A weekly list of business openings and closings, as well as new hires, fires and promotions.
Openings and Closings
— After 23 years in Portland, Johnny Sole is shuttering its doors. The store is considered a Portland institution. Johnny Sole relocated to the Woodlark Building 16 years ago, which was then sold two years ago to developers who are building a hotel.
— Johnny Sole isn’t the only Portland-based shoe store to close this week. Now web-based Solestruck — which closed its brick and mortar location earlier this year — sold off its entire stock and shut down its site as of Aug. 1. Although when checked Aug. 9, a few random items remained for sale.
— Willamette Community Bank, based in Albany, is opening a second location in Salem. Willamette currently has a loan production office in Salem, which will be replaced with the banking branch.
— Eugene has another new craft brewer: Alesong Brewing and Blending. In lieu of the standard pale ale or stout, Alesong will focus on barrel-aged beers. Bottles of the first batches will be available starting Aug. 20.
— Environmental consulting firm Aspect Consulting is launching a Portland-based office. The Washington firm is operated by Pete Stroud and Mark Swank and employs more than 70 with a background in geology and water resources. The Portland office is the first in Oregon for Aspect, making it the sixth overall.
Revolving Door
— Cannabis lawyer Amy Margolis has left Emerge Law Group in favor of her own canna-law firm Margolis Legal. Margolis has played an instrumental role in cannabis policy, including the formation of the Oregon Cannabis PAC which worked to influence cannabis business-friendly law.
— Angela Jackson, co-founder of Portland Seed Fund, will join the Angel Capital Association. The ACA is a national organization, boasting more than 13,000 angel investors.
— Unitus Community Credit Union has announced its new president. Steven Stapp will replace Patricia Smith, who will leave the credit union in November after 14 years. Stapp is the current president of San Francisco Federal Credit Union, and will move to Oregon in this role Nov. 1.
