Parkrose Grocery Is in the Plans for East Portland

There’s been a lot of chitter chatter in my circles about plans for a new grocery store in the Parkrose neighborhood. The working name for it is Parkrose Grocery (though Parkrose Local Grocery has been considered) and it is a project by Don McKeever, who comes to it with a number of years of experience under his belt of running a large grocery store. I was curious to learn more, so after a few rounds of phone tag, we chatted for a bit about his ideas and plans for Parkrose Grocery

Parkrose Grocery: What’s in a Name?

This one is pretty obvious: It’s a grocery store in the Parkrose neighborhood. It would be one of two grocery stores in this part of East Portland, including the OG Hong Phat, a Vietnamese grocery store that sells products from throughout Asia, and more.

Grocery Stores in District 1

Don told me that District 1, in which Parkrose is located, has only a handful of conventional grocery stores, whereas in District 3 there are 18. Those grocery stores in D1 include:

• Grocery Outlet: two, one in NE and one in SE.
• WinCo: two in NE; there is also one in SE just west of 82nd (District 3).
• Fred Meyer: one in SE; the one that was in NE/Gateway closed last summer.
• Safeway: one in SE.
• Costco: one in NE.

I’d add Su Casa Supermercado in SE (Centennial), too, because it’s big and it’s awesome, as well as 99 Ranch in SE (Hazelwood), which opened last summer. Note that most of these grocery stores are south of Parkrose.

Smaller Markets in East Portland, and Ones Far Away

Then there are smaller markets like Lily Market in Parkrose Heights, which is an amazing Thai grocery market; Namaste in Hazelwood, which has a lot of Indian and South Asian groceries, plus a nice steam table (I like the refrigerator of Indian sweets, esp the burfis); and Growers Market in Wilkes East, which is kind of a year-round indoor farmers market.

Just over the border into Gresham are supermarkets like Albertsons, Best Fresh Market, La Tapatia Market (Mexican), International Halal Market (Halal food), and Oregon International Market (Middle Eastern/Mediterranean/SWANA).

But they are nowhere near Parkrose. The neighborhood needs another supermarket. And like many of us, Don doesn’t want to see Parkrose lose out in this way (the term, “food desert” has been uttered in conversations).

More Than Just Selling Groceries, It’s About Community

Don has seen what a grocery store can do beyond simply selling product—which is important and its raison d’être, of course. But he’s seen how a basic grocery store can impact a whole community.

“I got involved in the community—actually, I started my community work with Mt. Hood Community College,” he explained. He helped develop a program that made his store the second biggest donor to the college, behind the Oregon State Food Bank.

Then he noticed that there was even a bigger need—there’s a food pantry at Parkrose High School. “They needed help desperately,” he said. “So we started working with them.” The food pantry sent them a list of needs, and Don and his team accommodated them with what the kids actually wanted and needed.”

Apparently over time the pantry gained a new vibe and reputation. “It used to be that kids were ashamed to go there,” he said. Not anymore.

The counselor said that after a while it became a place—a meeting place. “The kids would yell out in the hallway, like, ‘Yeah, I’ll just meet you down at the pantry!’ when they saw that we were pulling up with new supplies,” said Don. “They’d yell through the classroom, ‘Yeah, we got some new stuff coming. Let’s go check it out right after class!’ and things like that.”

Don and his team have helped a lot of people in the community. They sponsored spring break camps for low income family families. “They had to have their kids somewhere safe, so we provided the food for the spring break camps,” he said. “They were completely free—so [the parents] could go to work and still pay their rent. And we supported them. We got them breakfast, lunches, and the afternoon/evening snacks together.”

Additionally, they supported a local preschool, a local dance team, fundraised for a junior football team (third to eighth graders) whose budget was completely cut, fundraised for folks being evicted, helped sponsor tutoring for high school kids, and helped support financial education classes for young people by catering the classes with beverages and food.

“We were everywhere.” Don wants to continue doing this important work, and believes that he can do it with Parkrose Grocery behind him.

Support From the Electeds and Surrounding Community

Don has been talking to both those in power through being elected; those in the community who can also help from a structural standpoint; and regular folks like you and me. He has spoken to District 1 city councilors and the Mayor Wilson, who have been supportive of the idea of an independent grocery store in Parkrose.

