The holidays are over, and COVID-19’s hold on our country is likely for many more months, reducing access to travel, dining out, and other activities or large events that involve humans. So as winter rages on and we’re mostly stuck inside, now is the perfect time to focus on home and hearth—or even add ambiance to the outdoor space on your patio or in your garden for safe-distance gatherings of friends and family.
The Merchant’s Collection, which opened last August on NE 41st in Beaumont Village (BV), may have just the thing, or things, to help you cozy up your home and patio to help you endure the damp, chilly season. Here you’ll find offerings that include one-of-a-kind stone statuary and furniture made of reclaimed teak or natural rattan, all handcrafted by artisans. You’ll also find some locally created art pieces. Most of the furniture items in the store are of sustainably-harvested wood, and all the products—with the exception of the local artwork—are personally sourced from Indonesia by the store’s owner, Robin Ady.
Ady is the sole-owner and presently the store’s only employee. He moved to Portland with his wife, who works for Nike, several years ago. After purchasing a house near NE 14th and Fremont, his frequent drives to and from the airport to travel the country for his then-active audio-engineering business led him to pass through Beaumont Village on a regular basis. When the coronavirus struck, and his business withered, Ady decided to launch the second location of a business he and his brother owned in Texas. Hence, The Merchant’s Collection was born in BV. He explained, “I drove through Beaumont Village all the time, and I just developed a fondness for this quaint urban district.”
Looking for space here led him to Darren Stowell, who had recently purchased the Dutch Village building and annex. “I loved the building, and Darren was great to work with,” Ady said. “Our space is large and light-filled and displays our furniture and stone-work nicely.”
Ady believes his merchandise is complementary to other import store offerings but is unique in that he carefully chooses each piece; there is no “middleman” making purchasing decisions for him: “I choose pieces I feel are interesting, and of great quality. And because it’s all handcrafted or hand-carved, each piece is totally unique,” Ady said. “I have to like it, and if I do, I find my customers do, too.”
While opening his store during a pandemic adds a significant challenge to growing sales, Ady is optimistic for the future and looks forward to meeting fellow BV business owners and residents from the nearby neighborhood, noting “Just as I have relationships with my craftspeople and vendors, I’d like to have that with BV businesses and customers.”
You’ll find him in the store when he’s open. (Hours vary with COVID constraints, but he’s happy to have people call for an appointment.) In his off-time, Robin spends time snowboarding, golfing, running, or mountain biking, adding “My wife and I really enjoy the outdoor opportunities Portland offers, so we’re very happy to be here.”
The Merchant’s Collection is located at 3430 NE 41st Avenue. For more information and myriad photos that beautifully display The Merchant’s Collection product line, visit www.themerchantscollection.com or contact Ady by e-mail (robin@themerchantscollection.com) or by phone (503-862-3893).