4 • The Southwest Portland Post
BUSINESS
April 2013
Frozen yogurt shop replaces cleaners in Vermont Hills
THE COUNTRY STORE
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
Frozen yogurt has entered the
community. When Gabriel Park
Cleaners closed last year due to
family health issues, a local couple
jumped at the opportunity to create
a new retail space.
The idea of a warm, cozy spot
serving dessert came to Mark
and Shawn Preble while in Palm
Springs.
Mark, a marketing professional by
day, drew up a business plan and
Sunny's Frozen Yogurt opened on December 12 in the Vermont Hills Shopping Center.
(Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
Businesses are open
during construction.
researched similar
shops in the area.
One place showed
up as a favorite:
Nectar Frozen Yo-
gurt Lounge located
in Sellwood.
With two young
daughters in hand,
the entrepreneurs
decided to try it out
and loved it.
Little did they
know Nectar would
soon expand to a
second lounge in
Multnomah Village
which opened last
fall. But leases were
already signed and
the project went
forward despite the
competition.
“It was time,”
Shawn explained.
“We’ve never done
anything like this Southwest Community Health Center
and it took a leap of (Post photo by Leslie Baird)
faith opening up a
Health center celebrates 8th
yogurt shop with all the competi-
tion.”
anniversary in Multnomah
On the magical date of 12/12/12,
Village
Sunny’s Legendary Frozen Yogurt
opened in the Gabriel Park shop-
Craving those wonderful Kiwanis
ping center at Southwest 45 th Av-
pancakes and sausages? Can’t wait
enue and Vermont Street.
until Multnomah Days? Then your
Gone are altered wedding dresses
lucky day is coming next month!
and starched shirts; instead, frozen
The Southwest Hills Kiwanis will
flavors like s’mores (toasted marsh-
host yet another mouth-watering
mallow and milk chocolate), lemon
breakfast fundraiser for the South-
pound cake and mango tango sorbet
west Community Health Center.
await.
The pancake breakfast is scheduled
“The recipes are all kosher,” stat-
for Saturday, May 4, from 8:00 to 11:00
ed Shawn who manages the store.
a.m. at the Lucky Labrador Public
“We’re in discussion with a lo-
House in Multnomah Village. Tours
cal rabbi who’s already been in to
of the clinic will take place during
certify a section of the toppings as
those hours.
kosher as well.”
Located next to Multnomah Village
There will also be signs alerting
Antiques in Dr. Ray Foster’s old of-
customers to the presence of nuts,
fice, the health center will celebrate
peanuts and gluten in certain top-
eight years of providing basic health
pings. (The yogurt is all gluten free.)
care to low-income uninsured indi-
As an added touch of commu-
viduals.
nity spirit, Sunny’s will work with
The small clinic is growing: It re-
an organization to generate fun
cently had its 10,000 th visit late last
ways to raise money. Maplewood
year. There are over 150 volunteers- 92
Elementary was one of the first.
of them are doctors, many volunteer-
Spring hours are daily 11am – 11pm,
ing and learning from OHSU and
Sundays until 9.
Legacy.
n
e
e
r
g
goes
Additional parking is available at
Multnomah Arts Center Lower West Lot.
Ad paid for by Environmental Services, City of Portland.
WS 1318
“There is a sliding fee scale based
on ability to pay,” said Samira Godil,
executive director.
Ms. Godil spoke at the March
Multnomah Neighborhood Associa-
tion meeting, and asked for support
from the association for the upcoming
pancake breakfast.
“The uninsured amongst us include
the working poor, elderly and immi-
grants,” Ms. Godil explained. “Many
workers don’t work enough hours
in one job for enrollment in health
plans.”
The majority of the patients seen
over the past years are between 20
and 65. It’s been a safety net clinic
that focuses on these individuals in
the Southwest Portland area.
The skills and kindness of volun-
teers are the backbone of the health
center. It makes it possible for the clin-
ic to provide quality health services.
There are a variety of opportunities
that are available by checking out the
website.
The SWCHC has clinics every Tuesday
and Thursday from 4-8PM and Monday
evenings from 6-8PM. Please call 503-
977-0733 or visit www.swchc-pdx.org.