Tender Loving Empire

Portland, United States

4.6

Open now

12 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 503-548-2927
Website:
tenderlovingempire.com
Address:
3541 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR, 97214
Southeast Portland, Hawthorne, Sunnyside
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
260 ftSoutheast Hawthorne & 34th
740 ftSoutheast Hawthorne & 32nd Place
770 ftSoutheast Hawthorne & 37th
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Bitcoin
No
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
By Appointment Only
No

Today

Today 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Open now
Local time (Portland) 10:48 Thursday, 28 November 2024

Business hours

Monday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm

Description

History

Established in 2007.

Jared and Brianne Mees started Tender Loving Empire in a two-​bedroom apartment a few feet from the freeway in Portland, Oregon in 2006. They had lived in PDX for only 6 months, but had already connected with an amazing group of musicians and artists. The Meeses wanted to help their inspired friends to be seen, heard, and read by the world. The only question was how.

In 2007, they quit their day jobs and opened a tiny storefront in NW Portland. They sold cards and posters and clothing and albums and anything else they could fit on the shelves. Taking a cue from their favorite indie labels, they offered each artist a 50⁄50 split in order be equally invested in one another.

Years later they would open two new retail locations: one in the heart of Downtown and the other in Southeast PDX. Tender Loving Empire is now a successful record label and marketplace for handmade goods that supports the work of independent artists as well as a thriving community of fans, patrons and fans.

Meet the Business Owner

Jared and Brianne M.

Business Owner

Jared Mees is the co-​founder of Tender Loving Empire as well as Generous. He’s stoked on things that get people stoked such as ruckus gatherings, science videos and museums. He enjoys cooking and hanging out with family and friends (who doesn’t!?). You will find him slaving away at TLE more days than not with a smile on his face. Best fave bands: Paul Simon, Bob Marley, Jens Lekman, Spoon, Nirvana, Nillson.

Brianne Mees is the other co-​founder of Tender Loving Empire. She loves being surrounded by creativity and people inspiring each other. She and Jared have been happily married since 2003 and spend most of their free time with their daughter, July. Other things that make her happy include traveling, eating at restaurants she can’t afford and finding out people’s Meyer’s Briggs personality type.

Tender Loving Empire also recommends

Crafty Wonderland

40

reviews

Arts & Crafts

,

Accessories

Jared and Brianne M. says,

«Filled with wonderful handmade gifts for all ages, Crafty Wonderland is an essential stop for fans of fun and crafty goods.»

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12 reviews of Tender Loving Empire

