I’m just like Lewis or Clark. I found this place.

No really, I did. OK, so I wasn’t the first to find it. I’d heard tales of “The West.“ The Beautiful West. Knowing I’d move from my home state of Louisiana, I wanted to go to this place that my newfound friends had come from, or told me about. My tribe would be there. Hiding in the mountains.

Union Rose | Portland Oregon

Knowing no one, I moved here in the smallest car anyone’s ever used to traverse the country - and was immediately smitten. Wow, there are flowers planted all over downtown! The mountain, it’s still covered in snow, in April! I can walk to wherever I need to go. (That small car wasn’t so reliable.)
Union Rose | Located in Portland, Oregon

I came to Portland for culinary school, so I was fortunate enough to be immediately hit smack-dab across the mouth with Oregon’s bounty. Fresh mushrooms, juicy berries, great wine. Yum! But just as enthralling were the people who cooked this delicious food. Creativity was boundless. It wasn’t work, it was passion. And it was marvelous.

Baby comes, life changes. Found new passions. But I wasn’t the only one. Everyone seemed passionate about what they did. Music, design, food, making things with their hands, hanging outdoors - great ideas creating it and coming from it. Portland seemed to be the most stimulating incubator!

Luckily, I haven’t cornered the market on my corner. From all this energy and experience, Union Rose was born. Featuring local artists and designers. Period. I’ve said many times I don’t think such a store could exist in many other places. Daily I marvel at what all these other folks bring to my - nee our - corner of the world. And with the launch of the Union Rose online shop, I’m so happy to share them all with you.

Dig in.