The Corner Shop To Open in Former Cal’s Pharmacy Space in Portland

While I was driving down East Burnside the other day, I noticed that Cal’s Pharmacy was papered over with indications that something called The Corner Shop was opening in its place. The Corner Shop will be a little corner store/convenience store. Here is what we know.

The Corner Shop Building Was Formerly Cal’s Pharmacy

As Willamette Week wrote in 2019, Cal’s Pharmacy “is not another pot shop” with Thrasher Magazine adding that it is “a certified Portland institution.”

The building on East Burnside and 14th was an actual pharmacy in the 1930s (see below) However, at another pharmacy at East Burnside and 28th, Aaron Lee, the son of the pharmacist, and his older brother started a skateboard shop inside the pharmacy. “Originally we just wanted to get some cheap skateboards,” he wrote. “The name was set so we called it Cal’s Pharmacy Skateboards.”

Over the years, it grew and took over all the floor space there at 28th and Burnside. It then moved down to 25th Avenue and then to 16th as it continued to grow.

“Then the owner of the pharmacy part of the business retired, but the skateshop lived on,” said the owner at the time. “With the big skateboard following that had built over the years, we opened up an indoor skatepark in NE, The Department of Skateboarding. It kept us dry and skating for countless hours from 2003-2011 when it had to close due to losing the lease on the warehouse.”

Then in early 2013, Cal’s Pharmacy reopened on Burnside and 14th.

From what I can tell, things were active Cal’s Pharmacy until about 2024.

The Corner Shop: How It Came To Be

The owners and operators of The Corner Shop are Young and Minju. They are also husband and wife. “Our story began over ten years ago when we met by chance while traveling in Bangkok, Thailand,” they wrote.

They continued, “That chance meeting eventually led us to Portland, where we built a life as Korean immigrants. Today, we’re raising our 6-year-old son and two adopted Jindo dogs from Korea, and we’re excited to begin a new chapter by opening The Corner Shop in the city we now call home.”

The Corner Shop: Wouldn’t It Be Wonderful?

They shared more details as to how The Corner Shop developed from a dream to reality:

“Back in 2014, after settling into the neighborhood, we often walked past a storefront that had sat vacant for years. Every time we passed by, we found ourselves thinking, ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there were a small, welcoming neighborhood corner shop here?’ What started as a simple thought gradually became a dream.”

They are inspired by both Portland and South Korea, two places they call home. “We wanted to preserve the warmth and character of an older Portland storefront while bringing in the clean, organized feel and everyday convenience of the neighborhood convenience stores we grew up with in Korea,” they wrote.

They also admit they are a small shop, but I must say that seeing what the Oregon City Market has done with 600 square feet shows that you can make an impact with smaller space.

They got the keys in April and have “poured our hearts into every corner of the shop.” They’ve spent time cleaning, building, painting, and arranging the store to be just what they need and what they think their customers will be looking for, too. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome our neighbors into a space we’ve created with so much care and love,” they wrote.

“After nearly a year of working through the leasing process, we’re finally opening our doors on August 1.”

The Location of The Corner Shop

They’ve been doing some construction work on this space in the building that’s over 100 years old now; it was built in 1920. Here’s a photo of it from 1929 (click to enlarge):

And here it is more recently:

In April 2023, George Kassapakis sold building to Shannon and Christopher Gutierrez for $1.15M. Looks like it’s owned by a trust.

What You’ll Find at The Corner Shop

Essentially this will be a nice convenience and grocery store, which mean snacks, ice cream, condiments, beer, ramen, and sundries, among other things. They will have a small selection of grab-and-go items, including fresh sandwiches, along with everyday essentials like eggs, milk, bakery items, and coffee. “We hope to make it easy for neighbors to stop by, whether they need a quick meal or just a few groceries,” they wrote.

They added, “As for the most unique thing we’ll carry, I’d say it’s our selection of Korean snacks and drinks. While we’re a neighborhood corner store first, we also wanted to share a little piece of where we’re from. We’ll also have a small collection of Portland-inspired goods that we designed ourselves, which makes the shop feel even more personal.”

“We hope it offers more than the usual corner store essentials,” they remarked.

Some Final Thoughts

“We fell in love with Portland years ago, and it’s a true joy to open our doors in the community we now call home,” they wrote. “We can’t wait to meet you and welcome you to The Corner Shop.”

They open Saturday, August 1 at 9am. On that day, the first 100 customers who make a purchase will receive a The Corner Shop branded wine opener. After that, stop by every day from 9am to 10pm.

The Corner Shop [opening August 1, 2026]
1400 E Burnside Street, Portland
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