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January 16, 2025

When we said farewell to Concourse A in 2019, some locals branded it the “dungeon of despair” and “our least favorite corner of America’s most loved airport.” We even hosted a DJ party to commemorate its demolition — but a decade and a half later, we’re bringing it back with the exact specs of the original. Why?! 

[ARRIVALS]

In this issue…

  • Concourse A returns with oddly specific concessions requirements.

  • Our dredge boats finally get the recognition they deserve.

  • Bigfoot inks a new deal representing the region’s airport. 

 

[THE MAIN CURRENT]

The A team: Inside PDX’s most alphabetically restrictive concourse yet

In what might be infrastructure’s first-ever commitment to alliteration, the Port of Portland announced plans to resurrect Concourse A with one unexpected criterion: all businesses opening in the concourse must start with the letter A.

 

Why this matters:

  • The Port will subsidize local businesses willing to add an “A” to the start of their name. Why? We’re honestly not sure so you should read this blog post.

  • Apizza Scholls is the first brand on board. But to hit Port goals to support micro businesses, we’re holding an info session with the Portland Food Cart Alliance to walk through the RFP process on May 17th (RSVP for the event). 

  • The new designs are actually not new: they’re a studious reboot of the original, down to wear and tear on the carpet. “Archival vintage chic,” Portland Monthly reported in this glowing coverage.

 

Check out the not-new designs

 

[NEWS YOU CAN USE]

Now accepting: PNW brand applications for Concourse A
Does your brand start with the letter A? No? Would you like it to? The Port of Portland is currently accepting proposals for our most alphabetically ambitious project yet. Financial assistance available for local businesses willing to embrace the A-life. Submit your original and proposed new names to [email]. Warning: "A Portland Thing" has already been claimed by six different businesses.

 

[FIELD NOTES]

Updates from our work around the Port of Portland, the region, and the world:

  • Bigfoot has agreed to serve as PDX’s official brand ambassador. The cryptid’s first order of business? Reviewing our sustainable forestry practices. [The Washington Post]

  • Port Executive Director Shelby Shelberson  unexpectedly went viral in Seoul this week after security cameras caught her perfectly executing a viral dance during trade negotiations. [Axios Portland]

  • Portland’s most famous emotional support llama made her runway debut at Pofrtland Fashion Week, sporting a Balenciaga-designed reflective vest inspired by PDX's ground crew uniforms. [Willamette Week]