Portland Urban

Creative Work Space

Urban Works markets some of the most interesting retail and creative spaces available throughout Portland.

Did you know, we work in a pretty cool space ourselves? 

If you haven't visited our offices in the historic Jefferson Station Building, at the corner of SW 1st & Jefferson, take a look at The Portland Business Journal's feature on our creative space, here.

Cart Row (SuperPod) - Grand Opening Party!

It was a big night last Friday night at Portland's latest and greatest cart pod.  Now dubbed "SuperPod" by many of thoses in the food cart industry, Cart Row turned up the heat on a rainy and wet opening night.

The event made quick work of the free Hopworks Beer and the music was grooving...Great job Mike McKinnon (Potato Champion) for organizing and hosting a perfect night.  The inside skinny is that another great cart will be joining the the top tier line-up by the end of this month...stay tuned!

 

Portland Feast - Sandwich Invitational

Great inaugural night at Portland Feast!  The sandwiches were out of control...from po' boy to banh mi, the culinary talent was on a whole new level of tasty.    The voting at the end of the night went to Naomi Pomeroy but we think the voting was Bush (rigged like Florida)...Aaron Franklin (Franklin BBQ) and Rodney Muirhead's Podnah's Pit BBQ) smoked prime rib, jalapeno and cheese-sauce sandwich was hands down the best sandwich of the night.  Them Texas boys got some serious meat skills.

We are looking forward to tonight's sold out Portland Night Market at the Ecotrust Building.  "Outdoor celebration of global street food..." ooohh mmyyy.  Pictures to follow of our favorite broker/volunteer Adam Khawaja aka. The Purple Sheik

The New York Times - Bicycle Development in PDX

The New York Times featured a great article about Portland urban development and the retailers that recognize the bike-friendly culture in Portland.  Both Jean-Pierre Veillet (Siteworks & EcoFlats) and Christian Ettinger (Hopworks Urban Brewery) were highlighted and featured in the Business Day section of the paper.  

Nice job gentlemen, you make our city a better place to live!

Don't Miss the Mississippi Avenue Street Fair!

Urban Works Real Estate is a proud sponsor of the Mississippi Avenue Street Fair, Saturday, July 10th! Complete with entertainment (including 5 live music/entertainment stages, and a parade at "high noon"), libations (local beer garden), food and 150 vendors. We hope you'll join us in supporting all of the local businesses that Urban Works Real Estate is proud to represent on Mississippi Avenue!

Uwajimaya Signs Letter of Intent for Old Town Site

It’s official! Uwajimaya has inked a letter of intent with Sockeye Development, LLC to locate their second Oregon store in the heart of Old Town at Block 33, bordered by NW 4th, 5th, Couch and Davis. To be sure, this is a significant milestone which demonstrates Uwajimaya’s enthusiasm for the project, but there’s still a long way to go; the sizeable public investment required for the project has to be solidified, a process which is allowed 6 months per the terms of the LOI.

 We checked in with PDC Manager for Downtown Waterfront Urban Renewal Area, Peter Englander, to find out if he is as thrilled about this as we are.  The affable but cautious Englander had this to say: “The Letter of Intent between Uwajimaya and Sockeye Development is a significant step in clarifying the intentions of the major regional Asian grocer to open a second Portland store in Old Town/Chinatown.  All parties, however, still have far to go to make this project a reality.  We look forward to working with everyone to see if we can make this truly transformational project happen.”

 Douglas Obletz, Manager of Sockeye Development, was a little more animated. He reports that Sockeye is "very excited to have the Letter of Intent in hand after many months of working closely with Uwajimaya and PDC.  PDC, in particular, has been instrumental in helping to lay out the 'welcome mat' for Uwajimaya. We look forward to the next steps in the process, which include working with PDC on the needed public investment for the project, further advancement of the project design, securing of additional tenants for the project, and discussions with potential lenders."

This news, combined with PDC’s recent decision to stay in their current location at NW 5th & Everett, as well as the strong likelihood that Beam Development will break ground on the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine relocation at NW 1st & Couch in September, bodes incredibly well for this vibrant district.

More Great Co-Tenancy for the Central Eastside!

Native Portland brewery Hair of the Dog will be opening a new brewery, restaurant and tasting facility in the Central Eastside early this summer on the corner of SE Water Ave & Taylor Street in a formerly dilapidated warehouse facility. This is more exciting news for the Central Eastside, on the heels of the opening of highly acclaimed Olympic Provisions and what-will-eventually-be Bunk Bar, which will be conveniently located (along with Clarklewis) just one block from the new home of  Hair of the Dog. Cheers!

The End of an Era: Crowsenberg's Half & Half Closes

Crowsenberg's Half & Half, the teeny weeny coffee & sandwich shoppe at 923 SW Oak,  is causing a huge stir with news that it will open its doors for the last time tomorrow. This adorable hole-in-the-wall on Indie Rock Block across from Powell's has made quite an impression on us all, and brought artisan sandwiches to Portland way back when.

Co-owners Robin Rosenberg and Jeff Heisler are moving on, and are hosting an all day blowout Friday, April 30th, to thank their decade-worth of loyal customers and fans. "Closing time will be determined by the depletion of sandwiches, deviled eggs and Miller High Lifes," says the affable Rosenberg.

Locally roasted and bicycle-delivered Courier Coffee Roasters will inherit the Half & Half space.

 

Coming Soon: Bunk Bar!

 
The ink is dry (it was, in fact, signed at The Acropolis!), an outpost of Bunk Sandwiches, Bunk Bar, will be opening on the corner of SE Water & Taylor soon! Urban Works represented both Beam Development and Tommy. Now you'll be able to enjoy your pork belly sandwich with some tunes and a shot of whiskey! Eater PDX just interviewed Tommy Habetz, of Bunk Sandwich and soon-to-be Bunk Bar fame, one unusual snippet from the interview: 

How did you first come up with the idea?

I stole it from the person who came up with the idea of public drinking establishments. I think his name was Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo...

Interesting.

2010 Restaurant Shuffle?!

Three interesting blogs about some rumored restaurant shuffling:

Is Ringside moving into Fox Tower in the former Harrison's space? We previously heard rumblings that it's Ruth's Chris... This from Food Dude.

Next up, the former Nutshell then Anju space on N. Williams, is John Goram next?

Last but not least, will the former Chow space on the corner of NW 14th & Glisan become a burger joint by the owner of DOC? The latest from Eater PDX.