Yesterday there was a press conference with electeds (including many of our reps in DC), developers, architects, and media (I was not there, but hope to make the next press event) for the announcement of the James Beard Public Market (JBPM).
This is a big deal, and a welcome development in the plan to bring (back) a public market to Portland. The current timeline is a 2025 opening for phase 1, and that it will be fully open in fall 2026.
I read the stories that were published yesterday and all provided good info but I really liked the coverage that The Oregonian and Willamette Week did on the news. The others who reported on it were Eater, Portland Mercury, Portland Monthly, Portland Business Journal (I had to skip this one as I ran into a paywall), as well as KPTV, KOIN, and KGW. I’ve culled details from the various stories and put them in what I think is an easy-to-digest set of bullet points.
First, about the location, then more about specific plans for the Market.
James Beard Public Market: Location
- The James Beard Public Market has secured a site to lease: the ground floor of the 100-year old Selling Building at SW 6th and Alder (622 SW Alder). Schlesinger Companies owns this building. The space they’ve secured is 38,000 square feet in size.
- This building is located just north of Pioneer Courthouse Square. Jessica Elkan, Executive Director of the James Beard Public Market, pointed out that the Market could be considered as “Portland’s Kitchen”—next to “Portland’s Living Room.” There’s something poetic about that.
- Additionally, JBPM wants to buy an adjacent building from OCF Joseph E. Weston Public Foundation for $3 million.
- They are halfway to their fundraising goal, having raised $1.5 million at the time of the writing of this article. It is observed that the presence of a public-private partnership is one of the reasons that the fundraising has gone so well.
- Fun fact: normally the quiet phase a capital fundraising campaign lasts until about 2/3 of the funds have been raised. So, with a public announcement that they are halfway to their target, this tells me they are very confident to be able to raise the rest of the money. Source: past work in the world of major gift fundraising decades ago.
- These two spaces used to be home to a Payless shoe store and Rite Aid.
James Beard Public Market: The Plans
- These spaces need to be renovated. BCV Architects is leading the team of architects and structural engineers. Colab Architecture, Grummel Engineering, and Hoffman Construction are also involved.
- There are plans for a new lumber exterior that will appear outside, and the old-growth wood inside the Selling Building’s will be saved.
- The renovation will include merging the two spaces, then building an atrium, a grand staircase, and a rooftop events space (for private rentals), with an estimated cost of $15 to $20 million.
- Tenants will include space for 40 small businesses and a teaching/test kitchen. This kitchen will be accessible to new food and drink vendors at the start of their production journey. It is also important to the JBPM that the rents be competitively priced.
- Also, a cookbook store (perhaps à la Kitchen Arts & Letters in NYC—or perhaps an outpost of Vivienne Culinary Books?) will be there, as well as a restaurant, a bakery, butcher, fish market, cheese shop, and wine store. Finally, local farmstands are also planned for the Market.
- However, there are no plans to include crafts, like they do at Seattle’s Pike Place Market. This is so not to compete with the Portland Saturday Market.
- SNAP will be accepted at the Market. Elkan told Willamette Week, “Part of the mission of this market is ‘a market for all,’ and part of that philosophy is ensuring that everyone can have access.”
On the Subject of Permits
The Oregonian listed three tasks outgoing Mayor Wheeler needed to complete in relation to this project, and the first one really stuck out to me: Make sure they have a smooth permitting process. This is probably one of the top desires for any restaurant/cafe/bar owner in Portland.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard about delays to opening because of permitting. One place in Cully has been waiting weeks and weeks and weeks for their permitting to get resolved. I hope this city gets its act together with the new form of government and make this part of the process run more smoothly.
Public Markets in America’s Cities
A quote from Greg Higgins that was published in multiple sources was “Every great food city has at its heart a beautiful market.” I wondered, is that really true? Well, I did some digging and I think it’s pretty accurate. Here are some of the public markets around the U.S.:
- Pike Place Market, Seattle
- Grand Central Market, Los Angeles
- Ferry Building Market, San Francisco
- Edgewater Public Market, Denver
- Essex Market, NYC
- Reading Market, Philadelphia
- Pittsburgh Public Market, Pittsburgh
- Boston Public Market, Boston
- Baltimore Public Market System (six of them), Baltimore
- Municipal Market, Atlanta
- Milwaukee Public Market, Milwaukee
Frommer’s has a nice list of public markets around the U.S., too.
This Will Not Be the First Public Market in Portland
Portland has had a history of public markets, starting in the 19th century. In the 20th century, the most prominent public market was Carroll Market, which operated from 1914 to 1934. It was hugely successful and market stalls took up city curb space along Southwest Yamhill Street between First and Fifth Avenues. This is the market that James Beard had talked about.
It was demolished in 1934 in favor of the Portland Public Market, which opened along the waterfront in 1933. Unfortunately, despite its initial popularity, its location and the Depression eventually worked against it. It closed in 1942 and was located in what is currently the Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
Fast forward to 1998 when Portland chef and restauranteur Ron Paul advocated for a new public market in Portland—the James Beard Public Market.
You can read more about Portland’s Public Market history at these two sites:
Portland Public Market [Oregon Encyclopedia]
Public Market on Portland Harbor, Portland, Oregon [Postcard Past / Present Photo]
The arrival of the James Beard Public Market and the successful fundraising that has already happened is more proof to me that Portland is on an upward trajectory. It’s all very exciting. I’ll continue to watch for news and pass on what I learn. Congrats to the Market team on their success so far!
James Beard Public Market [opening 2025/2026]
SW 6th and Alder (622 SW Alder), Portland
James Beard Public Market website | Instagram
Meg Cotner
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I’m disappointed that none of the coverage on this has said anything about Spella and what that means for the Caffe, which is in the ground floor space between what used to be Payless and the Selling building entrance.
That’s a good question and thanks for bringing it up. It’s possible that Spella already has plans but is hesitant to share them publicly. Perhaps they will be incorporated into the Market – they are certainly of the stature and an excellent example of what’s good in Portland coffee. Or perhaps they have plans for another location. Your question is intriguing. I hope to make it to the soft opening of their new cafe at Woodblock tomorrow – if I remember, I’ll ask them if they have any plans they can share.
I did have a chance to ask Andrea Spella about the fate of the Spella Caffè there at SW 6th and Alder. The good news is that they are joining the project and will stay open in that location, bringing Pronto Gelato and Woodblock Chocolate along with them. I’d email you about this, too, but the address provided is a throwaway, no doubt. “just a coffee person” at nope dot com – I hope this news is something you welcome!