, and proprietress Darlene is something of a local celebrity. She counts former mayor, Sam Adams, as one of her biggest fans. For the man (or lady) who eschews appointments or long waits, a 7 Bucks A Wack cut is the embodiment of thrift and practicality.
If you’re looking for good eats, there’s plenty of options in Kenton. Po’Shines offers delicious soul food all day long. Start your day with a hearty breakfast of chicken and waffles, grab some traditional fried catfish for lunch, or go for a chicken and andouille sausage gumbo dinner. Just down the road, Kenton Station serves up satisfying pub fare you can enjoy with your brew or mixed drink in a laid back atmosphere of vintage motorcycles on display. For the more hearty and adventurous souls out there, ask about the ghost hunting expeditions that happen in the bar’s basement where bare knuckle boxing fights are purported to have taken place there around the turn of the 20th Century.
No Kenton tour would be complete without a stop at the famous Paul Bunyon statue, an historic landmark that has been around since the 1959 Centennial celebration of Oregon’s statehood. The statue was relocated once and has recently been added to the national historic register, and thus serves as the perfect symbol of an old Portland neighborhood that’s still growing and changing.
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