[August 18, 2023]
Breakfast, Books, and Banners
The Hillsdale Business and Professional Association staged a comeback of the annual Blueberry Pancake Breakfast on July 23, accompanied by the Hillsdale Community Foundation's annual book sale on the same day at The Watershed building. A total of 515 breakfasts were served, thanks to volunteer servers and cooks and donations, all coming from local businesses, as well as grant from Venture Portland. The return of both events after a three-year pandemic pause signals a welcome return to something more like normal.
A separate grant from Venture Portland paid for new banners along SW Capitol Hwy to replace old ones that had become tattered and faded.
Hillsdale Gear
T-shirts and hoodies sporting the Hillsdale logo are available for purchase at Hoot-N-Annie Resale Boutique for Women and Children. The line includes infant onesies, toddler and child size tees, adult tees for women and hoodies for men. Prices range from $15 to $40 and a portion of the proceeds benefits the Hillsdale Business and Professional Association.
How Sweet It Is
Brian and Pilar Vocker have chosen Hillsdale as the retail home for their small batch, handcrafted confectionery items. They went into the sweets business in 2017, first selling on the farmers' market circuit, and for a time out of a storefront at the French Quarter in Multnomah Village. Their creations, currently available online and throughout the Portland area at Barbur World Foods, New Seasons, Market of Choice, and Tender Loving Empire, include caramel corn clusters, mallows, chocolate bark, and chocolate-covered fruit and nuts. The new store, sliding into the spot recently vacated by The Cakery, comes with a kitchen that will allow them to concoct and sell direct to customers all in one location. Watch for pop-up events in advance of the grand opening of How Sweet It Is later this fall.
Under New Ownership
Sasquatch Brewing Company has been purchased by brewer Nick Scandurro. Scandurro doesn't foresee big changes at the pub, but does plan to bring brewing operations back onsite with a full line of in-house beers by spring of 2024. With his ten years of brewing experience in New Orleans (Port Orleans Brewing Company) and Portland (Ecliptic and 13 Virtues, where he headed up brewery operations) he promises an exciting beer lineup. He says, "Tom [Sims] spent years building the foundation for Sasquatch in the Hillsdale neighborhood and led an excellent team. I’m looking forward to continuing the relationship with the community, bringing back the in-house brewing, and growing with Sasquatch Brewing Company."
New Digs
On August 28, Crossfit Hillsdale/SW Portland Martial Arts will move approximately one block west from their old home on SW Cheltenham St to the space on the north side of SW Capitol Hwy formerly occupied by Bank of America.
Garfinkle Orthodontics Celebrates 50 Years of Crafting Smiles
Dr. Richard Garfinkle opened Garfinkle Orthodontics in Oregon City in September 1973. In 1988 the practice moved to SW Sunset Blvd in Hillsdale. Richard's son Dr. Judah Garfinkle, third-generation dentist and second-generation orthodontist, took over the practice in 2007 and eventually moved it to its current location on SW Vermont St.
Re/Max Building Changes Hands
The former Re/Max building at the corner of Sunset and Capitol Hwy has a new owner. Details on plans for the building were not made available to the Hillsdale News, but a Re/Max representative said it would likely house dental or medical offices.
New Tenant for Vacant Space
A dental office is in negotiation to lease the former Key Bank space on the north side of Capitol Hwy. Once terms are finalized renovations are expected to take several months.
--Valeurie Friedman
Any other business updates to report? Let us know.