Welcome to the first issue of the Explorer, a newsletter designed to keep you informed about your Downtown Tigard, a lively blend of modern city amenities, with the friendliness and community spirt of a small town.

Downtown Tigard offers an international blend of restaurants, a glass blowing gallery, wine crafting, karate and CrossFit instruction, home improvement, speciality jewelry, consignment clothing, scuba gear and instruction, stationery, car repair, banking, dry cleaning and  the seasonal Tigard Area Farmers Market. The Ash Street Dog Park is also conveniently locted right off the Fanno Creek Trail. And in July Jeffrey Allen Home and Garden will be coming to town.

What's going on...Downtown

You are no doubt aware of the construction that has Main Street in a bit of an uproar. The City of Tigard and the Main Street merchants want you to know that Downtown Tigard is still open for business. Click here to learn all about this Main Street Green Street project that is making Downtown Tigard better than ever.

Downtown Tigard Parking Guide Here is a guide to Downtown parking and construction hours.

Third Fridays are Downtown Tigard's Night Out. Where else can you learn glass blowing, sip wine and rock out to local bands - all within a couple of blocks? Join participating merchants from 4 PM to 9 PM. You'll see why our Downtown is the Heart of Tigard.

One long-time participating merchant is Main Stamp & Stationery. Manager Debbie Montoya hosts a Girls' Night Out to share the joys of scrapbooking every Third Friday. Cost is only $5 and reservations are required. Call 503-639-3180 or email deborahm@mainstreetstamp.com to reserve your spot.

Other gatherings in Downtown Tigard include, the Explore Downtown Tigard Street Fair in August, Trick or Treat on Main Street on Halloween and the annual Holiday Tree Lighting in early December. In June, the Tigard Downtown Alliance will bring an Art Walk to Main Street. See our Facebook page or website to discover more.

Local Treasures

Each month we'll feature one or two Downtown stories. Up this issue: Pacific Community Design, and a local business person, Becki Bosley of DeAngelo's Catering, who shares her memories of growing up in Tigard.

Pacific Community Design is a development consulting firm provides civil engineering, planning, surveying and landscape architecture services to builders, utility providers and municipalities in the Metro area.

When they were seeking unique office space with room to grow, great transportation access and a vibrant and attractive environment for their employees; they found it in Downtown Tigard.

As a Tigard resident, President Jim Lange has always hoped that this area would evolve into something more vibrant. He expects his firm's presence will be a positive part of that evolution.

Growing up in rural "Old Town" Tigard

DeAngelo's Catering Becki Bosley recalls:

 We lived on a quiet cul-de-sac, Lewis Lane. We often shopped at Prairie Market at Commercial & Hall. I have vivid memories of riding in my Red Rider wagon down Commercial Street toward Main Street; passing by that big grey landmark, the Feed Store (present-day Chamber building). Prarie was a discount grocery, where patrons marked the price of their items with a grease pencil and boxed their own groceries on the way out the door.

Our family moved to nearby Lake Grove when I was five, so I did not attend school in Tigard, but later in life would send our daughter to St. Anthony's School, where I had attended church as a child.

I was reconnected with Tigard in the early 70s when my father relocated his small sportswear manufacturing business, KayKo Knits, to Tigard Street. During this time, I met many more of Tigard's local merchants - Girod's Market (now Crown Carpets), Tualatin Valley Glass, Hillers Emblem, Tigard Bicycle, The Delicatessen (now the A Antique Barber). Le Curie French Restaurant (Cafe Allegro), and of course, Davidson's Frostop. Greg Davidson would come by local businesses in the morning to take orders and deliver your burger and fries in time for lunch, no extra charge!

I recall the small blue house on the corner of Ash and Burnham Street as the Police Station, the old Fire Station on Commmercial Stret, as well as the Greyhound Bus Station (Trimet Transfer).

In 1989 we purchased our home just a half mile from where I went to work for DeAngelo's Catering, then located on Pacific Highway. In 2001 construction began on the new Catering Kitchen on Burnham Street.

 I appreciate looking back at what Old Town Tigard used to offer, but also embrace the changes I see happening. Glimpses of a lively Downtown, some old, some new; a diversity of restaurants, shops and service vendors in a thriving walking community to explore - an even better place to call home!