The Wonderful Neon Wonders of Portland, Oregon

The Wonderful Neon Wonders of Portland, Oregon

by Jim Jackson

I have a fascination with neon signs.  Maybe it's their bright colors, perhaps their uniqueness, perhaps their rarity or perhaps in the difficulty in photographing them just right.  Regardless, I have an attraction to them like a moth is drawn to lights.  During a visit to Portland, Oregon I was very surprised by the number of bright, colorful and artistic neons that are scattered throughout the city, on both sides of the river.  Some, unfortunately, are no longer in working condition, but I took their photo anyway, just in case progress decides their useful purpose should be in a dump.  I have tried to document as many actual locations so that others who have a fondness for these bright lights might have an easier task of finding them.  Some I honestly could not remember where they were, but suffice to say that I did see them while photographing another nearby iconic neon.  All were photographed in Portland with the exception of a few that were located in a nearby suburb and this is noted in the address. The addresses are shown below each individual neon photo or after a series of one particular neon sign. Happy hunting!

   Above: The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway

Above: The Portland Outdoor Store, 304 SW Third Avenue

  Above: John Helmer Haberdasher, 969 SW Broadway

 Above, City Chiropractic, 806 SW Broadway #350

 Above: Guild Theater, 829 SW 9th Ave

 Above: Pendleton Home Store, 220 NW Broadway

 Above, I stumbled on this but forgot the location!

 Above: Independent Sports Bar & Grill, 225 SW Broadway #100

  Above: I forgot the address (I'm not a psychic) but it was on Broadway next to the Saucebox (below)

 Above: The Saucebox,214 SW Broadway 

 Above: U.S. Outdoor, 219 SW Broadway

 Above: Night Hawk Cafe & Lounge, 6423 N Interstate Avenue

 Above: The Alibi, 4024 N. Interstate Avenue

 Above: The Palms Motor Hotel, 3801 N. Interstate Avenue

  Above: The Hollywood Theater,4122 NE Sandy Blvd 

Above: Pietro's Pizza, 10300 SE Main Street (Milwaukie, Oregon 97222)

 Above: Kellogg Bowl, 10306 SE Main Street, (Milwaukie, Oregon 97222, next to Pietro's)

 Above: Capital Hill Motel, 9110 SW Barbur Blvd.

 Above: George Morlan Plumbing Supply, 5529 SE Foster Road

 Above: La Bamba Restaurant, 4908 SE Powell Blvd

  Above: Cup & Saucer Cafe, 3566 SE Hawthorne Blvd

 Above: Gold Door, 1434 SE 37th Avenue

 Above: The Laurelhurst Theater, 2735 E. Burnside Street

 Above, Stumptown Coffee, 3356 SE Belmont Street

 Above: The Avalon Theater, 3451 SE Belmont Street

 Above: The Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd

 Above: Tip Top Cleaners, 2001 E Burnside Street

 Above: Miller Paint, 317 SE Grand Avenue

 Above: Kelly's Olympian, 426 SW Washington Street

Above: The Jackrabbit Restaurant, 830 SW 6th Avenue

 Above: Old Town Pizza, 226 NW Davis Street (allegedly haunted!)

 Above: The Society Hotel, 203 NW 3rd Avenue

Above: The Republic Cafe, 222 NW 4th Avenue 

Above: Everett Street Autoworks, 509 NW Everett Street 

Above: Hung Far Low Restaurant (closed as of May 2018), 2410 SE 82nd Avenue 

 Above: Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shop, 535 SW 6th Avenue

 Above: Dorian's Shoe Repair, 611 SW 6th Avenue

  Above: Portland Union (Amtrak) Station, 800 NW 6th Avenue

Above: Voodoo Donuts, 22 SW 3rd Avenue

 Above: The Paris Theater, 6 SW 3rd Avenue (opened in 1890!)

Above: The Estate Hotel, 225 NW Couch

Above: The Oregon Leather Company, 110 NW 2nd Avenue

Above: "Portland Oregon” sign, located atop the White Stag Building, 70 NW Couch Street 

Above: The Portland Rescue Mission, 111 W Burnside Street

Above: The Salvation Army, on Burnside (across the street from Portland Rescue Mission)

Above: Killer Burger, 510 SW 3rd Avenue 

Above: H&B Jewelry & Loans, 526 SW 3rd Avenue

Above: Rialto Poolroom Bar & Cafe, 529 SW 4th Avenue

Above: Arthurs's Diner, 417 SW Alder Street

 Above: Red Star Tavern, 503 SW Alder Street

Above: Pastini Pastaria, 911 SW Taylor Street

Above: Only in Portland, SW 6th Avenue (north of the Hilton)

The below Google map may help you find some of the most significant Portland neon signs:

Even if seeing a bunch of colorful neon signs don't exactly make it onto your bucket list, a visit to Portland, Oregon certainly should.  It is a great city with a lot of things to do, just look at the neons in this post and establishments they represent.  A visit to this vibrant city will surely add a drop in the bucket.

All photographs are the copyright of Jim Jackson Photography. Please contact jrj1234@att.net for authorization to use or for signed, high-resolution copies.