Everything You Need To Know About Shopping In Portland
Portland is a shopper’s dream with no sales tax and several amazing shopping malls, vintage shops, and specialty boutiques. Spend several hours shopping until you are ready to drop! You will find a little bit of everything from souvenirs and gifts to furniture and home goods. Shopping in Portland is great fun, so grab your friends and hit the shops for a great day of retail therapy.
Before you hit the mall, locate a luggage storage service nearby. When your hands are full, stow your bags and keep shopping without being weighed down with your purchases. Grab a cup of coffee and make your plan for the day before you make your way through the shopping districts of Portland.
Popular Shopping Malls in Portland
Spending time hanging out at a shopping mall is one of the best ways to spend a rainy afternoon in Portland (or even a sunny one). There are several great shopping malls you will want to check out when you are out and about in the Portland area.
Washington Square
Address: 9585 SW Washington Square Rd, Portland, OR 97223
This is one of the premier shopping spots in the entire state and has five major anchor stores including Macy’s, Sears, JC Penny, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and the biggest Nordstrom in Oregon. There are also over 170 different specialty stores including Sephora, J. Crew, Coach, Apple, Williams-Sonoma, Aritzia, Pottery Barn, LEGO, True Religion, Victoria’s Secret, and Made in Oregon, just to name a few.
The food court has several great options when you need to take a break from shopping. If you are not feeling the food court, there are a few sit-down restaurants at Washington Square that might hit the spot. Check out the Portland Seafood Company, Nordstrom Café, Cheesecake Factory, or Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill.
Pioneer Place
Address: 700 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97204
Located in downtown Portland, Pioneer Place is a hub of activity where shops, offices, entertainment, and dining have all converged into one fun to explore shopping mall. This complex takes up four city blocks and you can spend the entire day here and still not see everything. Check out Pioneer Courthouse Square while you are here.
This urban mall is interconnected by underground tunnels and skywalks, making it easy to go through all four buildings and check out everything. There is even an office tower called the Pioneer Tower. Check out the food court, where you can dine on cuisine from around the world without ever leaving Pioneer Place.
Fubonn Shopping Center
Address: 2850 SE 82nd Ave Unit 1, Portland, OR 97266
While not a typical shopping mall, the Fubonn Shopping Center’s main attraction is a Chinese supermarket that is filled with inexpensive Chinese goodies. There are also clothing boutiques and other smaller shops, a hair salon, and restaurants, but the busiest place in the whole center is the Asian market.
The Meianna Bakery is also located here and is one of the best places to find egg custard tarts. They specialize in pastries and breads that are fresh and reasonably priced. Drop in to grab a quick treat after you have checked out the shops and done a little shopping at the market.
Lloyd Center
Address: 2201 Lloyd Ctr, Portland, OR 97232
The Lloyd Center has lots of character and is home to several shops and big box stores and anchors like Macy’s and Nordstrom. You can hang out for an afternoon doing a little window shopping or searching the racks for great deals and then stop in at the food court for a relaxing meal or snack before you head back out into the mall for more shopping.
It was at one time was a beehive of activity but with the Pioneer Place not far away, it has lost some of its appeal and is not as crowded as it once was. The architecture of the Lloyd Center is marvelous and you will love strolling through checking things out.
Vintage Stores in Portland
Many people find it exhilarating to shop thrift stores and vintage stores, searching for that perfect thing that you did not even know you wanted or needed. Portland has its fair share of vintage stores and you can spend all day searching for great finds and vintage everything. Check out some of these must-see vintage clothing shops.
Stars Antique Mall
Address: 7027 SE Milwaukie Ave, Portland, OR 97202
With two locations across the street from each other, the Stars Antique Mall is a fantastic place to find pretty much anything. From vintage clothing to antique furniture to kitschy souvenirs, there is something for everyone. They even have a rewards program for their loyal customers. With plenty of restaurants in the area, you can spend the entire day exploring both Stars Antique Malls.
There are so many fantastic vendors with lots of unique, one-of-a-kind items making it great fun to explore both malls and search for fantastic deals on items you just can’t live without. The booths are laid out well and do not seem overly crowded or unorganized, making shopping there so much more relaxing. The friendly staff can even help you find what you are looking for.
House of Vintage Portland
Address: 3315 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
Located in the Hawthorne District in southeast Portland. With over 60 different dealers filling a 13,000-square-foot store, the House of Vintage is a wonderful place to spend a lazy afternoon checking out the diverse selection of vintage clothing and accessories as well as home goods, pop culture items, furniture, and collectibles.
Clothing ranges from the 1920s to the 2000s making this the go-to place when you are searching for that special outfit or costume to make you the belle of the ball or at least a hit at the next costume or theme party. House of Vintage is also the go-to shopping destination for TV shows such as The Librarians, Portlandia, and even Grimm.
Rerun on Fremont
Address: 707 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97212
Rerun has been in business since 2005 and offers a great selection of vintage and gently used items in a well organized and safe environment. You can spend time searching for that perfect gift for the one person who is impossible to shop for or you can just browse through the store looking at all the unique and fun items on display.
