In a moment of transition, the Lloyd Center in Northeast Portland is experiencing a surge of creativity and uniqueness as it moves away from its traditional retail roots.
Once a bustling hub of anchor department stores, the mall has reshaped itself into a space filled with independent retailers, nonprofits, and activity spaces.
While familiar chains like Barnes & Noble, Game Stop, and Hot Topic still occupy the premises, the former Foot Locker now hosts an art gallery, and the old Spencer’s has become a pinball museum and arcade.
Moreover, the previous Brookstone location has been transformed into a theater for magic shows, adding to the whimsical atmosphere fostered by regularly scheduled pop-up markets and events, creating a vibe more akin to a street fair than a conventional mall.
With 90 tenants, including around 60 independent businesses, the Lloyd Center is thriving amidst the remnants of formerly prominent chain stores.
One example is Bauhaus Mode, a vintage reseller that occupies a spot with a faux tiled roof that was once a Hollister.
Jason Leivian, the owner of Floating World Comics, aptly describes the situation: “We’re almost just squatting in this capitalist temple. It’s a beautiful space, so we might as well use it.”
The future of the 65-year-old mall remains uncertain, with demolition and redevelopment plans lacking a firm timeline.
This ambiguity has led many startups and nonprofits to capitalize on the attractive features of the mostly empty mall, such as affordable rent and ample parking.
Matt Morrison, owner of Legion Sabers, reflects on the opportunities the space provides, likening it to a “startup incubator for new creative retail” that is essential for Portland.
The Lloyd Center’s history dates back to its opening on August 1, 1960, as a 100-store, open-air mall, which at the time was heralded as the largest in the world.
In the 1990s, it underwent a transformation into a more traditional enclosed shopping mall complete with a central food court.
Despite a $50 million renovation in 2016, the Lloyd Center could not escape the challenges faced by malls nationwide in the wake of the e-commerce boom.
With Nordstrom being the first to depart in 2015, other major retailers followed suit, including Sears, Marshall’s, and Macy’s.
By 2021, the last anchor store had exited, plunging the Lloyd Center into foreclosure and leading to its repossession by KKR Real Estate Financial Trust.
The subsequent engagement of Seattle-based developer Urban Renaissance Group was an effort to chart a new course for the mall.
Following months of planning, these owners announced redevelopment plans for the entire 29.3-acre site, aiming to create a Bridgeport Village-style open-air community featuring housing, shopping, and entertainment venues.
This plan includes preserving the iconic ice rink that has long been at the heart of the mall experience.
Currently, the demolition of the old Nordstrom store is underway, making room for a new music venue expected to open in 2027, with a capacity for 2,000 to 4,250 concertgoers.
Urban Renaissance Group’s managing director for Portland, Tom Kilbane, has confirmed that the existing mall will continue to operate at least through the 2025 holiday season, but beyond that, the future remains unclear.
He stated, “It’s amazing to see what’s been happening at Lloyd Center during this time of transition.
There’s been an influx of small, local businesses that brought a sense of energy and creativity to the mall, fostering an entrepreneurial spirit and sense of community that embodies the unique Portland vibe.”
One of the biggest draws for businesses has been the incredibly affordable rent, often less than $1,000 a month, depending on the space.
Leivian’s Floating World Comics was one of the first new tenants to settle in the Lloyd Center nearly three years ago after relocating from Old Town.
At that time, he stated, “The big selling point is just that the rent was insanely cheap — cheaper than when I first opened my store 16 years ago.”
Notably, La Tina’s Style of Elegance, a women’s clothing boutique that opened in June, is saving around $2,000 a month in rent compared to her previous location near Northeast 13th Avenue and Alberta Street.
Owner La Tina McCord expressed optimism about the mall’s future, stating, “You don’t have the major corporations here, but you’ve got a lot of small businesses, and a lot of people are starting to come back over here.”
The Lloyd Center has also attracted several food vendors, who benefit from favorable leasing arrangements that include a flat utility fee and rent based on a percentage of sales.
This approach has encouraged the establishment of local eateries such as Stoopid Burger, LoRell’s Chicken Shack, La Korita, and Yummy Treats within the food court.
Darell Preston, who recently moved his LoRell’s Chicken Shack cart into the mall, commented, “We need the community to come back.
I know COVID had turned this thing upside down, but we’re slowly but surely getting it back together.
It’s good that they’re giving us a shot.”
Danny Moore, who has run his Stoopid Burger mobile food cart for 11 years, added a second location at the Lloyd Center about five months ago, revitalizing an old diner space.
He remarked, “People think that the Lloyd Center is dead.
I never really cared what people thought anyways.
