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All the United States Oregon Portland Hippo Hardware

Hippo Hardware

No two pieces are exactly the same at Portland's hippo-themed hardware store.

Portland, Oregon

Added By
Kavya Ram Mohan
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CAPTION
Outside Hippo Hardware in Portland.   Andrew Parodi/CC BY-SA 3.0
Hippos galore.   jill, jellidonut... whatever/CC BY-SA 2.0
Hippo Hardware in Portland.   Brad.K/CC BY 2.0
The dancing hippo.   Herb Neufeld/CC BY 2.0
An Elvis & Graceland themed bathtub.   Herb Neufeld/CC BY 2.0
The painted columns outside the store.   Herb Neufeld/CC BY 2.0
Vintage plumbing pieces.   Herb Neufeld/CC BY 2.0
Lighting fixtures at the store.   Herb Neufeld/CC BY 2.0
The “Helping Hands” Collection   KMP64 / Atlas Obscura User
This mildly threatening warning at the bottom of an antique tub   KMP64 / Atlas Obscura User
  scvscions / Atlas Obscura User
  Taterchips / Atlas Obscura User
The Metaphysical Center was near the Hinge Room   KMP64 / Atlas Obscura User
Board of the tackiest items   KMP64 / Atlas Obscura User
Shelf of unidentified/recently named items   KMP64 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The happy hippos on the columns and walls outside are a tip-off that Hippo Hardware isn’t your run-of-the-mill shop.

The Portland landmark sells an eclectic collection of lighting, plumbing, and hardware fixtures made from salvaged vintage material. The curious wares span three floors and some 30,000 square feet, and the hippo theme is maintained throughout, with hundreds of pachyderm toys and statues on display.

Far from your average hardware store, pieces of old buildings like the Portland Hotel, City Hall, and the Central Library can be found here in small dismantled chunks, like light fixtures and toilet bowls. Each piece in the store is unique, whether it comes from a local monument or has been lovingly crafted from salvaged material.

Any given item in the carefully curated shop is also likely has an interesting story behind it, which the store’s staff is happy to share. In his Portland-based memoir, Chuck Palahniuk reveals the store is fondly called the “Holding and Fondling Museum,” for the way in which the owners stroke the merchandise to see if it's worth stocking.

Related Tags

Stores Plumbing Collections Architecture Literature Animals Wunderkammers Shops

Community Contributors

Added By

Kavya Ram Mohan

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Meg, scvscions, KMP64, Taterchips...

  • Meg
  • scvscions
  • KMP64
  • Taterchips
  • zharlita03

Published

August 17, 2017

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  • https://books.google.com/books?id=UDTDOCUqSwYC&pg=PA89&lpg=PA89&dq=Steven+Miller+Steven+Oppenheim&source=bl&ots=kt8d_LX9c_&sig=Ri_Q1vyoGyu8bc55Ec7re7PA3Vo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjWkq7jiuzWAhVI8IMKHXGzBX04ChDoAQglMAA#v=onepage&q=Steven%20Miller%20Steven%20Oppenheim&f=false
  • https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/22668
  • http://www.tripsketch.com/city/Portland/1601/attractions/Hippo-Hardware/TC12187
Hippo Hardware
1040 E Burnside St
Portland, Oregon
United States
45.522637, -122.654756
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