2023 BIPOC Businesses of the Month
Banh Mi Up
Owners Linh Bien and husband Andy Tran originally opened Banh Mi Up as a food truck in 2018. After losing their parking spot, they found themselves opening a store in St Johns in November of 2019!
Andy had spent several years in the U.S Army and as a result, was eventually deployed to Asia. Thus began his culinary adventure. Realizing that food has the power to bring people together, Banh Mi Up was born.
Visit: banhmiuppdx.com to see their menu!
Yu Gi Nong
Christopher Woo and partner Sang Lee are no strangers to the St Johns neighborhood (Chris’ father in-law owned Kokiyo Teriyaki from 1996-2006 in the space now occupied by Rockabilly Cafe) so it was a natural choice to open their restaurant here.
How’s that for some local trivia?
Maribel and Efrian Prado have been a pillar of the Mexican/Latino culture in the St Johns community since opening their doors in November of 1994.
Novedades Prado specialises in formal and informal wear and easily the most beautiful quinceanera dresses you’ve ever seen.
Opened in 2019 with a love for all things yarn, books, and St Johns, Weird Sisters started as a pop-up behind Two Stroke Coffee with Two Rivers Bookstore (a pop up inside of a pop up!).
We are excited to introduce you to David van Overeem and the entire team behind Havalina.
Just recently renovated and only opened for 2 months, Havalina is a new bar on N. Lombard St. You might recognize David from his other venture, HAB sauces, which you can also find at Havalina.
With the success of his hot sauces, David wanted to bring his artistic vision into a brick and mortar bar. Teaming up with some dear friends, they have managed to create a wonderful and safe space in St Johns to enjoy good music, good food, and of course good hot sauce!
Tre Bone just celebrated its 16th year in business this past December!
Having grown up in Marseille, France, Serge wanted to replicate the feel of a shop in a small French village.
Serge feels that St. Johns is just such a place. The kind of neighborhood that can meet all of your needs and where the staff are friendly and know you by name.
Jamaica House
As you step into Jamaica House, you are immediately greeted by a lively and colorful ambiance that reflects the spirit of Jamaica (don’t forget to say hi to Meowski the cat).
The interior is decorated with vibrant Caribbean artwork, reggae music fills the air, and the walls are adorned with images of Jamaican landscapes and cultural icons.
The restaurant is designed to make you feel as if you've stepped into a Caribbean paradise, creating a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.
Homies/Kuma Frost
Meet the dynamic duo behind Homies: John and Kazumi, the same husband and wife team who delighted your taste buds with their daily homemade ice cream at Kumafrost. Now, they've brought their culinary expertise to Homies, located adjacent to each other at the St. Johns Beer Porch.
“At Homies, we're all about crafting delectable Gyoza and Karaage dishes straight from the heart. Our Gyoza is a true labor of love, hand-wrapped and made from scratch every single day. The classic pork Gyoza is generously filled with a flavorful mixture of pork, cabbage, onions, garlic, and ginger, and can be enjoyed either pan-fried or deep-fried to perfection.”
Tienda y Panaderia Santa Cruz first opened in 2000 with the goal of bringing fresh sweet bread to Portland. Our bread is made in the bakery and is always fresh.
We grew to include a taqueria and a butcher shop. Tienda y Panaderia is proud to be part of the St. Johns community. .
Ronins Cutt Parlor
Celebrating their first year in business, Ronins is the newest barber shop in St. Johns. Ronin is no stranger to North Portland and the St. Johns neighborhood. Having worked in the area as a barber before moving to LA, Ronin always knew that St. Johns would be the eventual home of Ronins Cutt Parlor.
Created as a friendly, safe, neighborhood hangout, you can get everything from a haircut to a fresh straight-razor shave. Appointments can be made easily using the link below (check out the 140+ 5 star reviews!).
Harlow Vernwald’s love for real estate led to the start of her career with Century 21 in 2005. Just 5 short years later, Harlow opened the doors of her own business, Projection Realty, in August of 2010.
Projection Realty is a full service real estate and property management company right in the heart of St. Johns. Harlow Vernwald is a St Johns native; her heritage is Chippewa (Ojibwe) Of the White Earth Band which is part of the White Earth Nation of Minnesota.
Mosaic Taphouse/Chem Gio
Located in the heart of St. Johns, Mosaic Tap House is on a mission to become the premier destination for craft beer enthusiasts.
Beyond serving as a hub for diverse social interactions, the establishment proudly amplifies the voices of Portland's Filipino and Queer communities.
Collaborating with partners such as Chém Gió and Kalesa Coffee, they offer an extensive selection of beverages and cuisine that reflects their commitment to diversity.