Our group of four suffered some snafus this morning on our way to visit Stash Tea on Mississippi.  First, T, whose birthday it was, had lent his bike out to his son, not expecting son M wouldn’t come home Sat. night with the bike; ever resourceful, T oiled up daughter Y’s bike instead.  And then H, led folk to Mississippi believing that the Stash Tea store actually opened at 8; maybe it did months back, but now it wasn’t opening until 1o; thus, the  resourceful four revisited one of N. Portland’s coffee shop pioneers, The Fresh Pot.

Historically, the Rexall Building which houses The Fresh Pot possesses an important place in Mississippi’s revitalization lore.   Up until 2000 only 4 or 5 commercial stores were open on the street, the Rexall Building being a work space for the artist-owner who lived above.  It was in this work space where an economic development consultant explained to interested neighbors and entrepreneurs which types of commerce might be successful here.   Within a year, a small courageous group of individual businesspeople followed the Rebuilding Center in undertaking the first group of commercial rehabs.

The Pot was an early hit with the alternative culture who lived in the neighborhood.   Maybe because of increased competition, it seems less popular now, but serves as a stabilizing symbol of what you can do without a lot of flash.  It feels down to earth, and comfortable, without many of the ingredients to which we are usually drawn.     4001 N. Mississippi    http://www.thefreshpot.com