Check out Rerun2 located at 6940 Sandy Blvd for more great finds including even more vintage furniture and clothing. You will definitely find something special at either location. With plenty of cafes and restaurants near both stores, you can spend all day shopping and take time for a relaxing brunch before heading home.
Workshop Vintage
Address: 4011 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227
While you can shop online, Workshop Vintage has a brick-and-mortar store on North Williams Avenue where you can spend hours looking at all the interesting, unique, and simply great items available. While vintage clothing and accessories are their specialties, there are so many other fantastic items you will love seeing.
There is also a section dedicated to artisan jewelry and fair-trade items that you will not find anywhere else. Pick up some great gifts for those people who are hard to shop for or find a few clothing and jewelry pieces that will compliment your wardrobe and style.
Check out the Outlets in Portland
There are several great outlet stores in Portland, when you are looking for designer brands but don’t have the resources to afford the high-end name brands, shopping the outlets is the only way to go. Bring your sense of adventure and search the racks of the outlets for great buys.
Woodburn Premium Outlets
Address: 1001 N Arney Road, Woodburn, OR 97071
Located just 30 minutes south of Portland and 20 minutes north of Salem, this outlet mall is home to 110 amazing outlet stores. You can save up to 65% off of major brands like Adidas, Nike, The North Face, Banana Republic, and Gap. Meander along covered walkways and enjoy checking out the fantastic stores and deep discounts.
Columbia Gorge Outlets
Address: 450 NW 257th Way, Troutdale, OR 97060
Located just 15 minutes east of Portland, the Columbia Gorge Outlets has 37 shops and boutiques where you can save up to 70% on terrific brands such as Nike, Bath & Body Works, Carter’s, Coach, Eddie Baur, Levi’s, Famous Footwear, and Lane Bryant to name a few.
Popular Shopping Areas in Portland
While it can be fun to search out some of the best shops and boutiques in Portland, sometimes you just want to head to one area and spend a few hours, or an entire afternoon, hitting the shops and taking part in some much-needed retail therapy. There are several great shopping areas in Portland where you can spend a lazy afternoon.
Downtown Portland Shopping
The retail core of Portland is downtown, where you can find a variety of shopping choices from small boutiques to large department stores to shopping malls. Browse through Nordstrom or Mario’s or spend time in some of the small boutiques or maybe head straight to Pioneer Place and check out many of the high-end shops and international retailers.
With stores like Tiffany & Co, Camper, Louis Vuitton, Tory Burch, Apple, J. Crew, H&M, and so much more, downtown Portland is the place to go. But, it does get pretty crowded in the downtown area so you may want to head downtown during off-peak times to avoid some of the crowd.
After spending time in the stores, you can relax at one of the many restaurants or bars in downtown Portland or even go catch a movie at the theater located inside Pioneer Place. With tax-free shopping, downtown Portland is a haven for shopping junkies.
Union Way Shopping Arcade
Connecting the West End and the Pearl District, this modern arcade is home to several quaint shops and boutiques including local brands such as Danner, Bridge & Burn, and Self Edge. Grab a cold treat at Wailua Shave Ice and recharge after spending time exploring the stores in Union Way. You can also drop into Boxer Ramen for a delicious bowl of authentic ramen.
The space that is Union Way was once two separate nightclubs that have since been revamped into a modern, ultra-sleek shopping district that connects Ace Hotel to Powell’s City of Books. The space may be small, but the impact of this fabulous shopping district is great. You can show your support of local merchants and brands by shopping in Union Way.
Pearl Shopping District
Known simply as The Pearl by locals, this is one of the top shopping destinations in Portland. The former warehouse district has been reimagined into a fabulous shopping and entertainment epicenter. You will find a wide selection of international and national retailers as well as several hometown favorites.
Meander through the world’s largest independent bookstore and then search through several of the locally owned shops and boutiques for great finds. Once you are done shopping, sit down to a great meal at one of the cafes or restaurants. Portland Union Station is very nearby,
Nob Hill
While Nob Hill is mainly a residential area with Victorian-inspired houses, you will find several adorable boutiques mixed with interesting national retailers lined up along Northwest 21st Avenue and Northwest 23rd Avenue. Nob Hill is also known as the Northwest neighborhood or the Alphabet District. To find out why to stay here or in other Portland neighborhoods, read our guide.
Sit at one of the sidewalk cafes and watch as people stroll by and enjoy the Craftsman-style and Victorian storefronts lining the street. You will find spending time in Nob Hill to be relaxing and a great place to track down just about anything you are looking for and then afterward you can grab a drink at one of the local bars.
See Portland Art Galleries and Shops
Whether you are looking for specialty shops, local shops, coffee shops, or major shopping malls, the best shopping in Portland can easily be found just by taking a stroll through the streets. Check out some of the art galleries along the way when you need a break from browsing the shelves and racks at your favorite shops.