January 2015
BUSINESS
The Southwest Portland Post • 5
Hillsdale and Multnomah Village businesses have healthy holiday season
Golden Ticket program a huge
success for local businesses
THE COUNTRY STORE
By Erik Vidstrand and Don Snedecor
The Southwest Portland Post
It’s been a robust holiday season for
neighborhood businesses according to
local business association sources.
Paloma Clothing sales increased 7.5
percent over 2013.
“Golden Ticket sales and Small
B u s i n e s s S a t u rd a y p ro m o t i o n s
contributed to the shop’s success,”
said Paloma owner Mike Roach. He’s
also the chair of the Hillsdale Business
and Professional Association.
The newest Hillsdale business, Gigi’s
Café, located in the Hillsdale shopping
center, seems to have had a great first
few months, said Roach. “There are
people eating at all hours of the day.”
“Barring any major weather events,”
Roach said, “I’m cautiously optimistic
that the holiday season could produce
some very solid gains.”
Roach also spoke to The Post about
two other businesses: a credit union
that is under construction as well
as a grocery market that has been
struggling.
“OnPoint Community Credit Union,
is the only credit union in Southwest
Portland,” (barring Downtown) Roach
explained. “The foundation was poured
during the dry fall weather.” The work
is on schedule to be completed in early
summer.
Two other businesses will set up shop
in the same building with OnPoint but
they haven’t been finalized yet.
“On the downside,” Roach sighed.
“Food Front has been struggling.”
Members of the Hillsdale business
association recently brainstormed ways
to help out the business.
“This customer owned co-op has
to compete with New Seasons, Fred
Meyer, and other large [grocery]
chains,” Roach stated. “We’re trying to
come up with a variety of ideas.”
Randy Bonella, executive director of
the Multnomah Village Bloc’s Initiative,
created the Golden Ticket program in
2009.
“We had over 36,000 tickets out in
circulation,” Bonella explained, “but
we are just getting into the heaviest two
weeks of the shopping season.”
Bonella said that the Golden Ticket
redemption is down about 10 percent
from last year at this time but up 27
percent from 2012.
“However,” Bonella continued, “a
number of businesses are reporting
record sales and most are very happy
with 2014 holiday season so far.”
“Last year’s program was off the
wall, fantastic,” he said.
“My expectation is that the Golden
Ticket program will be down slightly
from 2013,” Bonella predicted, “but
nonetheless, it should be very successful
for Multnomah Village and Hillsdale.”
Average redemption rate overall
has been around 20 percent over the
years. Beaumont and Clinton/Division
business associations have adopted
programs similar to Bonella’s, but they
are still in their infancy.
Venture Portland, the alliance of
Portland neighborhood business
associations, coordinates promotions
with approximately 20 business
districts around town, partnered with
Little Boxes (a Small Business Saturday
event).
According to Venture Portland
executive director, Heather Hoell,
“Portlanders can feel good knowing
their money is staying home for the
holidays. For every dollar spent at a
local business, 70 percent stays in the
local economy.”
Hoell said Venture Portland’s goal is
to ensure the season is merry and bright
for local retailers. In Portland, where
98 percent of neighborhood businesses
have five or fewer employees,
supporting small is really big.
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“We appreciate the support
of our community by shopping
at our local small businesses,”
Bonella added. “By keeping our
businesses strong and healthy,
we keep our community strong
and healthy.”
Renner’s Grill celebrates
75th anniversary
Last month, Renner ’s Grill,
an institution anchored in the
heart of Multnomah Village for
decades, held its 75th anniversary
party.
All day long and into the
evening, regulars, guests, and
long-time customers celebrated
t h e m i l e s t o n e . T h e y w e re
welcomed by the new co-owner,
Steve Potter, a former employee.
A c c o rd i n g t o P o t t e r, a l l The Rose City Mixed Quartet performs a cappella
proceeds from the anniversary inside Switch Shoes and Clothing during the Dec.
festivities went to Neighborhood 5 Holiday Gala in Multnomah Village.
House charities. Some may know (Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
Potter as the bingo announcer on
Wednesday nights.
the bar for many years.
“We raised approximately $400,”
Marshall Meadows, former chef of
reported Josh Harthill, the manager,
the Trianon Restaurant, restored the bar
and most recently, the other co-owner.
to its former glory after Langton died
“We sold a lot hot dogs and beers for
in 2004, and then sold it just recently.
75 cents.”
“Breakfast is back,” announced
Renner’s Grill was established in
Harthill while changing some music on
1939 after Milo and Bessie Renner
the compact disc player. “We haven’t
acquired the property and business
had breakfast here in over seven years.”
formerly known as the Cry Baby Café.
Legend has it that Milo Renner was
After several years, they added the
Multnomah’s first millionaire. Renner’s
second floor known as the Suburban
Grill is open daily from 7 a.m. – 2:30 a.m.
Room Lounge. Steve Langton owned
and is located at 7819 SW Capitol Hwy.