G.I. Joe’s – Portland’s Original Surplus-to-Sporting Goods Giant
This shirt pays tribute to G.I. Joe’s, the legendary Portland-born store that began in 1952 as a tent filled with Army surplus sleeping bags and grew into one of the Pacific Northwest’s most beloved retailers. Founded by Edward M. Orkney, a WWII Army Air Corps pilot, G.I. Joe’s quickly transformed from surplus goods to a full-blown general store, selling everything from sporting gear to auto parts.
For decades, Portlanders flocked to G.I. Joe’s for fishing poles, camping supplies, and back-to-school gear. Its growth throughout the ‘60s and beyond made it a household name before its closure in 2009. Today, it lives on in the memories of countless families who grew up shopping there.
This t-shirt celebrates that history—part of the Legends of the Rose City series honoring Portland’s iconic shops and landmarks.
G.I. Joe’s – Portland’s Original Surplus-to-Sporting Goods Giant
This shirt pays tribute to G.I. Joe’s, the legendary Portland-born store that began in 1952 as a tent filled with Army surplus sleeping bags and grew into one of the Pacific Northwest’s most beloved retailers. Founded by Edward M. Orkney, a WWII Army Air Corps pilot, G.I. Joe’s quickly transformed from surplus goods to a full-blown general store, selling everything from sporting gear to auto parts.
For decades, Portlanders flocked to G.I. Joe’s for fishing poles, camping supplies, and back-to-school gear. Its growth throughout the ‘60s and beyond made it a household name before its closure in 2009. Today, it lives on in the memories of countless families who grew up shopping there.
This t-shirt celebrates that history—part of the Legends of the Rose City series honoring Portland’s iconic shops and landmarks.
