When you walk into a thrift store, the environment is usually identical to any other – Expansive racks of mismatched clothing, huge bargain bins and shiny mirrors spread throughout. Customers filter in and try on different clothes and accessories. And, if you’re at Shirtzenpantz, you might also get a free cookie and a scoop of ice cream with your new purchase, as long as it’s a Friday.
Shirtzenpantz is a thrift store in Hillsdale on Capitol Highway that opened on Mar. 22, 2025. In addition to your typical vintage clothing, they have free cookie (and ice cream) Fridays. You also might be able to meet store owner Owen Gail’s grandmother, Juanita, every Wednesday from four to eight as she knits creations for the shop. The store also houses the Great Wall of Pants, consisting of 22 pairs of size 50 Levi’s Jeans, which, according to Gail, is occasionally called “the eighth wonder of the world.”
Gail originally didn’t plan to open a store, but after having operated an online business reselling vintage clothing since high school, he realized that there was actually a large customer base in Southwest Portland (even though online shopping can be accessible to a huge population).
“I wanted to diversify [the clothing options], so I thought opening a store would be a good idea, and I noticed the need in the neighborhood. So it was never that I envisioned myself as some sort of small business owner, but… It’s much more fulfilling than selling online. You don’t really interact with people online… and it’s cool to see people around town who I recognize from the store,” says Gail.
Portland is well known for its popular downtown thrift stores, mostly aimed at a young, modern, and trendy audience. However, in more suburban areas like Hillsdale and Multnomah Village, there aren’t many secondhand shops that appeal to a wide variety of ages and styles. One of Shirtzenpantz’s main goals is to sell to a larger range of customers, from children to parents to teenagers. To easily accomplish this, they organize their clothing by style and aesthetic instead of simply by type.
“I noticed that the neighborhood didn’t really have any options for vintage clothing, used clothing or even new clothing, really, for men,” says Gail. “So I wanted to bring… a cool vintage thrift store experience to my neighborhood.”
One unspoken requirement for many thrift stores is the eccentric factor. Shirtzenpantz definitely checks this box, beginning with the directions to the store on a sign in the form of poetry in front of their storage space near the front of the Hillsdale Center. When you enter the shop, you’ll immediately catch a glimpse of the large sculptures made of the same size 50 Levi’s jeans, which line the wall to the right.
Next, you might see the official challenge map behind the front desk. With every purchase, anyone can have a chance to win store credit by trying to land a dart on one of the stickers placed in Portland, Oregon; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and the middle of the board. Landing on one is five dollars of store credit, two is $10, and three is $100, although no one’s ever reached that point before. However, Gail randomly gives free store credit out every so often, and anyone who shows this article to him will get 20% off their purchase.
In addition to having a steady stream of customers and a largely successful business, Gail also runs a Shirtzenpantz Instagram account where regular short videos are posted. Currently, many of the videos focus on Gail’s journey to make a rock completely round by kicking it every day, dubbed “Christosphere.”
Gail also incorporates a ‘buy, sell, trade’ policy where customers can bring in items like vintage clothing and are offered a choice between 25% cash, 60% store credit or a 40% donation to a charity of their choice. Many people frequently bring in clothes, often deciding to donate to a large organization or a more local charity.
Shirtzenpantz also has a recycling philosophy to prevent fast fashion, which happens frequently when businesses and customers rapidly buy new clothes just to discard them or throw them away. To prevent that, Gail buys all of his store’s clothing locally and delivers it himself, which decreases the carbon footprint.
From store credit challenges to free cookies to chic vintage clothing, Shirtzenpantz is a much-needed addition to the Hillsdale Center, providing a fashionable yet affordable option that sets itself apart from many other stores in Southwest Portland.
