Advertising clients Jesse Gentle and Frankie Gentle, husband and wife, operate two shops in one location, at 10945 N.E. Halsey St. Jesse is the man in the apron expertly repairing shoes, while wife Frankie operates her Gentle Memories antiques and collectibles store.

I stopped in personally to visit with both Jesse and Frankie a few days ago, and noticed that the facade has been spruced up quite a bit. They informed me that the property owner was able to use funds provided by the Portland Development Commission’s Storefront Improvement program to improve the facade. I said I didn’t realize that the city came out that far with the program, I always considered it an “inner city” sort of thing.