Getting the shakes over Portland’s Saturday Market closing down until spring? Wish those garage sales would start popping up again? Well, I can’t hurry the seasons, but may have come across something that will tide you over.
The area around SE 82nd and Foster has been getting a facelift. Tom Peterson’s old building has been demolished and a new strip mall has sprouted. The old Buzzard’s Roost has a new name, but is still a strip club. (Got to keep some character in the ‘hood.) Spot 79 is still open until 2:30 AM for the swing shift set.
As we head west, there are new happenings in the building formerly occupied by a perpetually failing business. (Hint: Lady has screechy annoying pitch voice.) After seven years of “Going Out Of Business” sales, a new group has arrived, and hopes to make a go of it.
Indy Mart opened about two months ago. It’s tucked away inside the building on 79th, between Harold and Foster, sharing space with Clear. I’d been eyeing the place for a while, finally checking it out yesterday. It can be intimidating at first; all you see is a hallway leading to what looks like a gymnasium. I took the plunge, and was glad I did.
There were enough vendors to border the space, with a few tables in the middle. (Spaces are $10 per table, $12 on weekends.) Anyone can rent a spot. I checked the homemade arts and crafts, browsed the CDs and videos, but what really caught my eye was the custom tee shirt stand in the middle.
Jason was most hospitable, explaining his operation and providing me with gift ideas. He has a notebook full of designs, and can also transfer your own images onto a shirt. How much does this miracle cost? $10 per shirt. (If you bring your own shirt, he charges $5.)
In the back is a cozy spot reminiscent of a party basement. Low-slung comfy looking digs around a coffee table offer a respite from shopping. I was offered a complimentary doughnut from Voodoo. They also had snazzy sounding coffee, but I was going la-la-la-la trying to distract myself from engulfing and devouring the stack of delicious-looking doughnuts.
While it may not yet have the zing of Saturday Market, Indy Mart has potential. So come on out to the eastside and support the locals, won’t you?
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