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Guide to Richmond NeighborhoodLocationThe Richmond neighborhood is located in Southeast Portland. It is bordered by the Hosford-Abernethy, Sunnyside, Mt. Tabor, South Tabor, and Creston-Kenilworth neighborhoods. The Richmond area also falls within the Portland neighborhood popularly referred to as the "Hawthorne District". Whoever drew the border for the Richmond neighborhood probably also drew blood due to their tongue being so firmly planted in their cheek. Plain and simple, this' hood covers a lot of ground, both literally and in content. From the check cashing, strip mall aesthetic of Powell Boulevard to the insanely eclectic, hip Hawthorne District, you can find everything from smoky pool halls and porno to haute cuisine and $300.00 bowls.
Bisecting these two extremes as its name implies, Division Street likewise offers a cross section and appears to be gaining enviable urban renewal steam, complete with its own fair share of art galleries. But whereas other Portland neighborhoods might consistently and self-consciously aim the spotlight their own way - cue Alberta - Richmond is kickin' it covert ops style.
Kung Fu Bakery, a professional recording studio used by the likes of Capitol Records and artists such as Everclear, The Decemberists, The Shins, and Pink Martini is located in a building that sits on Division. There is no sign out front, and nothing marks the door more than a Chinese proverb. Similarly on Division, a building with absolutely no outside clue is home to one of the most expensive, per capita stockpiles of coffee beans on the planet, belonging to none other than the growing coffee empire that is Stumptown. Not to be confused with Stumptown's original retail location down the street, this site is where the company stores its precious, internationally culled beans. It is also where a Nicaraguan exchange worker by the name of Javier roasts the coffee in a cast-iron, 1950's era roaster, checking the beans constantly for the sights, smells - and even sounds - of perfection. (There's a reason they're the best coffee anywhere.) But you'd walk right by this operation and never know it. Again, no sign proclaims its presence. Stumptown doesn't even list its existence on its website.
Despite the strong occurrence of commercial activity in Richmond, the neighborhood is of course primarily residential. And again, the eclectic thing is in play. This is definitely not tract housing by one developer. The houses vary substantially in form and style and, significantly, landscaping. Stuff just loves to grow here, as in all of Portland, but walking the streets one gets the definite sense that any neighborhood association that exists has long ago given up trying to beat back nature. Sidewalks are often shared, and "manicured" is not exactly a word that springs to mind. But then again, "unkempt" doesn't either. It should be mentioned that the commercial categories below are the same as those on our other neighborhood pages, but many of the establishments were even more difficult to classify than usual. That's due, in part, to the whole eclectic/deep in diversity/keep Portland weird phenomenon, and it's also probably got something to do with the incognito factor playing out on Division. Homes
If you are looking for information on buying or selling a home in Richmond, including mortgage rates, loan calculators, home appraisers, school report cards, and crime reports, please see the Portland Real Estate page.
Richmond InformationHistoric Preservation League of Oregon Portland Public School Boundaries (enter your address to verify correct schools) Richmond Public Schools: Elementary school: Abernethy Elementary School Elementary school: Creston Elementary School Elementary school: Grout Elementary School Portland Classifieds on Craigslist.com TriMet - Interactive Maps and Schedules for Bus, Max and Streetcar Richmond Shopping, Dining and EntertainmentRichmond Restaurants & BarsEugenio’s Eugenio's is listed under "Restaurants & Bars," and it does certainly sell panini, pizza, soup, salad, beer, and wine. But according to owner, Eugene
Gray, "Eugenio's is as much about the music as it is about the food." Eugene is a member of the band,
Church of Surf, which plays venues like Dante's, Duff's Garage, The Blue Monk -and of course Eugenio's.
Walking n, you're just as likely to see Eugene "slinging killer espresso" as you
are to see him picking out a few licks with his buddies. When I met him, he was rehearsing with another
guitarist curbside in front of his place, complete with amps, and I wound up
happily serenaded for much of the rest of my stay on Division.
