AUGUST 18. 2006
STUART ROY
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Clothing Store Now
More Gay-Friendly
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Janies 1). MeV ittic,
Attorney at I .aw
A store that offers new, used
and handmade items fur moth­
ers and children has just
changed hands and become a
more gay-friendly place to shop.
Laurel Ackerman took over
Bella Stella at 2635 N.E.
Broadway last month and start­
ed carrying “Queer Mama” T-shirts.
“When we went down to Pride and saw how
many families there are in Portland, that was real­
ly great,” said Ackerman, who is straight. “We
wanted to make a store that lots of people could
shop in and feel comfortable.”
Ackerman is committed to providing clothing
and accessories to special-needs children. Her
2-year-old daughter, Ella, has Langerhans’ cell his­
tiocytosis, a cancer-like
condition that is treated
with chemotherapy. “I’m
really tuned in to margin­
alized children,” said
Ackerman.
Bella Stella sells baby
carriers that can carry chil­
dren up to 5 years old as
well as products for tiny
hahies who may have been
bom premature. Ackerman
offers her customers per­
« •* ’
sonalized attention and is
always willing to special­
order items. A community
board in the store provides
parents with information
about a number of local
Robert Lawrence sits
resources.
Gray Gardens.
The store also just
started hosting play groups—one for stay-at-home
dads and their children and another for bilingual
parents and kids. “I’m open to starting a gay and
lesbian parent group if people contact me,” said
Ackerman. “That would be awesome.”
Ackerman, who is an ordained Universal Life
Church minister, said she is also hoping to per­
form marriage ceremonies at Bella Stella. “I’m
thinking about getting a makeshift altar that 1 can
Licensed in Oregon
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10920 NW St. Helens Rd • Portland, OR 97231 • Phone: (503)286-1291
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The gay-owned Gray Gardens antique shop
made its debut on the St. Johns scene July 4- The
building at 7400 N. Lombard St. has been closed
since the 1950s and, according to proprietor
Robert Lawrence, the place was built in 1919 as an
auto repair shop for Model T Fords.
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among an eclectic array of antique décor at
Lawrence, 40, has been an avid collector of
antiques and vintage clothing for 20 years. He has
been selling items online and in antique malls for
some time and decided it was time to open a
permanent location.
The name Gray Gardens comes from the 1975
film of the same name about two eccentric, high-
society ladies. “They were happy doing their own
thing," Lawrence explained. “People often think
they have to decorate their house a certain way,
and that’s not true. People should choose things
that fit their personality rather than going into
Lawrence, who moved to Portland from his
native New York, has lived here for almost a
decade. “1 wanted a change of pace,” he said,
“and 1 knew that moving out here would give me
PLUMBING
more opportunities to work for myself."
He recently sold his house in St. Johns to pur­
chase the retail space. The building has a small,
Your #1 choice
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503.227.1212
A New Place to Find Old Things
in St. Johns
Pottery Barn and picking out something that's on
the floor.”
Gray Gardens carries a wide variety of items,
including knickknacks, linens, paintings, furni­
ture and some clothing. “It’s eclectic—basically
anything 1 think is interesting that 1 think other
people will like,” said Lawrence. “I try to keep my
prices low so there’s something for everyone.”
LINNTON FEED & SEED
POULTRY SUPPLIES
pull out,” she said. “It would be a free service, and
we could order the commitment or marriage
certificates.” Universal Life
recognizes marriages between
people of all genders.
“It hasn’t happened yet, but
if anyone came in today and said
they wanted to get married, I’d
do it right then. It’s always avail­
able," said Ackerman.
MARTY DAVIS
8 jUStlOUt
Laurel Ackerman's store, Bella Stella, carries
clothing and accessories for children.
private cottage attached to it that Lawrence calls
home. He hopes to create a small boutique
garden shop in the hack of the space, but for now
he is focused mainly on antique décor.
“The response has been really positive,” said
Lawrence. I©