Occupying a two-story 1937 warehouse in Portland’s industrial district is the city’s biggest vintage mall: Memory Den. From iconic time capsule photoshoot spaces to endless second-hand treasures, Memory Den has it all. Since its grand opening in the summer of 2022, the store has expanded its selection from clothing and trinkets to gorgeous vintage furniture, a tattoo parlor, a cafe, a library, and an art gallery featuring local Portland artists. In 2024, Willamette Week voted it the best vintage store in Portland, and now the establishment is home to over 140 vendors.
One of the most iconic parts of the store is its vintage radio wall. On the second floor of the building, an impressive radio display is presented around a glowing neon fox logo. The best part is, if you love the look of a vintage radio but don’t want to give up the modern advantages of a Bluetooth speaker, Memory Den can not only upgrade any radio to be Bluetooth compatible but can also add modern speakers and a new power supply.
Besides its vast selection of antiques, mid-century modern furniture, collectibles, and vintage items, Memory Den stands up for its community. For many years, Portland has been known for its thriving vintage, thrift, and secondhand culture. Memory Den fits perfectly into this scene, attracting those who appreciate the city’s quirky and artsy vibe. It has become a hub for Portland locals who will stop by regularly to see what new items have been added to the collection. “It’s trying to be more than just a vintage mall. It wants to be a community, not just for the vendors but customers as well,” says Renea Hisey, a vendor and artist at Memory Den. “Somewhere people can go for all things vintage, as well as connection and community building. I think that’s important in our day and age.”
The vintage mall has established itself not only as a one-stop shop for vintage and secondhand pieces but also as a place for people to gather and make memories. The store is always on top of celebrating holidays, whether that’s organizing egg hunts for Easter, serving themed drinks at their bar for Halloween and Christmas, or hosting secret love letter-writing events for Valentine’s Day.
This curated atmosphere is not just rooted in Memory Den’s offerings and events, but also in the building’s rich and fascinating history. In the late 1930s, the building was a produce facility called Pacific Coast Fruit. You can see some of the original features, from the vault rooms that were once refrigerators and freezers to the building’s legendary meat chute, where goods were offloaded along the railroad tracks. In the 1980s it was purchased by Coast Auto Supply, which operated as an auto supply business until 2017. Then the building was used for batting cages, and if you look closely, you’ll find a couple of baseballs and bases on the second floor.
Beyond selling items and services, Memory Den represents Portland’s commitment to supporting independent and small businesses that prioritize craftsmanship, sustainability, and personal curation over mass-produced goods. Similar establishments define Portland’s reputation as a city that celebrates individuality and creativity. “It’s important to preserve and pass along items that represent history, as well as keep things from the landfill and give them new meaning and life,” says Hisey. “It’s saving the planet in that way.”
“I love Memory Den because of how excited people are to be there. I enjoy a good treasure hunt and I enjoy hosting, so being able to create my own treasure trove for others while finding unique items has been really fun. I find so much joy in running a booth here,” says Jamie Billings, who runs a booth in Vault 4 of Memory Den called Sword and Meadow. Her excitement shows the passion of vendors and the people who enjoy their products. “Seeing folks resonate towards something I handmade or had a hard time letting go of is pretty rewarding,” she says. “I only want someone to buy my things if they’ll be truly cherished.”
Memory Den stands out in many ways, not least for the creative freedom they give their vendors. “They care about our safety, obviously, and they do have to approve any changes we make, but they are totally down with us building structures, painting, having lighting, security cameras, and more. The staff is so, so helpful,” says Billings. The store is dedicated to providing vendors with the flexibility to showcase their individuality and express themselves, creating a shopping experience where visitors feel like they’re exploring a diverse space filled with unique styles and characters, rather than a singular store with one uniform theme.
The resident vendors are known for their attention to detail in preserving the character of the objects they curate. The staff also hosts vendor nights, where they stay late just for the vendors, who get the chance to work on their booths without worrying about scaring off customers. “I’ve met some awesome people so far, and I enjoy being around supportive folks who have drive but also share your stuff on their social media,” says Billings. “It doesn’t feel competitive at all because of this. We are naturally competing for attention to attract sales, but if someone’s booth is cool, I want them near me so others come by to look at mine too.”
Memory Den has proven itself to be more than just a typical Portland vintage store. It’s one of the few establishments where you can shop around for second-hand clothing and then get a tattoo. “I think folks really enjoy wandering around booth to booth, treating a visit to Memory Den as both a treasure hunt and museum visit,” says Billings.
Memory Den has created a time-capsule-like space, transporting customers to past decades where one can explore the mall’s eclectic selection of trinkets, art, clothing, and furniture. Whether you’re on the hunt for a one-of-a-kind vintage item or you’re looking to book one of the mall’s photo shoot spaces, Memory Den is the perfect place to go. Nevertheless, the store offers far more than its consumer goods and services; it stands as a testament to Portland’s creative and communal spirit.