A ghost mall with the best burger in town? People come and eat regardless, you know? So, it didn’t scare me away.”
Empress Edwards-El, who opened Yummy Treats with her teenage daughters, highlighted the community’s resilience and the newfound opportunities available.
They serve various sweet treats inside the former Cinnabon, and she believes their presence has contributed to revitalizing the Lloyd Center.
“They haven’t had opportunities like this before.
I think with gentrification of our city came a shutdown of a lot of things.
We’re not gone.
We’re still here, and we’re often the people that help rebuild things after the storm anyway.”
Visitors exploring the mall may come across a “nerd row” of unique shops on the second floor, featuring Gambit’s Games and Anime, Floating World Comics, Brickdiculous, and dicepool.
Christian Benito, owner of dicepool, expressed that this concentration of local businesses creates a great opportunity to support the community and embody the culture of Portland.
Jason Andersen, who opened the Star Tropics Pinball Museum in a former Spencer’s Gifts, encourages visitors to enjoy the unique environment, offering day passes for unlimited pinball play.
He reflected, “A lot of people ask, what happened to Macy’s, what happened to Marshalls?
And personally, I don’t think we miss those very much.
It’s cool seeing, as an alternative, these small projects coming up.
Family-focused things, queer-owned businesses, Black-owned businesses, special events, music, art, that sort of thing.
And I feel like most Portlanders would say they love that.”
Meanwhile, little white mice rescued from research facilities have found a new home at Secondhand Pet Supply, a shop dedicated to providing gently used pet items.
Owner Michael Santiesteban underscored the advantages of maintaining a business within the Lloyd Center, praising its affordability and upkeep.
He noted, “Other parts of Portland, when you’re looking to rent, not only is it more expensive, you’re more likely to deal with windows breaking or people trying to break in.”
All tenants interviewed praised the mall’s security measures, highlighting the visible presence of security personnel monitoring the premises.
Roshan Fernando, co-owner of Jumbo’s Pickleball, affirmed the security’s proactive role in creating a safe environment.
While the mall maintains a clean and welcoming interior, some areas, particularly the underground parking garages, have raised concerns.
Despite the challenges in certain parts of the mall, the overall experience remains positive as confirmed by regular visitors.
At present, many stores operate with limited hours, often closing on Mondays and Tuesdays.
To combat this issue, tenants have united to host Mall Crawl events on the second Saturday of every month, encouraging shoppers to visit during a designated time filled with sales and special offers.
The upcoming Mall Crawl is themed as a celebration for the Lloyd Center’s 65th birthday.
However, as the future of the mall looms, management is no longer offering long-term leases, focusing instead on short-term arrangements or pop-ups.
Tenants are aware of the precarious nature of their leases, with many holding 60-day termination clauses.
Yet, there remains an optimistic outlook that the mall will have a longer lifespan than initially thought.
Antonio Servín González, whose family operates La Korita, mentioned, “I’m placing a bet that maybe two years is what I’m thinking.”
For now, many entrepreneurs are cherishing the opportunity, with Irene González, the owner of La Korita, accumulating valuable experience while engaging with the Lloyd Center community.
Matt Henderson, who opened Virtua Gallery in December 2023, transforming an old Foot Locker into an avant-garde space, also expresses hope that the core of the mall can remain intact throughout redevelopment.
Henderson stated, “I think the future of the mall still feels very open-ended.
This is a really unique opportunity for Portland to reinvent itself and fashion a shopping mall in its own image.
It’s temperature-controlled, it’s unique infrastructure.
There’s nothing like it in the city.”
Walking through the mostly empty corridors, visitors might stumble upon unique activities, such as roller skating lessons in an old Finish Line store, run by Jennifer “Chickpea” Ottenberg of Skate Oregon School.
She stressed that the space has opened up a wealth of possibilities for startups and nonprofits, emphasizing how these opportunities can breathe life into the mall.
Ottenberg noted, “If you took a pause and you looked around at what is here, it’s opened up doors for opportunity for startup companies or small business owners, nonprofit popups, experience space, community service.
It’s given opportunity for ideas and things that otherwise would not be able to exist.”
With various summer camps, art classes, and community events finding a home at the Lloyd Center, the determination to create a vibrant experience remains strong.
Ottenberg highlighted groups like the Portland Bridge Club, Portland Chess Club, and the Synth Library, which brings together local talents to share their skills.
Twice monthly, card markets attract sports fans and gamers, while the Portland Zine Meetup gathers to promote creativity in printed form.
As Ottenberg puts it, “All of these different cool, creative ways to experience your time, you’ve just got to look a little deeper.
I hope that people see value in this, and it morphs the idea of what the Lloyd Center could be.”
image source from：oregonlive
