For the month of August, Portland Visitor’s Map had the pleasure of getting to know one of Portland’s oldest and most unique establishments, Rich’s Cigar and Magazine Store. (Visit their website here). Rich’s was started in 1894 by two brothers, Si and B. B. Rich on SW 2nd Ave. During Rich’s first 100 years of operation, its downtown headquarters moved just four times. Today Rich’s has three locations, and its headquarters resides in the center of downtown Portland at the corner of 9th and Alder St., adjacent to Portland’s largest food cart pod. The other two locations are in the Pearl at NW 10th and Flanders and in Portland International Airport.
The story of the Rich’s that we cherish today began in 1969 when a young Tom Moran started working for Jesse Rich, the son of Si. Seven years later, Tom purchased the store and has since operated the business with his wife, Elaine, until 2016 when their son, Marty, took control of the business.
It is no small feat for a business to survive 124 years; and, despite recent changes in smoking and print culture, Rich’s is confident that they will flourish into the future as the West Coast’s oldest and largest newsstand and tobacco shop with over 2,800 magazine titles. The Rich’s team takes pride in their incredible collection of printed publications. And Marty enjoys reminding people that Rich’s provides curated and authentic literature, news, and art in the face of the Web’s deluge of banal news and social media content.
Si and BB Rich pictured
Late 70s (just added) Tom Moran on left, Jesse rich on right
Jesse Rich is on the right
