The windows of the dark teal building in the Arbor Lodge neighborhood of North Portland still bear faded stickers that advertise groceries and Coca-Cola, serving as a subtle reminder of the structure’s 102-year existence.
The building at 7015 N. Greeley Ave. has had several different uses since 1923, including a general store, coffee shop, tattoo parlor, and most recently, JD’s Shoe Repair.
Today, it is home to Reggie’s Manga Cafe, a community center and late-night comic book store for all ages that is introducing the Pacific Northwest to the sights and flavors of Japan.
On Thursday, February 27, 2025, in North Portland, a variety of foods and community manga are shown at Reggie’s Manga Shop, a Japanese comic book store and snack cafe.Connor Vickie/The Oregonian
There are blind boxes, stationery, and rows of gachapon machines (vending machines that dispense miniature branded toys) next to shelves of manga (Japanese comics). A variety of Japanese convenience store-style snacks, such as egg salad sandos, onigiri, and canned Boss Coffee, are kept in refrigerators. Even a cup noodle bar with a microwave, condiments, and many ramen tastes is available.
Owners Kryston Skinner and Devon Sifford founded Reggie’s Manga Cafe after traveling to Japan for a month in the summer of 2023. They intend to provide a setting where community members can interact by bringing part of what they seen back to the United States.
According to Skinner, “we really wanted to create a space that we felt was lacking when we were growing up.” It can be quite difficult for those under the age of eighteen to locate somewhere to go beyond a particular time, or perhaps not at all.
With a full-day celebration, Reggie’s Manga Cafe will open to the public on Saturday, March 1. People of all ages can browse, take part in an in-store scavenger hunt, and enjoy live music from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The business will switch to a 21+ establishment at 6 p.m., offering a keg of Sapporo beer, video game consoles, and freshly cooked skewers.
The cafe will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. following its grand launch. Tuesday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
On Thursday, February 27, 2025, Devon Sifford, left, and Kryston Skinner, right, stand in front of Reggie’s Manga Shop, a Japanese comic book shop and snack cafe in North Portland.Connor Vickie/The Oregonian
Skinner grew reared in Azle, Texas, a small community an hour outside of Dallas, whereas Sifford was raised in Napa, California. Skinner first became aware of anime (Japanese animation) when watching television late one school night in her hometown.
She continued, “This opening music starts, and it’s an animated series called YuYu Hakusho.” I believe that being online in the early 2000s is what inspired me to visit Japan and have a firsthand look at the culture.
Over the past ten years, she has traveled to Japan a few times and has become acquainted with the appeal of manga or internet cafes abroad, which are establishments where customers pay by the hour to access comics, technology, snacks, and beverages. The idea of having comics available for in-store reading and inspection was taken from Reggie’s Manga Cafe.
The cafe has a communal library with about 800 donated books in addition to roughly 1,200 new books for sale.
According to Sifford, you won’t always want to commit. I’m going to watch this series through to the end because sometimes it’s a lot to handle, so it’s a fantastic opportunity to check things out before you buy them.
On Thursday, February 27, 2025, in North Portland, Kryston Skinner discusses the retail selection at Reggie’s Manga Shop, a Japanese comic book store and snack cafe.Connor Vickie/The Oregonian
According to him, the store’s manga collection is designed to be approachable.
According to Sifford, some sections are geared toward romance lovers, while others is more kid-friendly and whimsical. Some deal with more mature issues, such as Sketchy, which centers on a thirtysomething woman who is aimless and utilizes skating as a way to rediscover her life’s purpose.
Additionally, Sifford and Skinner intend to work with nearby educators to organize clubs, day camps, and workshops. March and April already have craft and letter-writing stationery groups planned, along with literature clubs for adults that focus on manga.
According to Skinner, once Reggie’s Manga Cafe is operational, there will be a lot more planned, such as Japanese language lessons or Pokemon-themed geocaching at a local park.
She stated that the primary goal is for patrons to feel at ease within the cafe’s walls.
Skinner stated that escapism, particularly budget-conscious escapism, is a really pleasant activity at the moment. It would have a profound effect on me if people could enter Reggie’s and experience a sense of relaxation, as if they could escape the world at the front door.
On Thursday, February 27, 2025, in North Portland, an instant ramen bar is shown at Reggie’s Manga Shop, a Japanese comic book store and snack cafe.Connor Vickie/The Oregonian
Since Sifford and Skinner first received the building’s keys in October, the trip has been both hectic and exciting. However, the cafe’s Jack Russell Terrier, Reggie, who serves as both its official mascot and unofficial CEO, is unaware of this.
According to Skinner, he has a whole company. He isn’t even aware.
Veronica Nocera writes on culture and life. She can be contacted at 503-221-8111, [email protected].
