Mirador Community Store Owners Steve and Lynn Hanrahan
I don’t live in Portland, Oregon, but the more I talk with businesses, there, I think I seriously need to reconsider my living arrangements. Take the Mirador Community Store, for example. This place is a veritable Heaven on Earth for anyone even just a tiny bit green-minded.
This place is the brainchild of Lynn and Steve Hanrahan – a couple of forward-thinking, earth-loving folks who wanted to live their lives in their “right livelihood.” It started out simply enough – baking supplies and health products. But they soon realized they needed to offer more for their burgeoning customer base. So, general kitchen supplies and home goods were added to the mix. The rest, as they say, is history.
Mirador Community Store Owner Lynn Hanrahan fluffing the textiles.
I could write until I’m blue in the face about this place – but you really need to go there to experience the vision that Lynn and Steve have brought to life. Imagine driving down southeast Division Street and coming upon a brightly colored and unusually put together building. You might look at it and think, “looks like an old gas station.” Know what? You’d be right. It is. But over time, Lynn and Steve have created an amazing experience even before you step inside.
It’s unreal how much stuff they have in their nearly 1,800 sq. ft. store. Basically, they carry things they believe will help people live their lives. They consign items by local artists and craftspeople who make really cool things that Lynn and Steve think their customers will like. They specialize in recycled items – like old bike chains repurposed into wall art (grease is optional). As you might have already guessed, their stock is ever changing and evolving. So, it pays to visit often.
Here’s a smattering of what they offer:
For the home:
- Organic cotton linens
- All-natural, 100% non-toxic personal care products (better for you, better for the environment)
- Handmade brooms (bet you never thought of that did you?)
- Scouring pads, mops and lamb lollipops (not going to tell you – you have to go there to find out)
- Toys that only take kid power – no batteries needed!
- Handmade baskets, organic cotton totes, string bags, recycled sari bags – you get the idea
For the kitchen:
- Several varieties of grain mills – perfect for making fresh baked bread
- All the fixings for canning and preserving (except what goes IN the jars)
- For the techy wonk, all kinds of kitchen gadgets you probably won’t find at your local big box store
- Cookbooks you likely won’t find elsewhere – vegan, vegetarian, raw, diabetic diets, wheat/gluten-free diets, healthy cooking – they really encourage healthful eating (hey, healthy customers are a good thing!)
For your health:
- Homeopathic medicines
- Bach flower remedies
For your entertainment:
- Video rental – exercise, food, politics, spirituality, green building
And so much more that I don’t have room to talk about!
Mirador Community Store Owner Steve Hanrahan in the Canning/Preserving Section.
Mirador is very proud to be tied to their community and donate or provide discounts to a variety of charities. They pull from all over and their customer base is as varied as their merchandise.
Mirador Community Store IS a destination – enjoy your journey there, but once inside, stay awhile. You’re not going to want to miss a thing. They’ll be at the Better Living Show, so stop by their booth – they’d love to say “hi” and might even tell you what a lamb lollipop is.
Originally posted 2009-02-12 00:12:19. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
