PDX Pop-up Program

Seeking two local retail stores for 2026

Travelers love finding their favorite local businesses at the airport. But for many small businesses, building an airport location can be a big commitment. When PDX's new terminal opened in August 2024, we created a more accessible entry point for small businesses with two 500-square-foot retail pop-up spaces. Their purpose: to help local businesses grow while learning the ins and outs of operating in an airport environment.

We're currently looking for two local retail businesses to occupy these pop-up spaces for 12 months, starting in early 2026.

We’ve done everything short of stocking the shelves to ready these spaces for you. Along with access to the move-in ready space, minimal rent fees, and millions of annual customers, we'll also provide the support, education, and mentoring you need to adapt and thrive at PDX.

We’re looking for businesses that have:

  • Current brick and mortar location in Oregon or Southwest Washington
  • Minimum gross annual sales of $400,000, maximum of $1 million
  • Owners who have operated the business for at least two consecutive years
  • Retail or grab-and-go food only—no on-site food prep allowed

Important details to know

The program application will be available on this page on August 1 and accepted through September 30.

What's next: Learn more and meet our team

We will host informational meetings this summer to share more details, answer your questions, and see the spaces in person. We’ll also fill you in on the application and selection process and the logistics of operating in an airport. To learn next steps, you are encouraged to attend one meeting—but you must register in advance to attend, because spaces are limited.

RSVP for one of the in-person meeting dates:

  • Thursday, June 19, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Tuesday, June 24, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
  • Thursday, July 10, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Tuesday, July 15, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

RSVP for informational meeting

Program timeline

June – July 2025 Informational meetings at PDX 
August 1 – September 30, 2025  Applications accepted 
September 30, 2025  Application deadline
October 2025  Evaluations and finalist interviews 
November 2025    Notifications and lease execution 
December 2025 – January 2026  Space planning and design 
February 2026   Onboarding and training 
Early March 2026  Move-in period 
Mid-March 2026  Store openings 

Frequently Asked Questions

A few offerings that won’t work in the pop-up format:

  • Vending/automated retail
  • Coffee concepts
  • Food and beverage products that require cooking or prep that extends beyond grab-and-go items
  • A product assortment heavy on liquids, gels, and jellies over 3 ounces, due to TSA restrictions

The Port has waived many standard lease fees to reduce the barriers to entry for the pop-up program. These spaces have been designed with maximum flexibility and are generally turnkey. A few of the minimal startup costs you can expect:

  • Security deposit and insurance
  • Your customized signage
  • Employee onboarding
  • Your own POS hardware
  • Startup inventory

Minimum operating hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., 365 days a year. Because this is an entry-level opportunity, this is shorter than the standard PDX concession hours, but it is a strict requirement. The flight schedules and customer patterns ebb and flow both seasonally and throughout each day. During busy travel times, like summer and over holidays, we recommend that you consider extending your hours.

The majority of your employees will not need security access because the pop-up space is located pre-security. A few employees will need security badges to access the waste center and other resources within the secured area.

Employees park at an off-site, secured lot nearby and take a free shuttle with frequent service to the airport. You may also purchase up to two parking passes for the short-term garage at a discounted rate. MAX Red Line service arrives at the front of the terminal, and discounted Tri-Met monthly passes are available.

All concessions deliveries bound for PDX are processed and screened at a Central Receiving and Distribution Center (CRDC), located on airport property. Vendors and tenants register to drop off product at the CRDC, and you choose a schedule based on your operational needs for deliveries directly to your PDX storage space.

Yes, the Port provides dedicated storage space on the lower level of PDX at no additional cost to pop-up tenants. Located near the storefront, the space is [outside the secured area and] accessible to all your employees. The storage space is even outfitted with some heavy-duty shelving.

Yes. Our "street pricing" commitment means travelers and employees get the same products you sell at other locations for the same price. Travelers love the fact that they can get a taste of local favorites without paying an airport premium. We will double-check your pricing when you open and throughout your term.

What's it like to run a pop-up at PDX?