‘Shop. Eat. Play.’ campaign aims to help downtown Portland businesses hurt during last weekend’s protests

The City of Portland, the Portland Business Alliance, Travel Portland and more are offering deals and free parking downtown this weekend in a bid to make up lost revenue caused by last weekend political protests.

The Portland Business Alliance said Wednesday that demonstrations on Aug. 17 cost Portland businesses an estimated $3 million dollars in lost sales.

Ahead of the rightwing protest and counter-protest, many retailers and restaurants in the downtown area opted to close on Saturday.

Now, Portland is trying to bring in some extra revenue to make up for the loses with a “Shop. Eat. Play.” promotion to get people out and spending money.

To entice shoppers, downtown street parking and Smart Park garages will be free on Saturday. Portland Streetcar rides will be free all day. Biketown will also be free. And Lyft, Lime, Bird and Spin are all offering deals to riders.

Portland 5 is selling $20 tickets to Café Tacvba at Keller Auditorium on Sunday.

Portland State University Farmers Market and Portland Saturday Market will both take place on Saturday as usual.

Other downtown events happening next weekend include Portland Persian Party-Andisheh Center Summer Festival and Sunday Parkways.

“Whenever a situation like the one last Saturday happens, it has a negative effect on our local business community, their employees, and their families,” Mayor Ted Wheeler said in a press release sent out Wednesday. “This is the busiest time of year, and businesses large and small have been significantly affected so let’s show them some extra love on Saturday, Aug. 24th!”