Downtown Portland’s new one-stop shop operates as general store, creative hub

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — Downtown Portland’s newest addition is a one-stop shop for coffee, flowers, art books and your other market needs.

Based General Store marked the first day of October with its opening on 1136 SW Alder St. The venture is a joint effort between co-founders Jade Joseph and Jimmy Manley, who brought on Eric Garcia as another partner and culinary head.

The owners see the store as an experimental space, showcasing the culinary and visual arts while still operating as a convenience store with items and brands you may not find in your run-of-the-mill shop. They offer savory toasts, body care products, wine and more.

For its cafe options, the business has partnered with Dear Francis Coffee . The husband-and-wife duo typically offers their roasts at pop-ups, but the downtown store will serve their blends year-round — aside from the seasonal chocolate cherry latte only available this fall.

Based General Store has also worked to set itself apart from other shops by offering custom flower bouquets — dreamt up with assistance from Portland’s Tulip Cowboy — and a book selection focused on art, architecture and design.

Thirty-five-year-old co-founder Joseph told KOIN 6 she and Manley have invested years in consulting other brands, but figured it was time to invest in their own space in the city they want to give back to.

“I feel like downtown had a rough couple of years, possibly — as did so many other places — you know, through the pandemic,” Joseph said. “I believe in Portland. My business partners believe in Portland and we know how great it can be and I think if we all want it to come back to being that good and greater than that, we have to invest in it.”

Although Based General Store is still in its infancy, it is gearing up to offer full-service brunch on the weekends. The menu will include Southern classics like shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles, but with a Pacific Northwest flair.

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