A weekly list of new hires, fires and promotions, as well as business openings and closings:
Openings and closings
Biketown, backed by Nike, will launch July 19. The bike-rental program will install 100 stations across Portland for members to check out and use as needed. The program cost Nike $10 million to fund. Read our feature story on Biketown here.
Oregon’s alcohol industry continues its upward spiral. Boardman-based Cascade Street Distillery is opening a second taproom in Wilsonville this weekend, featuring 15 house brand taps. On the other end of the spectrum, Cascade Street Distillery is building a new production facility in Sisters. Its relatively-new taproom will stay put.
It’s been 61 years since Gordon’s Fireplace Shop opened in Northeast Portland, but the furniture store off Interstate 84 will close its doors this summer. Owner Gordon Malafouris says it’s not because the business is failing; he just doesn’t want to do it anymore. OPB has more.
Portland is home to another new community college. The Wayfinding Academy will open its St. Johns doors Aug. 29, as long as its granted the right to award degrees from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. The two-year college will offer nine classes.
Revolving Door
Southern Oregon University has hired a new president. Linda Schott, current president of University of Main at Presque Isle, will start in time for the fall semester. Schott is the fourth new president to take over one of Oregon’s seven public universities in the past 18 months.
