Hippo Hardware and Trading Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (hardware) |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Founder | Steven Miller, Stephen Oppenheim |
| Headquarters | Portland, Oregon , United States |
Area served | Portland metropolitan area |
| Products | Hardware, lighting fixtures, plumbing supplies, reclaimed materials |
| Website | hippohardware |
Hippo Hardware and Trading Company, commonly known as Hippo Hardware, is a hardware store located in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1976 by Steven Miller and Stephen Oppenheim in southeast Portland, the store has been situated at its present site on East Burnside Street within the Buckman district since 1990. Offering both new and reclaimed hardware, lighting fixtures, plumbing supplies, and other materials, the shop is notable for its unique hippopotamus motif. It has provided props for television productions filmed locally and is regarded as a significant community landmark.
Description
Situated at the intersection of 11th Avenue and East Burnside Street in southeast Portland’s Buckman neighborhood, Hippo Hardware occupies a three-story space inside the historic Cromwell Tailors building, constructed in 1921. The store showcases roughly 30,000 square feet filled with an assortment of new and salvaged items including hardware, lighting, plumbing components, and architectural elements spanning from the mid-19th century through the mid-20th century. The establishment’s interior and exterior prominently feature a hippopotamus theme, with decorative dolls, statues, toys scattered throughout the premises, and exterior columns adorned with hippos dressed in togas.
According to Portland Monthly, Hippo Hardware is "a home rebuilder's paradise," offering products such as clawfoot bathtubs, high-tank toilets, Victorian-era doorknobs, Mission-style ceiling fans, and stained-glass windows. The store also operates a UL-certified lighting workshop that handles electrical wiring and repair services. Willamette Week emphasizes the upstairs lighting department, which stocks a variety of sconces, pendant lights, and lamps maintained by an on-site service crew.
History
Established in 1976 by Steven Miller and Stephen Oppenheim, Hippo Hardware initially operated near Southeast 12th Avenue and Ash Street before relocating to its current East Burnside location in 1990. The company has contributed props to television series such as Grimm and Leverage. In 2014, This Old House Magazine recognized Hippo Hardware as one of five iconic hardware stores across the United States. Additionally, it has been featured as a tourist attraction in Japanese publications.
Reception
Hippo Hardware has received accolades in Willamette Week reader polls over the years: it ranked third for Best Lighting in 2005; was runner-up in 2007; earned second place for Best Hardware Store in 2016; and secured first place in that category in both 2020 and 2025. The establishment is often described as a "fancy junk store," celebrated as a local landmark and longstanding icon. Notably, author Chuck Palahniuk counts it among his preferred stores. A mural created by artist Joe Cotter in the Buckman neighborhood depicts a hippo representing Hippo Hardware alongside other regional landmarks.