Why I Love Calling St. Johns Home
People ask me why I chose to plant roots in St. Johns and let me tell you, once you've lived here, you get it. This isn't just another Portland neighborhood to me. It's home and it's one of my favorite places to help clients fall in love with too.
It Still Feels Like Its Own Little Town
St. Johns actually was its own city once long before Portland annexed it. You can still feel that history in the bones of this place. Walk down Lombard Street and you'll pass the same kind of mom and pop small town energy. It's a "city within a city" and that small town charm is the number one thing my buyers fall for.
The Bridge, the Park, the View
I don't think I'll ever get tired of driving over the St. Johns Bridge. On a clear day you can see three major PNW volcanoes (Mt Hood, Mt St Helens, and Mt Adams). It's Portland's only steel suspension bridge and with its gothic arched towers against the sky, it might be the most photographed landmark in the city. Right underneath it sits Cathedral Park which is 23 acres of green space along the Willamette with a boat launch, swimming dock, walking paths and hosts the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival which is the longest running free jazz festival west of the Mississippi River. And right across the bridge? Forest Park, one of the largest urban forests in the country waiting for a hike whenever you need one.
Coffee, Pizza, and All the Small Businesses I Adore
A few of my go to’s:
Two Stroke - motorcycle themed coffee shop
Signal Station Pizza - pizza spot in a repurposed vintage gas station with a patio
No Doubts - neighborhood wine bar, featuring a rotating selection of wines and elevated comfort food with a great patio
Starter Bread - bakery open at 10am only on Sundays with a variety of breads and goodies (worth standing in line for)
Food Cart Pods - shoutout to Sushi and Friends and Cathedral Food Carts and Two of Us at the St Johns Beer Porch
Tienda Santa Cruz - best place in Portland to get a burrito or tacos
A Community That Actually Shows Up for Each Other
What gets me every time is how connected this neighborhood is. There's a genuine, generations deep sense of community here with neighbors pitching in, local events that pack the streets, longtime families who still call this place St. Johns first and Portland second. My clients, once they move in, usually end up telling me the same thing: I didn't expect to feel at home this fast.
Thinking About St. Johns for Yourself?
If you're weighing a move to North Portland or you're already dreaming about a house near that bridge, I'd love to show you around. I know these streets, these listings, and honestly, these coffee shops. Reach out anytime, and let's find your spot in my neighborhood.
