Page A6___________ ._______________SZltc ^ o rtla n h 0f)hseruer________________________
Mississippi
Rising
continued
fro m Front
Mississippi Rising, was a busy dance
hall. In the 50s, it sported a full service bar
and restaurant and was, according to one
o f its original bartender’s whom Van
Horton met recently, "One of the hottest
spots in Portland.”
A former owner of a manufacturing
company. Van Horton says his aim is to
“create a unique space" for dances and
fund raising, and plans to make the ball
room available as a music venue.
The space currently rents for a modest
$50 an hour.
“ 1 just want to create enough revenue
to surv ive. I’m kind of a left over hippie
from the 60s that never got involved with
some of the things others got involved
with,” Van Horton said.
The revival of this once forgotten his
toric district has paved the way for three
new restaurants.
M ississippi Pizza opened in the
spring o f last year to neighborhood
acclaim and was quickly follow ed by
M olly and Dan Sadow sky’s, Purple
Parlor, a husband and w ife team that
com pletely transform ed an aging V ic
torian into a dynam o café, featuring
such tasty delights as toasted grain
pancakes for breakfast and black-eyed
peas and greens for lunch. The couple
w as
in itia lly
d ra w n
by the
n eig h b o rh o o d ’s d iv e rsity , and has
since found a niche for their eclectic
brand of quality vegetarian faire.
Adding to Portland’s coffee craze and
lust for woody warm spaces, the Fresh
Pot Coffee Shop recently opened its doors
at the site o f the former Rexall Drug Store.
The space had been vacant for close to 20
years.
Co-owners David Colombo and Mat
thew Vinci decided to restore the original
look of the old pharmacy. But now art
adorns the walls, and customers are given
a daily dose of sweet, almost chewy
espresso, and prescriptions now mean
fresh baked coffee cakes and crunchy
almond croissants.
These restaurants join a growing list
of establishm ents that have found a
happy home on this once decrepit av
enue. The R ebuilding Center, located
at the South end of the street, has
prospered in recent years. The non
profit is focused on keeping used build
ing m aterials out of the landfills and
available to local costum ers at afford
able rates.
Many of the changes taking place have
come about with help from the Missis
sippi Historic District Target Area Project.
The organization, created with the sup
port of city funds, works with property
owners to recruit new businesses to the
area.
Project C oordinator, Janet Bauer
cites “this funding and a supportive
com m unity” as instrum ental in the
region’s rebound, as well as “the in
creased attractiveness o f inner city
neig h b o rh o o d s.”
Mississippi Avenue is sure to make
tracks in years to come. From flat on its
back, to back on its feet. The color, the
face, the energy of Mississippi, is chang
ing.
nb (OhseiTu'r
T ra J ifio n
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