Parkrose Marketplace Returns for a Second Season in May

Returning after a very successful inaugural market last year, the Parkrose Marketplace opens its second season on Mother’s Day weekend, at its home off of NE Sandy Blvd and 108th Avenue. This outdoor market has made a real mark on the Parkrose community and the organizers, vendors, and neighbors are looking forward to their return. I spoke with Terry Murphy, the Marketplace’s founder and force of nature behind this seasonal monthly event, and am happy to relay some of what we discussed.

First off, the event details: It will happen one weekend each month from May to October, 2022 at 10750 NE Sandy Blvd, across from Parkrose Hardware. The Marketplace itself takes place in the parking lots on either side of 108th Avenue just south of NE Sandy Blvd. The hours are 10am to 4pm. There, you’ll find items made and produced by local vendors—from jewelry to tasty food, clothing to local organizations. There will also be live music.

It’s a nice way to spend some time in Parkrose, an area that doesn’t get as much love from the city as it should. Annexed by the city in the early 1980s, it was mostly rural when it was first platted in 1911, then took on a suburban feel over the ensuing years (fun fact: there are a ton of flag lots in Parkrose). The area where the Marketplace operates is in the Historic Parkrose District. Familiar businesses nearby are the Grocery Outlet, Parkrose Hardware, Dollar Tree, El Sombrero, and Fork & Spoon. The Parkrose Marketplace is a project from the Parkrose Community Alliance.

Food Fun

Some of the things you’ll find to eat and drink at the Parkrose Marketplace:

Beer from Gateway Brewing and wine from Catman Cellars
Charcuterie samplers from Party By Bri
Indian fry bread tacos and a refreshing corn salad
Sugar cream pies from a 100-year-old recipe from London’s Bridge
Lilikoi butter (a kind of fruit butter made from guava)
Unique teas and coffees
Award-winning spice mixes from Eat With Rell Catering
Homemade hot sauces and BBQ sauce
Meal kits by Brandy Dickinson of Dinner Done Fast
Homemade jams and jellies
Cupcakes and other treats
And… fun fair food like dipped pretzels, fruit, and Oreo cookies—and hot dogs!
Later in the season look for a local raw honey producer

This is just a sampling of the vendor pool—they expect to have 40 to 50 vendors total.

Some of the vendors are just starting out with their businesses, and some have never vended before at all. The Parkrose Marketplace is the perfect place for them (and for seasoned vendors, too, of course). Terry sees the Marketplace as a kind of “entrepreneur incubator”—last year the Marketplace established a “free spot to start” program for brand new vendors, where the Marketplace provided space, a table, and supplies they may have needed to set up their business. It was so successful that these vendors are continuing on as full-time paying members and doing other markets as well.

The People’s Market

Another project the Parkrose Marketplace has connected with is the People’s Market, based in Rockwood, developed by the Rockwood CDC. It’s a coalition of BIPOC and immigrant farmers (very small farmers) participating in an “incubator market” that allows these growers to “[take] their small business dreams to the farmers market environment.” The Parkrose Marketplace has invited them to participate this year to promote themselves, their work, and the People’s Market. You will likely see them starting in June.

The Gardeners Market

One interesting innovation happening at the Parkrose Marketplace is what Terry calls a “Gardeners Market.” This is where home gardeners can sell their harvest—which, if you’re a gardener, you know that it can be overwhelming in the summer—at the Marketplace. Each gardener pays $5 to participate and gets 2 feet of space for their bounty (in comparison, regular vendors pay $35/booth and get a 10’x10’ space).

Anyone can participate in the Gardener’s Market, and it will start in June. The Marketplace will not take any percentage of the profit.

In addition to that, anything left over when the market is done can be taken home or donated to the GAP food bank, run by Colise and James Johnson in Madison South. They have run this small but impactful food bank out of their home for over two decades and have helped what must be thousands of people at this point.

On the topic of food insecurity, the Marketplace has been approved by the USDA to accept SNAP and EBT.

Through all of this, Terry and the Parkrose Marketplace are working to foster and support community in Parkrose and surrounding areas. He explains, “The area around Parkrose Hardware and Grocery Outlets are the neighborhood’s de facto town center. We want to address the issue of community-building by creating a kind of zocalo—a place where people can gather, enjoy live music and food, and chill out once a month.”

So come on over to Parkrose and enjoy some time in beautiful East Portland—have a bite, pick up that thing you’ve been looking for, and hear some great tunes. Bonus: you can park in the Parkrose Hardware/Grocery Outlet lot across the street and cross NE Sandy Blvd at the brand spanking new pedestrian crossing at NE 108th Ave. That will put you right into the Marketplace.

As Terry says, “We are trying to be open minded and expansive. Parkrose needs a great market!” And Terry and his crew are bringing just that to the neighborhood.

Parkrose Marketplace
10750 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
10am-4pm on the following Saturdays and Sundays:
May 7 & 8, June 11 & 12, July 9 & 10, August 6 & 7, September 10 & 11, October 8 & 9 Facebook | Instagram