Pok Pok With the plethora of Thai options available in Portland, one thing that definitely can set a restaurant apart is its offering of
outdoor seating space. In the case of Pok Pok, they've taken it a step further. As theirs is located in front and to the side of the
establishment, which itself is a converted house, there is something playful about the
look and feel, like a block party about to go into high gear.
Stumptown Coffee The goal at Stumptown is to provide their customers with "an unsurpassed coffee experience." And they're willing to go to just about any lengths to make that happen, literally. They'll go to Rwanda and reacquaint the locals with their coffee heritage following the genocide, helping them to develop the processing side of coffee. They'll pay top dollar in places like Brazil and Guatemala. They'll go hunting for beans anywhere, anytime looking for "the true gems of the planet."
Richmond Shopping
Urban Flora
Soil-free
gardening. Sounds like something between a challenge and a riddle.
But at Urban Flora they make it happen.
Turns out that organic certification from a soiled garden so-to-speak
takes a long time, but if you grow in materials like coco fiber your time's cut
significantly. Who knew?
Following
the grand opening of their companion store just down the street in June 2007,
Urban Flora Plant Oasis, their current location, houses cut flowers, exotic
plants, cacti, ornamentals, and gifts. The
second location is where your green thumb can pluck itself CO2 systems,
hydroponics, grow lights, as well as all sustainable, green, and bamboo
furniture.
Richmond Art GalleriesChristopher Bibby and Tamara Adams Fine Arts (3557 SE Division; 503-206-2438, 503-771-5872; www.iambibby.net; www.tamaraadamsgallery.com) share a gallery space that displays the rich colors of his oil and acrylic explorations of separation and unity and her contemporary folk art. Metalurges (3605 SE Division; 503-230-0588; www.metalurges.com) features Cubist-influenced sculpture, clocks, mirrors, and even furniture. The Sleeping Bee Gallery (3561 SE Division; 503-232-0745; www.rinzart.com) displays the illustrations, paintings, and mixed media of Rin Carroll Jackson.
Richmond Guesthouses
Bluebird Guesthouse Owner Chris Moehling shares his house with guests who want to pay a relatively nominal fee, spend a night or more and have access to a computer and cook-it-yourself kitchen. Bagels, English muffins, and coffee are laid out each morning, but Chris maintains that this isn't really a B&B 'cause it's all self-serve.The kitchen in general is self-serve, and all guests are welcome to store food in the fridge and cook it up on the stove. Each room comes with a name like Garcia-Marquez or Beverly Cleary, and a couple have their own bath. Prices range from $50.00 to $80.00 during peak summer season.This place isn't chocolates on your pillow or turn down service on your duvet. It's bargain basement furniture in the living and reading rooms, but it's clean, affordable, friendly, and it even made the Willamette Week "Best of Portland 2006" list under "Best House-Guest Management."
…and More on SE Division St. With a name as creative as Appethaizing, the Thai cuisine they serve should only follow in kind. Caffe¢ Pallino scoops up gelato and dishes up such fare as penne with Draper Valley chicken breast and pesto as well as brunch on the weekend. Haven is happy to pour a cup of joe and serve a sweet concoction. For bento, donburi, curry rice, noodles, and sushi, Kappaya Japanese Restaurant has got the ‘hoodcovered. They same folks who nailed Indian cuisine at Vindalho are at their old tricks again but focusing on another part of the planet with Lauro Mediterranean Kitchen. Know those confections that make you stare? Those chocolate desserts that take a paragraph to describe? They’ve got ‘em at Pix Patisserie along with such classic Parisian nibbles as brioche and cheese plates.
Portico carries “artful furniture and accessories” in a range of new, vintage, handcrafted, and some consignment. Ocean’s Fish Works can hook you up with salt water fish, fresh water fish, and reef supplies. Small plates of yummy morsels like baked spaetzle with gruyere and duck with fromage blanc grits and rapini are dished in the warm, inviting atmosphere of The Victory, along with cocktails and a Toddy that does its own job of making you toasty. Richmond Neighborhood - More InfoIf you have more information about Richmond and would like to contribute, or if you have photos to share, please contact us.
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