Parkrose Grocery, an independent, community-owned grocery store, is in the works at 10721 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland’s Parkrose neighborhood, the same address that, until recently, housed a Grocery Outlet. The man behind the project is Don McKeever, who ran that very Grocery Outlet location and is now working to replace it with something the neighborhood has arguably needed even more: a truly independent, locally owned grocery store. A mid-September opening is the goal, with a lease expected to be in place within days.
The project has already attracted serious institutional support. McKeever has been working closely with D1 Councilor Candace Avalos and Prosper Portland and is currently being considered for a $500,000 Healthy Communities grant to help make the store financially viable. He is also actively seeking additional investors to help get the project across the finish line.
The project is community-driven in every sense of the word. McKeever is asking Parkrose residents to engage with and share Parkrose Grocery’s social media posts, stay informed about what the project needs, and look out for opportunities to get involved as the opening approaches. The story was first reported by Bridgetown Bites, which has been following the project’s development.
