Parkrose Coffee Shop Will Open in Portland

A new coffee shop is getting ready to open Parkrose, aptly called Parkrose Coffee Shop. They are located on NE 105th Avenue about a half-block south of NE Sandy Blvd and will bring excellent coffee, tea, pastries, a lovely remodeled space, and a huge back patio (HUGE).

Back in December, a Bridgetown Bites reader forwarded me the Instagram page for Parkrose Coffee. I reached out to Lily Burnett, one of the owners, and over the months we shared some casual conversations about the new business. We agreed to connect closer to their opening to chat more at length, and that’s exactly what happened last week. Here is what Lily told me about Parkrose Coffee Shop.

The Parkrose Coffee Shop Owners

Lily and her husband Peter Irby own and operate the coffee shop, with the assistance of additional staff. “And with lots of inspiration from our two-year-old Juju,” added Lily. Juju is their daughter.

“We’re a family in the Russell neighborhood of the Parkrose School District,” she continued. “With a lot of East Portland pride and affinity for our often-overlooked corner of Portland.”

As far as experience in food and hospitality goes, Lily and Peter worked in food service during their teens and early twenties, but they recognize that it’s been a long time since then. And they are new to the world of coffee. “We’ve never run or owned a coffee shop, but are gaining knowledge every day from experts in the industry, like our roasters at Roseline,” said Lily.

The Location

They knew that they wanted to open a coffee shop in Parkrose and it took a while to find the right location. “Parkrose doesn’t have much in the way of existing coffee shops or cafe/restaurant spaces that we could easily take over,” Lily explained. “Like many in the neighborhood, we had eyed this empty building fondly for its cute exterior and brick archway.

She added, “Historic Parkrose helped us get in contact with the owner and she was interested in leasing it. We toured the space with her and fell in love immediately!”

Lily speaks highly of their landlord, Geline, who has worked with her and Peter to make the place the best version of itself, and they are grateful for her assistance.

The Interior Space

It was a team effort in creating the look and feel of the coffee shop’s interior. It helps that Peter is a graphic designer and Lily has a great eye for interior design. “Our home is very colorful and cozy!” exclaimed Lily.

Peter designed the the coffee bar and Lily picked out the furnishings (chairs, tables, light fixtures, wallpaper). He also designed the logo and color scheme.

“All of the elements have come together really nicely,” said Lily. “The vibe is warm and inviting.”

A Much-Needed Third Place in Parkrose

There’s much talk these days about a “third place“—-not your home, not your work, but a third location where you can relax, enjoy life, and connect socially with others. “We hope this coffee shop brings vitally-needed third place to Parkrose,” said Lily. “Where neighbors can meet up, regulars can get to know one another, community groups can hold small gatherings, coffee dates can happen, and families feel like they have somewhere they can walk or bike to.”

On that last point, if you bike over, they have bike parking for you. Also, you can park your stroller in the back, too.

They will have a community bulletin board in the coffee shop for posting about local events and services, and they imagine that the back courtyard will serve as a great space for community events for years to come.

A Family-Friendly Place

“We have a two-year-old, so we like to say that we’re opening the coffee shop we wish existed in our neighborhood,” said Lily. “We’ve built a kids corner with a play kitchen, kids’ table, and kids’ books, and games.”

Their bathroom is ADA-accessible with a changing table, diaper genie, and a step-up for toddlers to reach the sink; they also have high chairs. Lily remarked, “We want families to walk in and think ‘Oh, my kid is allowed to be a kid in here, and I don’t have to shush them or be embarrassed by that.’”

Food and Drink at Parkrose Coffee Shop

This is a coffee shop first and foremost, so coffee is the focus. “We are sticking to a classic coffee shop menu and keeping it simple,” explained Lily. “Drip coffee and espresso drinks are using incredible beans from local roaster, Roseline Coffee. We’ll have hot and iced tea, chai, matcha, and kombucha.”

Their pastries will be supplied by Marsee Baking and will include the classics you hope to find at a coffee shop—muffins, croissants, coffee cake, and more. They will always have vegan and gluten free options, too.

And since they are devoted to making the place family-friendly, kids will not get short shrift. “We have a kids menu with kid-friendly, non-caffeinated drinks,” said Lily.

I always find it interesting to learn what the staff favorites are, so I asked Lily about that. The Staycation is Lily’s favorite. It’s an iced coconut chai. (“It makes you feel like you’re ready to hang out poolside—for us that looks like a kiddie pool these days.”) Peter’s favorite is a classic oat milk latte. And Juju’s favorite is a vanilla steamer.

“Food-wise, the cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting is *chef’s kiss*,” remarked Lily. “And the coffee cake is the perfect pairing with a mug of drip coffee.” Yes, you heard that—they’ll offer drip coffee, which is something I hear over and over again from Portlanders that they wish there was more of in this town.

They also love to do carafes of coffee and boxes of pastries to-go. They also have gift cards. (“Educator appreciation week, anyone?”) Plus, catered breakfast is something they also see themselves doing.

That Backyard

I’ve been to see the back patio/courtyard a couple of times and it’s astonishing how large it is. “The back courtyard is what sealed the deal for us choosing this location,” said Lily. “With nearly 5,000 square feet of enclosed space, we will offer patio seating and tons of room for parties, kids’ activities, neighborhood movie nights, and more! We see a lot of bubbles and chalk in our future.”

They are looking forward to hosting events and community gatherings, once they get their sealegs through their opening. It’s something they are really looking forward to doing.

The Grand Opening of Parkrose Coffee Shop

They will officially open their doors on Saturday, May 10, and their hours will be 7am to 3pm, seven days a week. Minors will always be welcomed, thanks to their family-friendly goal and compatible hours.

But on May 10 their grand opening will be from 10am to 2pm, and it’s going to be a party! You’ll find activities for kids, a ribbon cutting, free coffee—and a visit from an alpaca.

Some Final Thoughts

“Parkrose Coffee Shop is built for and by this community,” said Lily. “We are very civically-engaged folks—we’ve been fighting for this community for years and the coffee shop is our way of thanking the community for welcoming us in and offering a space for others to feel welcome and a part of something bigger. Without a library or community center, we don’t have places to gather as neighbors and that is such a disservice because we are amazing neighbors.”

Neighbors helped them find the space, clean it up, paint it, spread the word, raise funds, and taste test drinks and pastries. “We wouldn’t be here without the generosity of this community!” exclaimed Lily.

Lilly summed up her hopes for Parkrose Coffee Shop: “Whether you are looking for a place to pick up coffee to-go from a friendly barista who remembers your regular order; working remotely with a drink and a pastry; sitting in a comfy arm chair and enjoy a coffee while your kiddo entertains themself in the play kitchen; or enjoying a sunny day on our back patio with your pup, you are welcome here and we want you to stick around!”

I think this is going to be a great addition to the Parkrose neighborhood. Very much looking forward to seeing Parkrose Coffee Shop open on May 10!

Parkrose Coffee Shop [opening May 10, 2025]
4826 NE 105th Avenue, Portland
Parkrose Coffee Shop website | Instagram | Facebook