The Meadow Neighborhood Guide
The Meadow - 3731 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR
A Complex Transformation: Mississippi's Story of Change
North Mississippi Avenue tells a complicated Portland story—one of transformation, displacement, and resilience. The neighborhood, also known as Boise-Eliot, has deep roots stretching back to the late 1800s when it developed as one of Portland's early working-class communities. Through the mid-20th century, it became home to a significant Black population during the Great Migration, with thriving Black-owned businesses, churches, and cultural institutions along North Williams and Mississippi Avenues.
By the 1990s, decades of disinvestment and urban renewal projects (including the construction of Memorial Coliseum and I-5, which demolished Black neighborhoods) had left many storefronts vacant and buildings in disrepair. In 1998, the Rebuilding Center—a salvage nonprofit and lumber yard focused on reuse and sustainability—opened on Mississippi Avenue and became a catalyst for change. Artists, shop owners, and carpenters began renovating crumbling buildings using reclaimed materials from old Portland structures.
By the early 2000s, Mississippi had become one of Portland's most vibrant destinations: music venues opened, food carts rolled in, and independent shops appeared. But this transformation came at a cost. Long-time residents, many of them Black families who had lived in the neighborhood for generations, were priced out as property values skyrocketed. The gentrification of North Mississippi is part of Portland's larger, painful story of displacement—the Black population in this area dropped from over 60% in 1990 to less than 10% by 2020.
Today's Mississippi Avenue reflects this complex history. While it's known for creativity, sustainability, and independent business, it's important to recognize whose neighborhood this was and who was displaced to make way for the boutiques and brunch spots. Organizations like the Black Food Sovereignty Coalition and Albina Vision Trust work to rebuild Black wealth and community in the area. When you visit Mississippi, you're walking through a neighborhood still grappling with its transformation—beautiful and vibrant, yes, but built on layers of displacement that shouldn't be forgotten.
What makes it different? This is a neighborhood that literally rebuilt itself from salvage—where Sunlan Lighting (Portland's oldest lightbulb store) sits next to Paxton Gate's taxidermy wonderland, where you can build your own terrarium at Pistils Nursery, then catch live music at Mississippi Studios. It's creative, community-minded, and delightfully weird. But it's also a neighborhood learning to reckon with its past and working toward a more equitable future.
Independent Retail Treasures Near The Meadow
Paxton Gate (4204 N Mississippi Ave) Portland's temple of curiosities. Find framed butterflies, mounted beetles, taxidermy (from bats to full deer), crystals, air plants, and vintage scientific instruments. Equal parts natural history museum and gift shop. Unforgettable.
Pistils Nursery (3811 N Mississippi Ave) A plant lover's paradise! This nursery and garden shop offers gorgeous ceramic planters, lush indoor jungle plants, and a build-your-own-terrarium station. Step into the greenhouse and lose yourself in greenery.
Sunlan Lighting (3901 N Mississippi Ave) The oldest business on Mississippi Avenue and possibly Portland's most unique shop. This quirky lighting store carries bulbs in every conceivable shape, size, and color. Owner Kay Newell is a local historian who loves sharing vintage photos and neighborhood lore.
Mississippi Records (5202 N Albina Ave, just off Mississippi) An independent record store and label specializing in jazz, blues, soul, folk, and early rock. Vinyl collectors, this is your happy place.
Eat, Drink and Be Merry!
¿Por Qué No? Taqueria (3524 N Mississippi Ave) The most popular eatery on Mississippi for good reason: killer tacos, burrito bowls for under $10, and margaritas that make you forget your troubles. Expect a line (they don't take reservations), but it moves quickly. Sustainable ingredients, vibrant atmosphere.
Miss Delta (3950 N Mississippi Ave) Southern BBQ and Creole-inspired heaven. Pulled pork, shrimp and cheesy grits, fried catfish, and homemade cornbread that'll make you weep with joy. Backyard smoker running all day, flavors all night.
Stormbreaker Brewing (832 N Beech St, just off Mississippi) The place to catch a game on the big screen with surround sound, craft beer brewed on-site, and a heated covered patio for rainy Portland days. Great pub fare and a neighborhood favorite.
