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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 17, 2005)
rTTîTTTTTTTïneiv.s P igs F ly Northeast Portland store brings shoppers the unexpected bv Jaymee R. Cuti ortheast Portland welcomed a new business last April Fcxil’s Hay, owned and mn by life part ners Mark Bergal and Johnathon Guerra. Perhaps once suited for a Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard location. When Pigs Fly is bringing playful gadgets to Northeast Port land’s vivacious Fremont district. This gift shop bears a museum quality with stimulus packed on every shelf. The owners describe their merchandise as gimmicky, mod em and off-the-wall. “Our store is tor the individual that doesn’t want to hassle with a shopping mall, that doesn’t want to go into a high-pressure sales environ ment. that wants to have a tun time finding a gift in a tun environment,” said Bergal. He said the store fills a gap in queer con sumerism by stocking Pride effects throughout rhe year. The store is brimming with rainbow gear, from jewelry to sticky notes, lighters to disco halls, shot glasses to beach towels. They promise these products will remain on rhe shelves after summer celebrations are long gone. other real cool stuff. open adr :: 2230 ne alberta / ph :: 503.460.0760 <WSJ:WWWPedxshoeSCOm monday - friday I lam - 6pm Saturday + Sunday I lam - 5pm J Have an Portland Pride 2005! Real Estate Broker 503.407.1540 caclams@equitygronp.com RF/VW W . equity group, inc. MWietUh «Mfttfi .KMÌ Partners in business and life, Mark Bergal (left) and Johnathon Guerra own the colorful and eclectic gift shop When Pigs Fly. “Just because pigs don't fly out there doesn’t mean they don’t in here,” said Bergal, a former high schixil counselor. Pigs are just one of a number of hard-to-find oddities stocked in the colorful store. Other eclectic items include steak throw rugs, bacon bandages, coconut purses, fish beer coolers, martini glasses with smixxzh marks, outer space TV trays and much more. “We try to throw in a lot of things that get the senses juiced up,” Bergal said. “Human beings, by nature, are creative and like to be tantalized. Even in shopping, we create an envi ronment where people can express themselves in purchasing power.” Primarily the store’s buyer, Bergal uncovered a hidden talent for arranging displays that mir rored his taste and decorating instinct. “Whenever 1 decorated my office for stu dents or my home for various holidays, 1 was buying a lot of these things as a consumer before 1 ever had the business,” he said. Bergal and Guerra, an accountant by trade, struggled to penetrate Portland’s stubborn job market following a transplant from Southern California in 2004- After injecting their careers with a dose of creativity, When Pigs Fly was bom. Guerra, the business-minded one, specializes in the store’s accounting and register handling. The owners agree that When Pigs Fly is a treat to spend time in, and they make an effort to form a rapport with their customers. “We couldn’t find a place that carried Pride accessories, so we decided to keep a Pride sec tion all year round,” Bergal said. But if taste requires queer gear of an understat ed variety, Bergal suggests clocks, vases and photo frames. “By the nature of our population being very cre ative and fashionable and liking nice things, a lot of what we have here in the home décor area appeals to that population,” he said. In line with the store’s mission to keep shopping fun, Bergal and Guerra don’t mind a little legwork when tracking down a special order. They recently located a customer-requested extra-large rain bow flag for home use. “If somebody wants something, we do our best to find it for them,” Bergal said. Since moving to Portland a year ago, the couple have developed a sense of community and an obligation to give back. They have donated gift baskets and certificates to schcxils and chanties, vowing to give more as they establish themselves as business owners. “We’re not in a position where we can donate money, but we can give products,” said Bergal. “The longer we’re here, the more we can give.” JH W hen P igs F ly is located at 4605 N.E. Frenumt St. 4104. For more information call 503'282'PKJS, e-mail info@whenpigsflypdx.com err visit www.whenpigsflypdx.com. ih AfAlTOR I Proud to be Out for over 25 years Providing quality printing and ÿ promotional product servio Portland Gay & Lesbian community. Printing Copying Promotional Products Design Services Direct Mail WITHAM PRINTING • I’RO^OTIÖNAI. PRODUCTSjjBflf