No registration required
Place rating: 4
Seattle, WA
«Can I have one of everything??» –Me, every time I enter stores like TLE.
This store is full of bits & bobs that make me wanna celebrate every/​any occasion (greeting cards galore) and finally get around to starting a gallery wall in my apartment (so much cute wall art!) I resisted temptation to buy ALL the things, and left with a very cute print that reads, «Home is where the wifi connects automatically» for my new apartment. :-)
This is a great spot to stop by if you’re looking for quirky, fun, and/​or quintessentially Portland-​y souvenirs. Things here are on the pricey side, but hey, no sales tax in Oregon so there’s that.
Place rating: 5
Portland, OR
I always get lost in this store. It’s full of those quirky, delightful pieces of art and adorable objects that make a house feel like home. I first discovered it via a gift-​card from a friend and I’ve never looked back.
One of my favorite art pieces I own is their «I will survive» succulent print. It’s perfect, since I am a plant killer. It’s the one plant I can’t kill.
Everyone that works who is so friendly and laidback. I love ducking in on a rainy day just to browse and hopefully find a new treasure. Plus, the window displays are always so dreamy. I mean, just look at those flowers. If you want a small, arty shop full of Portland quirkiness, this is the place.
Place rating: 5
San Carlos, CA
They have such a cute space here and a great amount of local music. I fell in love with The Domestics album they had out for listening and I bought it in an instant. This place has a sweet vibe and I would fersure come back!
Place rating: 5
Montreal, Canada
I love you Jack! Ill never (actually) let go! This place is giving me all the good feels in my heart parts. Record label plus arts collective repping local musicians, artists, designs and crafters. Like a next level Etsy shop on all things PDX. Be sure to check out their annual Friends of Friends album. It is how I find many new favourite bands. Yes, with a «u». I am Canadian.
Place rating: 5
Portland, OR
Super cute store selling all types of knick knacky local items and lots of local prints of Oregon. You really don’t NEED anything in the store but you WANT it all! Reasonably priced, it’s a great place to buy a souvenir or a present for a friend. I will happily be back to ‘browse’.
Place rating: 3
San Francisco, CA
It’s a cool unique boutique, and having their own record label really makes them stand out!
Unfortunately the headphone jack on their listening station was busted when I visited in December (only one ear worked– I even tried my own earbuds), so I didn’t check out much of their local recordings.
Place rating: 5
Portland, OR
super cute place for cute Portland-​based/​themed gifts.
Place rating: 5
Portland, OR
I’ll take one of those, that, oh and don’t forget that! Well shit… just wrap this whole joint up I’ll take it.
Tendering Loving Empire is the all encompassing answer to «Oh Crap, what should I get _​_​_​_​_​» This could be a great way to weed out friends. If you can’t find something you’re loved one would cherish here… should they really be that beloved? Just sayin.
Tender Loving Empire is just full of adorable knick knacks, a whole local music section, beautiful jewelry, art, cards. It’s just busting at the seams with everything you didn’t know that you needed, but suddenly can’t live without. I resisted a beautifully crafted ring last time I was in, but it’s haunting my subconscious. I can hear it’s siren song pulling me back. I think this is a battle I might loose.
Go! Find something new to love for your home, your body, your eardrums, your mouth, just go. You deserve it because you’re a wonderful human being.
Place rating: 4
Providence, RI
Dear TLE, you have successfully defeated my girlfriend into offering everything that she didn’t think she’d need, but was reminded based the overwhelmingly cuteness nature of your merchandise. Let us be perfectly honest, your trinkets are expensive, provided very little constructive usefulness, but even I was succumbing to the $ 25 cat donuts, the $ 25 megaman tie, and the $ 60 self-​cranking sailboat box. I don’t know how you managed to capitalize on the tiny part of us that loves and craves cute trinkets, but sir/​madam, you need to stop taking money from my girlfriend, who spent way too much money at your shop, and feels only slightly bad.
To be honest, I think there are so many things in this shop that can appeal to every customer, but the prices are just too expensive for any poor student like me to afford.
Place rating: 5
Portland, OR
If you are looking to send a or keep for yourself a gift, memento, talisman, or symbol of that which is Portland then this is the place. Incredibly friendly and informative staff, creative, locally-​made goods and a continually updated stock of vinyl in the back created from, of course, the talent of local and nearby bands makes this a key stop for all locals; whether in body or spirit.
Place rating: 4
Portland, OR
A very cool store in a pretty dang cool little pocket of SE Portland, Tender Loving Empire should really be on anybody’s list of places to stop for local holiday shopping. You could scratch quite a few people off your list in just one visit!
The merchandise is a well-​curated collection of locally-​made goods ranging from stationary to jewelry to stuffed animals. Price points seemed pretty reasonable, and everything is displayed nicely. The aesthetic of the store is pretty minimalist and allows the goods for sale to be the focus. Smart.
So, they’re also a record label. I hadn’t heard of any of the bands actually on their label (hey, I’m brand new to town, so cut me some slack!), but they did also have an extensive local section. Here’s where things get funny: prominently displayed, they had at least an album from at least one band that’s decidedly not local (Other Lives, hailing from Oklahoma). I mean, it’s still a great album, and I picked it up, but doing some research to find a local connection, nothing came up. Not a huge deal, but just seems odd.
I dig this store, and I’ll definitely be back. Maybe on my next visit they can help me solve that one minor mystery.
Place rating: 5
Portland, OR
The newest location of Tender Loving Empire opened just before Thanksgiving and the holiday shopping rush. What a fantastic new gift shop in the busy Hawthorne shopping district!
With a wonderful selection of local goods, this boutique has something for everyone on your list. Mom, the best friend’s new baby, your prizes kitten? You can find a clever little gift for each of them for a nominal fee. Most gift stores these days average $ 20+ but there are great items for $ 15 and under that I will be returning for in short order.
My favorite part? Excellent customer service, even on a really busy Small Business Saturday, and their own beats playing on the shop speakers. That’s right, they have a local record label featuring quality performers.
Please remember to keep it local this holiday season and throughout the year. This new shop in my ‘hood will be my new go-​to, alongside my trusty favorite Presents of Mind.