Columbia Gorge News
www.columbiagorgenews.com
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
15
GORGE LOCAL — IN BUSINESS
Pistil enjoys success with Hood River
storefront, new Portland pop-up shop
Alana Lackner
■ By Columbia
Gorge News
on the weekends and as the
summer progresses. He said
it’s been great to be more
present in the community.
Some people might say
“We’re proud of our roots
that opening a storefront in
the middle of the COVID-19 and we wanted to kind of
showcase that we’re a Hood
pandemic is crazy. Pete
Hixson, one of the owners of River brand,” he said.
Though their roots will
Pistil Designs in Hood River,
always be in Hood River,
is not one of those people.
Hixson said they’ve been
Pistil, a brand known for
looking at places for other
their hats and other acces-
storefronts. In fact, they re-
sories, has been around
for nearly 20 years, Hixson
cently opened a pop-up shop
said. Up until recently, it was on Northeast Alberta Street in
always wholesale, selling to
Portland. It will be there for at
other retailers. It was also just least until the end of summer,
hats, which was a point of
and they’ll see whether they
interest to retailers.
want to continue that, based
“We just knew that no one on its success.
treated hats like a brand,”
Hixson said it may become
Hixson said. “They were just a consistent thing throughout
an accessory, an afterthought the summer, but they may
by (bigger brands). We just
also look into pop-up stores
thought that someone could in other cities across the
treat the hats special and cre- country.
“We sell a lot of product
ated a brand around that.”
in New England and on the
While doing wholesale,
east coast. I think there’s
Pistil always worked out of
some places there that could
a warehouse. It wasn’t until
probably do well with a Pistil
November 2020 that they
store,” he said. “Or maybe in
decided to open an official
Colorado somewhere.”
store.
Hixson said nothing is
Hixson said selling directly
for certain, but everything
to customers has been in-
valuable in terms of learning is on the table. They’ve also
been expanding their online
more about what people
sales business. In general,
want.
“It’s great for us to actually he believes the business is
in a position with a lot of
watch and see how (prod-
potential.
ucts) are sold in store,” he
“We don’t know exactly
said. “We actually have true
what we’re doing next,” he
data points.”
said. “But having your own
The store has been a suc-
cess, despite opening during store and your own website
makes it easier to try things
the pandemic, Hixson said.
They’ve seen more and more out.”
increased traffic, especially
Pistil Designs was originally founded in Hood River and managed in a warehouse but now has an official storefront in town, located at
316 Oak St., as well as a pop-up shop on North Alberta Street in Portland. Pictured below is Pete Hixson.
Alana Lackner photos
‘Bandit Biker’ visits Columbia
Gorge Community College
Quality vitamins and supplements.
DANIELS
health & nutrition
Alana Lackner
■ By Columbia
Gorge News
Columbia Gorge
Community College was re-
cently visited by the bike-rid-
ing Bandit, but don’t worry,
nothing was stolen. The
bike-riding Bandit, Fernando
Rojas-Galván, is no thief. In
fact, his mission is to give
back.
Rojas-Galván is a profes-
sor at Clatsop Community
College, where their mascot
is Bandit the raccoon. As part
of a fundraiser to raise money
for students’ textbooks, he is
currently riding 1,600 miles
around the state of Oregon,
visiting all 17 of the state’s
community colleges.
At each college, Rojas-
Galván meets with college
representatives to discuss
textbook affordability. At
CGCC, he met with CGCC
President Marta Yera Cronin,
Vice President of Instruction
Jarett Gilbert, Vice President
of Student Services Gerardo
Cifuentes, Executive Director
of Institutional Advancement
Dan Spatz, and Digital Access
and Public Services Librarian
Tori Stanek.
10% off
one regular priced item.
918 12th St | Hood River, OR | 541-386-7328
Dr. Cullen’s
Student of the week
Keegan Ku Ku for Global Studies:
Jaimie Castro,
Keegan comes
every day
Student to of class
the week
with a I nominate
positive
attitude
works
Jaimie as student and
of the week.
— Just
a high improving
achieving student
who
hard, not
only
himself,
little recognition!
but fellow receives
classmates
as well.
(Left to right) Gerardo Cifuentes, Jarett Gilbert, Fernando Rojas-Galván and Tori Stanek pose at the
lunch held at Columbia Gorge Community College to celebrate Rojas-Galván’s arrival.
Alana Lackner Photo
Rojas-Galván said that, as
a teacher and educator of al-
most 25 years, his experience
helps keep him motivated on
his ride.
“I’ve got I don’t know how
many stories of students and
names that I think of,” he
said.
Rojas-Galván’s journey
started on July 5 in Seaside,
Ore., and is set to end in
Astoria on July 25. Those
interested in his ride across
the state can follow along or
donate to the fundraiser at
www.clatsopcc.edu/event/
bandit-biking-for-books.
Congratulations
Keegan
Ku, TDHS
TDHS
Jaimie Ku
Castro,
Columbia View Dental
1915 E. 19th Street | The Dalles
Victor Cullen, DDS
541-296-5677 | Se habla español
Rep. Corry appointed to
pandemic review task force
Rep. Chris Corry, assis-
tant ranking member on
the House Appropriations
Committee, will serve on
the Task Force for After-
Action Review of Statewide
Pandemic Response and
Recovery, after appointed
to the committee by House
Speaker Laurie Jinkins.
The task force, which con-
sists of 38 members, includes
four legislators from both
caucuses in the Senate and
the House. The committee
is charged with completing
a comprehensive review of
Washington state’s COVID-19
pandemic response in
accordance with national
standards for emergency
disasters.
“I’m honored to have been
selected for this committee.
The pandemic brought un-
precedented uncertainty to
our families, businesses, and
communities,” said Corry,
R-Yakima. “As we carefully ex-
amine the state’s response to
the crisis, we need to find the
lessons within it. What did we
do right and what did we do
wrong? Are there gaps and
needs within the healthcare
system and other emergency
response functions?”
Funding for the task force
was allocated in the 2021-22
state operating budget.
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