Once the Cutting Edge of Cool, Portland Is Now Taking Lessons From Milwaukee

PORTLAND, Ore.—Fed up with vandalism and rampant drug use in Portland’s struggling downtown, Steven Lien set out this summer to find a new location for the self-described largest men’s underwear store in North America.

The 67-year-old Oregon native even put down a deposit on an appealing vacant storefront across the river for his business, underU4men. But unlike major retailers such as Target or REI that are fleeing downtown, Lien ultimately decided to stay, striking a last-minute deal to renew his lease in September.