Black-owned businesses see spike in Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. — The push for Portlanders to patronize black-owned businesses is paying off - and many shops across the city have been flooded with support the last few days.

"I’m so proud of us. I am. And we’re going to be better. this has been tough," said Reverend E.D. Mondaine.

Mondaine is a pastor, president of the Portland NAACP and the owner of Po'Shines.

He's felt a range of emotions as he relives the past few weeks, but the power of the present gives him home.

Po'Shines, over the past few days, has been grilling up grub for twice as many people as normal. Mondaine says it's not the money that's moving him.

"When we find people willing to work together, that’s where we find our power to survive," Mondaine said.

Over on the westside of Portland, a similar scene at Deadstock Coffee. They've seen a huge spike in numbers in recent days. Owner Ian Williams said they've been swamped since Tuesday.

When KATU News asked him if his crowd was standard. He responded, "no, not standard for us at all."

It's a sweet situation to be in, but they fear a bitter aftertaste.

"It’s really difficult to do this and then next week or the week after everybody - it all disappears." Williams said. "This should be something that’s more of a lifestyle, of just getting out supporting the community."