I have a job waiting for me with my company, which location would be ideal?

[Nell Plotts]

The museums I know are in the city center and convent to the MAX. The Oregon Historical Museum has had funding issues and had layoffs a couple years ago. The Portland Art museum - I have no clue. Portland does have a strong arts community in general but not much of an employment base. If the OP's wife wanted to start a gallery it needs to have enough of a theme or narrative to draw in buyers. There is a gal who has a graphic arts background who paints narrative type Portland street scenes. She does very well but is probably an exception.

[Sherwoody]

I'm going to say Olive Garden.

[Discovery1]

Originally Posted by NorthColoradoLove

Hello! I was suggested this specific forum by a friend. I am a food-service manager with a certain major chain here in Colorado and have been offered a chance to transfer to the area through my employer and because I've been with them for so long they are willing to give me the pick of where I want to go in the region. So far my possible store options are Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Clackamas, Gresham, Portland (Hazelwood area) or a couple locations in Vancouver, WA. I would have the same job title in every location so pay is standard all around. This is strictly about which area would be best to WORK in for my particular industry. I don't have my living arrangements set in stone yet, but I'm willing to commute by car or public transit.

I'm not asking which area I should move to or raise a family in. It's just my wife and I. Most of my job centers around customer service and suffice to say over my career I have worked in some bad areas. The location of the store is everything, it can make working a dream or a nightmare.

So basically, in your opinion, of the areas I have listed which one do you think is in the "best" (however you want to classify that) area? I'm also taking a trip out there soon and going to be driving around to the area myself. I was just curious about what people think about these areas that I might not catch on to or see when I'm visiting.

Thank you for your time and honest opinion. Hope to be moving to your beautiful city in a few months.

I would only pick Beaverton, Lake Oswego in that order in Oregon.
Beaverton has density, but tense competion, very much builded out accept for the southern part Sholls Ferry Road. Lake Oswego has majority of older folks with high/stable income but i see zero growth here.
East of Vancouver on 164th has became the place to go out and eat and very much builded out as well. Also east of 164th is 192nd which bordering Vancouver and Camas is up and coming . New homes been builded and many more to come east of 192nd which is Camas. Camas has the highest median income in Clark county.
If your company franchise restaurant has an eye in that part of Vancouver then i think it is the best place to be going forwards. Growth is what you looking for and it's happening there.
Driving around all the areas you listed will definitely give you an idea.
Good luck !!!

[NWGirl74]

I also got the impression it's a restaurant and not a grocer.

Originally Posted by bler144

Now I'm curious which chain. The only grocers that come to mind in Hazelwood would be Fred Meyer or Winco.

Based on the OP's username, I'm also guessing he's in Colorado, which means it's not WinCo. They don't have stores there (unless they are under a different name) according to the location section of their website. So that's one down.

[bler144]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

I disagree about Clackamas. If we're talking a restaurant at Town Center (which is where most of the chains are), a good number of the customers there are Happy Valley residents. Which is pretty much mid- to upper-class.

You're right that I was thinking more about who lives there, not where the area draws from. But if you're looking at that, the Town Center area draws from a much larger region than just HV. It's really the primary shopping hub for that entire region of east Portland.

There is some shopping around Mall 205 to the north, but there are certain chains/items you won't find there that you have to drive down to Town Center to get.

[eric351982]

I just read through the entire thread and I am dying to know the company.

[eric351982]

I would do Lake Oswego or Beaverton.

[futureot]

It's got to be Olive Garden