Creative Homies

Creative Homies

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Cyrus Coleman and Adewale Agboola (pronounced “WAH-Lay”) will be repurposing the historic Enterprise Building in Old Town, Portland into a creative hub for the BIPOC (Black and Indigenous People of Color) community. The space will feature a full service music lounge and bar, a spacious gallery to showcase BIPOC artists, a cafe, a makerspace, a full scale production studio, and an artist-in-residence quarters.

With a growing BIPOC community in Portland, the space will be the first of its kind in the area. As a Black-owned hub, the Creative Homies Enterprise Building will be a focal point for Portland’s creative BIPOC Community, providing a space where voices can be heard, experiences exchanged, and connections made.

Creative Homies

Inspired by Cyrus’s family roots in the music industry, the basement of the historic Enterprise Building, a lounge and speakeasy will host a curated lineup of artists and musicians. Cyrus’s father Tony Coleman, former drummer for BB King for more than 35 years, will serve as music director. Using his local, national, and international connections, as well as his role as one of the organizers of Portland Blues Festival, Tony will bring artists to the lounge, with talent ranging from spoken word poets to local DJs and musicians. The full service bar in the lounge will be created in collaboration with Dan Lenzen, who has managed bars across the country for over 35 years. As the general manager Lenzen is crafting a unique Asian/Soul Food fusion menu. Anchoring the space and to match the aesthetic of a traditional jazz club, the lounge will be the darkest room in the building, with dark wood features, including paneled walls and a dramatically-lit wood bar.

Creative Homies

The first floor art gallery will feature a flexible gallery space for rotating exhibits and a cafe/wine bar incorporating a retail component, selling and celebrating work by BIPOC artists and creatives. Contrasting with the dark music lounge, these spaces will have a light and airy feel, enhanced by large, original windows. Strategically placed black and wood accents that reference the music lounge will visually unify the distinct spaces and engage the elements of the existing historic building.

The second floor will feature a makerspace for creators to work and connect. The 4,000 square foot space will be accessible through a membership and accommodate up to 32 creatives at a time, and includes accommodations for screen printing, sewing, and large-format printing.

Creative Homies

The third floor will house a production studio and green room, which will offer equipment rentals to photographers and creatives. The green room will also serve as a lounge/break room. Cyrus and Adewale will have their Creative Homies headquarters on this floor, which will include a private meeting room and kitchen.

Creative Homies will be the first of its kind in Portland. Transforming the historic Enterprise Building into a creative hub dedicated to the BIPOC community will begin to fill critical gaps in the Portland market and inspire a greater community of creative culture in Portland by empowering and providing a platform for marginalized voices.

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