Historic Parkrose has helped with meeting space, moral support, strategy, and connecting Don with Prosper Portland. Prosper Portland is supportive of Don and his plans for Parkrose Grocery, and that could lead to funding. It could cost close to $2 million to establish and open Parkrose Grocery.

Don has also had the help of Sabina Urdes and Deven Johnson, whose assistance has been invaluable. Sabina has helped with grants and making connections to others who could help this project come to life; Deven has helped Don in myriad ways during his time at his current store.

“The community grew on my heart,” said Don. “They know me and know there is a desperate need here when it comes to a grocery store in Parkrose.” People have come up to him when they see him and offer their support … and sometimes their concerns.

Needs and Concerns

Neighbors in the surrounding area—Parkrose, Sumner, and Maywood Park, just to name a few—do not like the idea of the neighborhood without a grocery store. And it spans demographics; everyone from moms and dads with not a lot of time on their hands; to older folks on fixed incomes looking for good prices; to young professionals who like shopping in their neighborhood.

And on that last point—it can be straight up annoying to have to go outside your neighborhood to shop for groceries. How do I know this? My neighborhood does not have a grocery store in it and I have to go outside the neighborhood to shop. I have one fairly stable option, but having another in Parkrose would be great!

The Type of Grocery and Location

Parkrose Grocery would be located along Parkrose’s Sandy Blvd commercial strip in a building that has housed a supermarket for a good number of years. That store, Grocery Outlet, will close on June 27 (Source: Grocery Outlet).

Don would like to see Parkrose Grocery offer bargain prices, too. Parkrose is home to a number of low-income families and individuals, and he’d like to provide products that are affordable. “They need groceries they can afford,” said Don. “And they don’t need milk for $7 a gallon.” He will be working hard to find ways to connect with suppliers that share his vision.

What He’d Like To Offer, More Specifically, at Parkrose Grocery

One thing that is top of Don’s mind is having a section that sells an assortment of products for babies and their mothers—formula, diapers, and the like.

“It’s going to be a full service grocery store with all departments,” he explained. “Especially the fresh departments [e.g., dairy], produce, and deli.” He also said he wants to have a full service meat department, wine, and health and beauty department—everything from soap, to hairspray, to protein powder.

And he wants to have a range options in the deli department.

“We are going add on a warm deli,” he said. “It won’t be big or elaborate.” But it’s been a request from neighbors he’s spoken with when the topic of Parkrose Grocery comes up. He says they tell him, “You know, if you guys had a warm deli, that’d be great! I could get a sandwich or a chicken salad on my way to work!” 

He’d really like to accommodate all the requests he receives, but he has a practical streak, too. “I got a whole list of wishes from community members that I’m going to see if I can make possible,” Don remarked. “But it’s got to be financially sustainable, too. I mean, I can’t just do things because they’re good or I’d like to.”

He thinks the warm deli could be a real success. Also, having coffee and tea available is on his mind, too.

And for Those Who’d Work for Parkrose Grocery

Don wants to offer jobs at an honorable wage. He’s had experience raising wages above minimum wage when others around him did not, and increasing the number of positions to fill. Providing health benefits to his employees is important to him. And a good work ethic is something he welcomes.

A clean store is also very important to him, and over the years he has gained a reputation as providing a particularly clean place to shop at, and for employees to work in.

Unity and Belief in the Parkrose Community

Don really has a lot of love for the Parkrose community and wants to do what he can to add something positive to the neighborhood. Yes, there are challenges in Parkrose, but he is not interested in leaving because of those challenges. He feels a sympathetic energy from a big group of supporters, too.

“I am trying to show community unification,” Don explained. “I have so many people—literally hundreds of people—that are willing to come in and help me.” In this respect he is speaking to a kind of sweat equity and generosity from his community: helping with deep cleaning the space, painting, and setting up things inside the stsore. “I want this to be a real uplifting community event,” he said.

Opening Parkrose Grocery

Don is determined to open Parkrose Grocery in September—or even sooner, if possible. But September seems like a realistic goal at this point in time.

His dream of being able to independently provide a place for Parkrose to access not only affordable groceries, but fresh and healthy groceries, with the capacity to support his community and their needs … that’s what Parkrose Grocery could do. And Don is here for it.

Wishing Don and his team all the best as they work toward opening Parkrose Grocery, an independent grocery store for East Portland.

Parkrose Grocery [projected opening September 2026]
10721 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
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