Visage Eyewear
This optical store offers eye exams, in-house lens crafting, contact lenses, and more stylish frames than you can possibly count, in addition to a gallery. So if you're looking for the latest and greatest in narrow, black-framed, rectangular glasses (like seemingly half the population sports these days), or even something that looks good, this is your shop.
Widney Moore Gallery
Quintessentially Pearl, artists from not just Portland but around the country create original "wearable art" for this airy shop in the historic Wieden and Kennedy building. Scarves, silk jackets, jewelry, handcrafted clothing, accessories -- all at a premium price, so those looking for a bargain best steer clear and hit the mall instead.
mio gelato
Translated to mean "insanely good," the twenty-four sumptuous flavors of gelato (a light version of ice cream) are the main attraction at this Italian-style cafe. Flavors such as chocolate and pistachio are obvious, so try the fruit flavors first, which change with the seasons. Note that while gelato isn't as fatty and caloric necessarily as premium ice cream, it's still not health food.
The Whole Nine Yards
Perhaps an unfortunately named store, but nevertheless you could do far worse for a fabric store, as this one is jam-packed with dazzling fabrics of numerous varieties, complete with thousands of fabric samples, along with trim and custom furniture that can be ordered. Hard to go wrong here and in a great location to boot.
Daily Cafe In the Pearl
Located in the middle of things in a converted industrial space in the Pearl, this is one of the best and most reasonably affordable places (relatively speaking) to hit for lunch. Stylishly decorated, this is upscale diner food done right, serving fare ranging from hamburgers to fish to bakery-style desserts that will leave you panting.
Relish
Not a condiment store, rather, Relish focuses on emerging designers to offer you merchandise such as modern bedding, Italian furniture, ceramic lighting, stylish office supplies, snazzy jewelry, access to designers, and more, including many gift ideas (wrapping service available upon request). Priced accordingly, this is not your average home wares store.
Portland Closet Company
Portland Closet offers custom closet and cabinet solutions for any room that needs to squeeze in more than it can hold, which is ideal for your loft or apartment. If the showroom isn't enough, they also offer home consultations at a reasonable rate considering the extraordinary return in space savings.
P H Reed
Actually a combination of two stores located across the street from each other, both focus on soft-lined contemporary furniture and optimizing and customizing your home or loft space. One location carries dining, living room, and home office furniture, while the other features bedroom furniture, accessories, and linens. Prices are average.
Moberg Fireplaces
When the cold weather comes around, even in a temperate climate such as Portland's, a fireplace is a good thing (pollution excepted, but see below). Moberg offers unique fireplaces, and most notably, manufactures a certified clean-burning model. Design selections are myriad, including models appropriate for any type of home, even lofts.
Mulligan Mattress
When you feel you've graduated from the futon you've had since college, the Mulligan Mattress Company's smallish showroom, combined with a manufacturing facility, provide custom-fitted mattresses for anyone of any size. Because they manufacturer their own mattresses rather than importing them, quality is higher and value for the dollar increases.
