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| {Photo: Leela Cyd} |
When did you get the bus?
I purchased it in April of 2010 and spent six months converting it into a store.
Where did you find the bus?
I found the bus on Craigslist. I was looking for a food cart or old school bus in which to open a clothing store, but all the vehicles I looked at were just too small. During one of my typical marathon bus-seeking sessions online, I ran across an old beat-up double decker at a used car lot in Springfield, Oregon. I took the next day off from work to go check it out. It was in terrible shape, but I immediately saw the potential. I bought it on the spot, then went and had a margarita while the gravity of my decision set in. Visit the Lodekka Facebook page to see photos of the makeover.
When did the shop officially open?
Lodekka opened in October of 2010.
What is the significance of the name "Lodekka"?
The bus is a 1965 Bristol Lodekka. “Lodekka” is a made-up word to indicate that the bus is low to the ground and has a “low deck.” I chose the name to pay homage to the bus and its British roots. The bus is also named Guinevere, but her nickname is Ginny.
Do you know the history of the bus?
The bus was built in Bristol, England in 1965 and the bodywork (or coachwork) was built in Lowestoft on the east coast. The bus provided public transportation to the citizens of Liverpool from 1965 to 1982. Shortly thereafter, the bus was purchased by Decathlon Athletic Club in Burnsville, Minnesota. I found out recently that Decathlon was not a typical athletic club: it was a gathering place for hockey players. I bet those hockey players had no idea they were riding in a future dress shop.
Does the bus run? Do you drive it around?
The bus can run, but currently doesn't. All of its parts are in working order, but yours truly evidenced a lack of mechanical prowess by cutting a few important wires during the conversion process. If anyone knows of a good British mechanic looking to do pro bono work, please send them my way.
I don’t drive the bus around. The bus stays parked in a small lot on North Williams Avenue (between Failing and Shaver) all the time. I like staying in one spot so people always know where to find me!
Where do you find all the stuff you sell?
I am a chronic thrift, estate sale and flea market shopper. I take day trips to small towns around Oregon and Washington (and beyond!) in search of independently owned thrift stores that haven’t been picked over. I love the challenge of finding needles in haystacks: the tougher the challenge, the better. I get great pleasure from helping a little lost dress find its soul mate, and seeing the smile on the customer's face when they realize that the dress was made for them.
What kinds of things do you carry in your shop?
I carry dresses, jackets, shorts, skirts, shoes and accessories for women, shirts, shoes and furnishings for men, a few kids clothing items and lots of knick-knacks and ephemera.
Do you buy or consign clothing?
I don’t buy items from individuals, but I occasionally consign jewelry or clothing items. I prefer to do all my own shopping. I pride myself on being able to keep my prices low by finding clothes that are inexpensive in the first place. Buying and consigning clothing items tends to drive prices up.
How is business so far?
So far the place is bustling! Some folks pull their car over when they see the bus (usually as a result of prompting from the kids in the backseat), some are waiting to get in to one of Portland's favorite brunch destination, Tasty N Sons, and others are just walking by and want to see what this crazy monstrosity is all about. One thing is for sure: the bus is a kid magnet. I learned very quickly that I needed to have stickers at the ready for these young customers.
What advice do you have for someone who wants to open their own retail cart?
While there are a lot of advantages to running a retail establishment in a cart, it is not a decision that should be taken lightly. There are a lot of inherent challenges to doing something that most city regulators are unfamiliar with. The best advice I can give to a potential cart owner is to do a lot of research in their city before getting started. Find out what the city requires of mobile (or vehicular) businesses in terms of a business license, vehicle title/registration, insurance, etc. Also, find out where you can legally park your cart. I found a very helpful ally at the City of Portland who kindly answered all of my questions as I was developing my business. I encourage anyone who wants to open a retail cart to make a friend in their local city planning office, just like I did!
All that said, having a retail cart is really special and unique experience. It's a great way to run a low overhead business, stand out amongst other retailers and interact with fun and interesting people.