PDXCHANGE — Local services in Portland

I left a five star review here months ago because I've always liked this place and the people who run it. I decided to post this after seeing a negative review from a street canvasser, because I've been canvassing for over two years in Portland. These are wonderful members of the community, and as someone who has done non-profit canvassing near their store and many others, I can tell you that they are some of the most respectful and reasonable people I've ever had the pleasure to meet. Any review that has expressed otherwise is simply false. For that matter, it's a property with multiple businesses renting out space and not one of them has ever been rude or inconsiderate to me or any of the canvassers I've worked with.

Most businesses won't stop you from canvassing near them as long as you aren't confrontational or disrespectful, and don't set up in a way that they feel may obstruct potential customers from entering and leaving. Also, a lot of businesses are under rules of property managers who decide where and whether any canvassing or sales can happen on the premises. The sidewalk is public right-of-way but business owners and managers will ask you to move if the spot you're standing on isn't ideal or if you're being rude.

With that being said, there is room for one or two people to canvass on the sidewalk without blocking anybody's traffic there, and I say that having done so many, many times. There's plenty of "neutral space" and as long as you're keeping your attention on the people walking along the sidewalk (and not pulling them away from the businesses) you can canvass without any problem. With great success, I might add, if your cause/organization/product are popular with and worthwhile to the community, and your canvassers are courteous, friendly...

Visited this shop with a friend who has been living in the PDX area for 6 years now. We were in the area to mainly window shop while we did our catching-up. I chatted with the nicest person at the counter, Tom, and we joked about Alabama football. I went back to my Air Bnb to gather my other friends and we came back later the same evening. Tom was still there, and was pleasantly surprised to see the group of us wander in! Tom was so nice and we all loved our goodies that we purchased from the store. I would love to go back just to say hey and...

I will not be back. I tried to talk to the older tall man and he brushed me off. Kept talking to these other white women who came into the store 15 minutes after I did. I also felt like I was being heavily watched and not once did he offer help. This is so disappointing because as a woman of color who sees that this store is Literally selling items from my culture and yet treating POC customers like this is really Really disappointing and...