Portland Indigenous Marketplace Secures Permanent Home for Cultural Exchange

In a significant move for Indigenous economic and cultural visibility, the Portland Indigenous Marketplace has announced it will establish a permanent headquarters in southeast Portland. During a press conference held on 19 August 2026, founder Lluvia Merello shared plans to transform an empty lot at 737 Southeast Sandy Boulevard into a vibrant cultural center and marketplace. The project, dubbed “Project 737,” follows the donation of the site by an anonymous donor in 2024. Renovation work is scheduled to begin this autumn, starting with the installation of a new roof, with a full opening targeted for 2028. Once complete, the facility will feature an indoor space for makers and events alongside an outdoor plaza, providing a year-round hub for Indigenous art and community gathering. Merello, who is Quechua and Andean/Inca, founded the marketplace in 2018 after identifying a lack of culturally respectful vending opportunities for Indigenous artists. What began as a series of small events supported by the Portland Bureau of Transportation and the Oregon Metro Community Placemaking program has grown into a 501c3 nonprofit that has served over 250 vendors. Merello says the initiative is inspired by the Quechuan prophecy of the “Eagle and the Condor,” symbolizing the coming together of Indigenous peoples from North and South America to share knowledge. LaDonna Dempsey, a marketplace team member and Two-Spirit Diné citizen, noted that the transformation of the building represents Indigenous people taking up space and creating something for themselves. While the organisation continues to seek funding to complete the renovations, the move marks a transition from mobile events to a stable anchor for Indigenous artisans to share their culture and sell their work in a dedicated, culturally centered environment.