Spotlight: Red Fox Vintage
Nestled in the heart of Woodstock, Red Fox Vintage has long been a beloved stop for vintage lovers across Portland. This year, the shop earned 2nd place in Willamette Week’s Best Portland 2026 for Best Vintage Store, a testament to its distinctive charm and the vibrant collective of vendors who bring the space to life.
In this spotlight, we met up with Erin, the owner of Red Fox Vintage, to learn more about the shop’s story, the community she’s cultivated, and what makes vintage so special.
Tell us more about the business. How long have you been on Woodstock?
Erin: We’ve been on Woodstock for 14 years, and in business for 16. At one point, we had two stores. We started over on Killingsworth but eventually moved out of that location to focus on this larger space because we love Woodstock so much. And we’ve had some of the same vendors with us for all 16 years, which is pretty great.
What’s your secret to keeping vendors for so long?
Erin: Honestly, building a community. That’s what’s kept us strong through tough times. We made it through the pandemic when a lot of places didn’t, but we had to get creative. I did private shopping during that period: small groups, scheduled appointments, sanitizing before the next group. We tried everything to keep things going.
What do you love most about vintage?
Erin: Old stuff is just more interesting and better built. Not only are we saving things from going into landfills but also selling slow fashion and more quality things at a much more affordable price. It's also nostalgia.
There's lots of old toys and things from our childhood that we don't even realize we don't see anymore. It's kind of funny sometimes if we have a rotary phone and watch the kids try and figure out how to pick up and use the phone.
What’s your favorite part about owning a small business?
Erin: Not having a boss is really nice although I do have to be the boss! But I love having something unique. When I walk around the store, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, how long we’ve been here, and the success we’ve had.
We’re almost at 20 years, which feels amazing. And the store just feels good. It’s a nice place for the neighbors to hang out. People bump into friends here all the time.
How did Red Fox Vintage get started — did you begin as a vendor?
Erin: I did. I started as a vendor in a Portland shop and loved it. I knew it was what I wanted to do, but I wanted something more community‑based.
Through the community we’ve built, we’ve done a lot of great things supporting vendors through tough times. We’ve organized meal trains when someone fell ill. People have found roommates here, and we’ve even seen romances happen. It really feels like a little family.
Quite a few have opened shops across Portland and I love that. It feels like such a compliment that they started here and then branched out. The great thing about vintage is that it’s not really competitive. Everything is unique. There aren’t two of anything so vintage stores can be right next to each other and still complement each other.
