Upper Playground & Fifty 24PDX Gallery

This review is strictly for an employee…
My coworkers were in Portland for a regional meeting and were looking for a place to eat sushi. We walked into the store and I asked the cashier for suggestions. She was extremely kind and provided some of her own recommendations. She then went to check to see if the restaurants she suggested were open! Her kind gesture and suggestion led us to Koji Osakaya, a location that we absolutely would not have been able to find on our own.
It was a delicious choice and I appreciate her willingness to help the lost Californians in the city! :)

Came all the way to Portland from the Bay Area and I saw the upper playground here. I had to go in. I was looking for a local hat or shirt, and the homie Gerardo helped me to try to find what I was looking for. I told him about my terrible experience across the street and he totally went out of his way to help me out. Ended up buying some cool prints and sick Oregon five panel hat. I will be back to shop here again on my next visit. Please, if you want some cool and unique stuff shop here. Their products are great and people are great. Thanks again Gerardo! Hope this helps fellow shoppers.

I love this store. The art on the clothes has so much character. Great staff. Very friendly. I am happy to pay for a great product.

Upper Playground is fun for artist types and creatives with artist-​designed streetwear. They have some Dave Choe graffiti work on one of the walls which my finance took to because he loves that guy and can’t stop talking about this artist. We didn’t peruse much, but ended up getting a soft, cotton, crewneck sweater that said «Pacific Northfresh», which I loved for my fiancé. The sales people are ridiculously friendly and very nice to interact with.

Never had been in this store before. I’d gone on the website and seen a shirt I wanted to pick up. Didn’t think that they would have it in the store but they did! Their artist design collections are what really make this store stand out from the rest. Its a little different, but in a very good way. Staff is cool and they don’t really bother you. And honestly $ 24 is nothing for a shirt. Try finding a NEW cool shirt for that! I’ll be back. I wonder how many new lines they introduce a year?

Very unique store! If you are looking for a one of a kind artist designed shirt, you have found the spot. Some of my favorites are the Portland inspired shirts… I’m in a Portland state of mind, Strip City, A screen print of Mt. Hood melting in a graffiti kind of way & Pacific North Fresh are just a few of my favorites. Stop in periodically as the stock changes as different artist deigns rotate through. Also, there is an art gallery attached which host special events from time to time. Go now if you have never been, they certainly have something for everyone.

Very cool urban clothing store and gallery. I just walked in here with the boy looking for a new hoodie. Though he didn’t find a hoodie that he liked he found a few t-​shirts… that I found inappropriately hilarious. The gallery is really awesome too. We spent a good 20 – 30 minutes in this store looking at clothing and art and clothing that is art. We left with a shirt and a new appreciation for creepy one eyed bunnies. I love shops like this. I will definitely stop back in next time I am in Portland.

great place! very great discount shirt section, the prints are my favorite part– there are so many to choose from and they are very decent prices!

There’s always something awesome you can pick up at this place. Great art in their gallery always and their apparel is always top notch.

Loved the artwork in the gallery. Lots of the apparel designs are cool too — the «Pacific North Fresh» line was very cool. Will definitely be back when in the PDX again.

Staff was nice

What are people talking about? 22 dollars for a shirt is super cheap. Its all high quality! Try taking an iron to the ink when they are wet and you will straight see the quality. This ink isn’t going to get faded and wrecked incredibly easy– like simple novelty shirts would.
Lets just get this straight also– this is LA style art on T-​Shirts, something Portland really has nothing on besides maybe «home:bass» but UP is twice to three times as good. There is no where else in all of portland to get these styles of shirts.
Its offensive to read «This will piss off Fashionistas» when I am so not one. I am just a regular guy who actually cares what is on my shirt. If you don’t care what kind of shirt you are in go back to target or walmart or whatever.
I WILL SAY THOUGH this is very much an urban in theming– with a bit of a skater edge. Really though its not skater enough for any of the skaters I know and tends to be mostly worn in Portland by the club going audience. This makes sense because they are the kind of guys who like fashion, but I also see how it could make others not like it as much.
I want more shops like this in Portland, or for Home: Bass to kick up the Jam.

