Join Better Portland and your neighbors for a casual coffee meetup to connect with our community and support local businesses in the Portland area.

A Simple Action to Ignite Economic Vitality

This month we're joined by Sarah Shaoul of Bricks Need Mortar to chat about the local retail economy. We ask our neighbors to shop locally. We can take additional steps for each other. Stop in for a real conversation about how we can change the way Portland shops and gives.

About Sarah Shaoul

Sarah Shaoul is the founder and CEO of Bricks Need Mortar, which champions Portland's independent brick and mortar businesses and advocates for economic development strategies that support them. After nearly 30 years as a Portland retailer, she now helps small shops get seen, get heard, and get customers through the door. Her latest effort, Shop + Stay Portland Getaway, teams up local hotels, Alaska Airlines, and independent shops to turn a weekend in Portland into a tour of the places locals love.

Grand Central Baking (Mississippi Location) 714 N. Fremont, Portland