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Guide to Kenton Neighborhood
Location
The
Kenton Neighborhood in North Portland is bordered by
Arbor Lodge,
St.
Johns,
and
Piedmont neighborhoods. Kenton is bordered by the Max line on
Interstate Avenue and offers quick and convenient access to downtown and other
popular neighborhoods via Max, bike, foot or car. A drive to downtown Portland
is a mere 7-8 minutes away.
The commercial district was once largely deserted, with only a few staple
shops, but is now enjoying a surge of growth. Just a little over a year ago we
had a grand prediction and well, its coming true:
"Walking through the commercial district of Kenton
will spark entrepreneurial thoughts of opening your own cute store front...The last time we lunched at the Kenton Street Pub, I looked up the street
and lost myself in the vision of what Kenton could be. For those of you that
remember Mississippi Ave before it was a hip, thriving district, you'll know
that just a few short years ago, Mississippi was basically abandoned and folks
simply didn't go there. All it took was a few brave entrepreneurs to come in and
begin to fill the void. Portland Neighborhood.com predicts that Kenton is the
next up and coming neighborhood in N. Portland. There is simply so much potential here
that it's mind-numbing to consider the inevitable given these truths: easy
access to the Max, tons of store-front options, inexpensive retail rent and the
simple fact that Portland people love to get in and re-vamp. Our advice to you
is to get in while you still can!
Just in the last few months,
we've seen evidence of folks taking our advice! 1) This neighborhood
page (this very one!!) is one of the most popular neighborhood pages on this
site! 2) Esan Thai (yum!) and The Cup and Saucer (tasty breakfast
goodness!!) and Pizza Fino (excellent gourmet pizza!) have recently opened their doors to the warm embraces of our
neighborhood locals and 3) we see a lot of "store-front activity"-- we don't know what's
going on yet, but there is LIFE on this street and we are so excited to see it
happen. Get down there and check it out!
Kenton homes are modest but nicely done. There are some amazingly gorgeous
homes in the area, especially on Denver Street, which begins the commercial
district. True to Portland style, we are beginning to see signs that this
neighborhood is turning: creative paint schemes, innovative landscaping, and
attention-to-detail restoration efforts. This lovely neighborhood is truly a gem given affordable
home prices and a neighborhood community that truly cares about the growth and
overall livability of the area. We have no doubt that this is the next hot
area in urban Portland. You can't miss the fact that the homes for sale are
eagerly snapped up by buyers and investors alike. Everyone is whispering about
the "next Mississippi"...One estimate says property values have gone up 80% in
this area, just in the last few years. Kenton is comprised of mostly modest homes with architectural
styles such as Portland's Craftsman style Bungalow, Cottages, Old Portland, and
other mid-sized, one and two story homes.
Hot
Eats
Wolf down some super tasty jalapeno poppers, burgers, fries and cold beer at the Kenton Pub. Once a hotel and now a landmark on the historic register, the neighborhood Pub is owned and operated by locals. This is a great place to hang out and shoot the breeze... Esan Thai is excellent! We love the simple decor and the (amazing!!) fact that they DELIVER! We've been in for dinner several times and enjoyed a delivery once and you better believe we'll be coming back for more... Had a great breakfast over at The Cup and Saucer. The place is rather cozy and the staff are super friendly. I love all the windows and must say, the food was divine... Newest addition to the commercial strip is Pizza Fino. We stopped in and had an incredible gourmet (perfect crust!) pizza. We are so impressed with the care and detail that were put into this homey, comfortable spot. Hi-iH lighting fixtures, great paint schemes, a dozen tables in a spacious yet cozy backroom, a full bar, attentive and excited staff...locals will be calling this place "home" in no time! CoffeeMost local folks know all about North Star Coffee shop on Interstate and Lombard. Run by locals Kathy and Pam, the North Star was born out of sweat and tears back in 2003. Kathy and Pam bought and remodeled an old, worn down and neglected home and made it something amazing: original 1920's charm, wrap around deck, cozy fireplace...Wi-fi, sincere smiles and comfy sitting areas top it all off. North Star serves a mean coffee (Stumptown!) and they are, by far, the sweetest folks in the area. This is the "Cheers" of coffee houses- everyone knows your name, says hello, how are you and they really mean it! Focus on…Pizza Fino. Its been a long time since we've had a pizza that was this dang good! Right below the North Star Coffee house is Stella's barbershop- a local favorite, she'll even sprinkle fairy dust in your child's hair.... Kenton Pub. Nice, cold beer and a free standard pool table. This bar is fun, homey and full of good souls. Trenton and Kenton parks. Two baseball fields, a view of the Vancouver fireworks on the 4th of July, sledding on snow days, and a great play structure for kids. North Portland Tool Library. "The North Portland Tool Library (NPTL) is a community resource that loans a wide variety of tools to community members free of charge. The Tool Library benefits North Portland residents by reducing the costs of maintaining and improving their homes, building community, and sustaining diverse, livable neighborhoods." Click here to learn more about this fantastic community program.
Vibe...
On the cusp of something special...something fantastic. Neighborhood locals are extremely down-home, very approachable. I always feel welcome and at home here and I know you will too. A few years ago, when I looked down Denver Avenue, I used to feel like I was the only person who saw the potential of this area-- however, we all know there is no such thing as an original thought. This gem of a neighborhood is being discovered-- and starting to enjoy the pitter-patter of all your feet! If you're looking for a new neighborhood to call your own, its not too late! Hurry up and find this place before it's too late. You have a unique opportunity to help shape a community-- to make it what you want it to be! Community Event CalendarKnow about a concert, meeting, gallery showing, or other event in your neighborhood? Click the ADD button on the calendar below, to add your events to the community calendar! Kenton - More InformationIf you would like to share your experiences of living or working in Kenton, please contact us!
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