I just about peed my pants when I casually came upon UP while walking through the area with family. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE street art, graffiti and urban culture! I had never before been inside an UP store and I was like a hyped up junkie once inside. My family was just meh, but I couldn’t keep my eyes focused on any one thing. I was stoked to find one of my favorite local artists book for sale there so of course I had to talk about being witness to a wonderful mural he was part of in the great city of Oakland, CA. Since the family was anxiously awaiting me to exit I sadly had to leave but not before taking a few quick pics. I will be back UP, just you wait and see.

This place is pure eye-​candy. Sometimes sensory overload depending on what you’re looking at. I bought a print (see my pic) of a skeletor My Little Pony that I’ll call «My Little Demon». If you want a souvenir from Portland that’s different and cool then come here and you won’t be disappointed. I was impressed with the selection of SF gear being that this store is in Portland. But I’m an SF girl at heart so it was nice to see. If you’re around the area, stop by and check this place out. You’ll be glad you did.

I love the gallery. I have seen some AMAZING art in this place. If you are in the neighborhood, stop in for a peek.
AND The adjoining store has some really great clothing. It’s probably not for people of all ages or social circles, but I’m pretty sure you could find someone you know a gift in this place. The t-​shirts are awesome, designed by great artists and designers. Limited quantities in each style and size, so shop this place often to find what you need.

We came her by happenstance just stumbled upon Upper Playground while on our way to another shop. We stopped by to check out the gallery. If you have never been to an Upper Playground and like art and urban culture then I highly recommend coming. I’ve been to SF location and saw the David Choe exhibit which at this location they have some of his work on the walls that he did here. We picked up some shirts, the latestest Juxtapoz magazine and some David Choe vinyl toys. they have lots of clothing in a gallery like setting opposed to some corporate shop. They have both men’s and ladies clothing and accessories as well. Staff here are nice and helpful.
Follow them on Twitter & Facebook. they always post info on upcoming shows! (for all locations)

Fair. Not exactly my kind of retail (er) but my sons loved it.
Pricey — yes; cutting edge: yes. Rival retailer?: no.
SF store offers more but, for Portland — NOT bad.
I was impressed… but as an adult, not likely to adorn their garb. Was pleasantly pleased with the attentiveness of staff.

I’m a big Upper Playground fan!
I found out about this place when my friend was getting a quote on her tattoo and the tattoo artist had a Jeremy Fish hat, I told him that he had the sickest hat and he told me to check out Upper Playground in Portland. Did I hear that correctly? Upper Playground in Portland? SWEET!
I immediately went down there and saw the infamous walrus. I walked in and it was like walking into heaven. I live in Oahu and we rarely have any Upper Playground threads, I went crazy! It’s also great that they sell Portland themed shirts by UPPG.
When I was down there Sam Flores had an art showing. Bigger plus! Also the staff is amazingly kind!
I blame Upper Playground for my wallet shrinking, but hey! I’m very satisfied. :)

I love this place great art and great shirts.

OK, OK, the BF would most def give this place 4 or maybe 5 Stars, but I am not their target demographic. Upper Playground is mostly «urban» clothes and an art gallery. I’m not into skater fashion, but if I was, this would be a good place to shop. There are also some books, bags, Urban Outfitters — type random stuff. I think you can get alot online, I believe the BF got some pillows and a shower curtain that we saw displayed in the store.
The staff was not very helpful. The two guys «working» at the counter literally stayed up front and talked about tattoos and did not acknowledge us once and we were probably there for half an hour. At one point a girl came out from the back, she must have been doing inventory or something, and she was actually quite helpful with a couple questions about girl’s tees. But she obviously wasn’t really selling. Lose a Star right there! (FYI — most of their girl’s tees are kinda boxy, not slim cut)
The gallery was the most impressive, though I am biased cause I loved the artist showing at that time. God I wish I could remember her name, but if I had $$$ I woulda bought a whole series of photos! I don’t know if they always feature just one artist or if that’s just how it was when we were there.