Portland has amazing retail signage and creative store names

Portland has amazing retail signage and creative store names
Originally uploaded by rllayman.

I have never seen such a dynamic independent retail environment. This is extended to the names of businesses, signage, and storefront window displays.

Imelda's Shoe Store is on SE Hawthorne Blvd., which is an interesting retail district with the great Baghdad Theater, Pastaworks, and two Powell's branches, including "Books for Cooks and Gardeners", creative restaurants at all price points, and some great retail.

In the part of the street nearer to the river (a couple miles from the Baghdad) there is the warehouse-light industrial area, with related retail, from paint stores to the Bread Company thrift store, and the occasional brewpub.