First ‘Neighborhood Pop-Up Market’ comes to Lents

INCLUDES VIDEO VIGNETTE | Find out how successful this venture in outer East Portland was – and what the organizers plan next …

Inside a formerly-vacant Lents Commons storefront facing SE Foster Road, there is bustling activity for one weekend, as the Lents Holiday Pop-Up Market is underway.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

The empty street-level retail space in Lents Commons, at 5859 SE 92nd Avenue, and facing Foster Road, was lit up with activity as the Lents Holiday Pop-Up Market moved into the storefront for one weekend – December 18 and 19.

The well-lit, but unfinished, space pleased both the vendors and the shoppers on both days.

Organizers Mickey Taelor and Carolina Mascimento are happy to see what had been, a month before, just an idea, now coming to life.

“To create this market, we partnered with Prosper Portland and the property managers here in this building, Lents Commons, as a way to activate the space by bringing in a small businesses for a weekend,” explained co-organizer Mickey Taelor.

“And, at the same time, it’s helping those selling here to get an idea what it’s like to sell in a retail storefront, without having the overhead costs,” Taelor told East Portland News.

Take a look at the wide variety of unique items that were for sale in this one-weekend market – by viewing our Video Vignette:

“Today we have 16 vendors; and then on Sunday we have 17 vendors,” Taelor told East Portland News. “We are incentivizing our guests to spend thirty bucks by offering a drawing, and certificates to local businesses.”

Bremer Baden gives raffle tickets to any shopper who spends a minimum of $30 at the Market, giving them an opportunity to win a fabulous prize package.

Not all of the activity was centered in the storefront, Taelor pointed out. “We have seven different businesses here in the Lents community that are offering specials this weekend – in partnership with us.” Those businesses included: The Zed (formerly known as Zoiglhaus Brewing Company), Humdinger Pizza Company, Ding Tea, Bella’s Italian Bakery, and the Nectar Cannabis Dispensary.

“The best thing that can come out of this is all these community vendors coming together in this wonderful, unique shopping opportunity for people in the community,” opined Taelor.

Mikisha Ismail of Curate Your Cozy shows some of more popular items she curates for small interior design accessory-based gift packages.

This undertaking wasn’t associated with a neighborhood business district. “We pushed it out simply as a Lents community event, to anyone who was interested in being involved – and, for those who did participate, we’re super grateful,” Taelor said. “Hopefully that will make this a monthly thing, and we can do this in different communities throughout Southeast Portland.”

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