PBOT Outdoor Dining & Retail Spotlight - Frock Boutique

Hello Portland Business Owners,

Just like the rain, the Outdoor Dining & Retail monthly spotlight is back for the month of October. This month, we're showcasing a vibrant corner of N Alberta Street through Frock Boutique, run by owners Allison Wykhuis and Angie Heiney.

Frock Boutique is unique in that it is one of a few retail businesses taking advantage of PBOT's Outdoor Dining Permits for non-dining business use, selling fashion items both indoors and outdoors. Retail businesses and non-profit organizations are able to acquire permits for sidewalk cafes and street seats in parking spaces.

We're grateful that Allison Wykhuis spent some time answering our questions about her business to educate us on how Frock uses the sidewalk.

Despite Portland's unpredictable weather, Allison says the sale rack on the sidewalk is a regular feature. "Everyone loves a bargain," she says, "and our typically bright-colored, whimsical clothing is eye-catching to passersby. Having the rack outside allows us to increase our selling space and advertise at the same time."

We also asked Allison for some details on how her merchandise is displayed, and if there were any parts of the design or building process that required or encouraged creativity.

Allison told us "We found a rolling rack that fit perfectly on our sidewalk space. We take the rack in every evening since the merchandise is not secured. If the weather is extra wet or windy, we opt to leave it in the store for the day, but most days the rack is outside."

We're so glad that Allison's business adds a colorful presence to our streets and sidewalks. When we asked her if there was anything else she wanted to tell us about Outdoor Dining and Retail permits and if she had any advice for others wanting to use the public right of way for retail, Allison said "We've found that expanding to the sidewalk and keeping our front door propped open during business hours creates a welcoming environment for shoppers. It also creates interest to folks in cars, on bikes and bus riders. It makes our district seem vibrant and bustling. Our business has increased due to the outdoor rack."

Like all sidewalk cafe permits, retail displays follow PBOT's design guidelines. The graphic above shows the differences between the frontage zone where permitted items are placed, the pedestrian through zone where a clear path is maintained for movement, and the furnishing zone by the street where you'll often find fire hydrants, bike racks, and tree wells. Permitted seating or retail items must maintain space for pedestrians according to these standards:

• 8 to 10 feet wide sidewalk must have minimum 5 1/2 feet wide Pedestrian Through Zone.
• Greater than 10 feet to less than 15 feet wide sidewalk must have a minimum 6 feet wide Pedestrian Through Zone.
• 15 feet or more sidewalk width must have a minimum 8 feet wide Pedestrian Through Zone.
• A straight and continuous 2-feet wide clearance is required within the pedestrian through zone. This is a separate requirement from the PTZ minimums listed above. In addition to maintaining sufficient width for movement along the sidewalk, a pedestrian should be able to see through to the other side of your permitted area. For example, a zig-zagging setup that completely obscures the view of the far-end of a permitted area is not compliant with the design guidelines for sidewalk use.

In the photo showing Frock Boutique's sidewalk setup, you can see the clear path kept open for pedestrians, with the clothing rack kept up against the building. The photo below demonstrates the guidelines visually.

To current and future applicants:

If you would like to build or renew outdoor seating, our permit technicians will guide you through the inspection process to make sure that permit requirements are met, supporting safety and accessibility in the street. Follow this link if you are looking to apply for or renew an Outdoor Dining & Retail permit.

Thank you to Allison, Angie, and Frock Boutique for participating in this spotlight!