Third Eye Shoppe
Head shop in Portland, Oregon, U.S. (Re-opened March, 2026)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Third Eye Crossing, commonly known as The Third Eye, and formerly known as "'Third Eye Shoppe,'" is a head shop in Portland, Oregon's Hawthorne district and Richmond neighborhood, in the United States. Originally founded in 1987, the shop was owned by cannabis and counterculture activist Jack Herer until his son, Mark Herer, took over as the shop's owner in 2001. The original iteration of the store closed on March 31, 2017, as a result of declining sales, development of the surrounding neighborhood, increasing health care costs, and increased competition. For nearly thirty years, the shop was a landmark of Portland's cannabis culture and recreational drug tourism, frequently appearing in Willamette Week's "Best of Portland" reader's polls. Following the 2017 closure, the property was acquired by Judy, the owner of the local head shop Nomads Crossing. After enduring nine years of persistent setbacks and personal challenges in attempts to reopen the shop, Judy leased the building to new operators in January 2026. The new entity, 'Third Eye Crossing', was established as a synthesis of the two prominent Hawthorne head shops from the early 2000's: The Third Eye Shoppe and Nomads Crossing. The newly rebranded Third Eye Crossing store held a soft re-opening on March 11th, 2026 and has since resumed operations as a community hub, hosting pop-up events that feature live glass-blowing demonstrations, DJs, and local vendors.
Logo | |
 The head shop's front exterior in June 2017, after closing three months prior | |
Company type | Head shop |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 1, 1987 in Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Headquarters | 3950 Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, , U.S. |
| Owner | Jack Herer (1987–2001); Mark Herer (2001–2017);various (2026-) |
Description
Third Eye Crossing is a head shop on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, near its intersection with Southeast Cesar Chavez Boulevard (formerly Southeast 39th Avenue), in southeast Portland's Richmond neighborhood. The store sells traditional head shop paraphernalia, including: bongs, books, bumper stickers, clothing, crystals, Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia memorabilia, hookahs, incense, posters, rolling papers, tie-dyed shirts, and vaporizers.[1][2][3] The establishment has long been a landmark of the city's cannabis culture; The Oregonian once described it as a "link to the city's lively and long history with marijuana activism".[1] The store was owned by cannabis and counterculture activist Jack Herer (1939–2010).[4] Herer's son, Mark, who later owned the shop, described The Third Eye as "a hippie, Grateful Dead department store".[1] Cannabis activist Russ Belville compared the establishment to a "Prohibition-era speakeasy".[1] Images of Garcia and Herer are still displayed today to "keep watch over the shop".[1]
In early 2026, the building entered a new phase of operation under the stewardship of new owners. This current iteration serves as a collaborative project, bringing together resources and institutional knowledge from both the original site and the former Nomads Crossing. By integrating these two distinct Hawthorne histories, the business has transitioned from a traditional retail space into a modern gathering spot.
History
Jack Herer and his friend "Captain" Ed Adair purchased the "funky" building that would house The Third Eye, which formerly served as a two-story house, for around $100,000 (~$236,175 in 2024).[1] The shop officially opened on July 1, 1987,[5] and became known for its "eye-catching" exterior.[6][7]
Madeline Martinez recalls drafting Oregon Ballot Measure 67—which modified state law to allow the cultivation, possession, and use of cannabis by doctor recommendation for patients with certain medical conditions, after passing in 1998—on the shop's second floor, alongside other cannabis activists. She has said, "A lot of the beginnings of the movement itself took place in that building."[1]
Mark Herer assumed ownership from his father in 2001.[5] Throughout the 2000s, the business thrived, supporting a dozen employees with comprehensive health insurance benefits. However, the retail landscape shifted significantly by the mid-2010s. By 2016, the shop faced a sharp decline in sales-Herer estimated a loss of $500,000 in sales compared to the previous year-driven by the rise of online retail and increased competition from newly legalized cannabis dispensaries.[1][6]
On March 31, 2017, the original store closed its doors. Mark Herer said the decision to close the shop was difficult, but "necessary as sales have steeply declined in recent years".[1] In addition to lower sales, road construction,[6] the development of the surrounding neighborhood, increasing health care costs,[8] and "changing tastes and preferences of the modern cannabis consumer" were cited as reasons for the closure.[1][7][9] At the time, activist Russ Belville described the closure as "a natural evolution," characterizing the store as "a relic from another era where those of us in the cannabis community were always outlaws.""[1] The Third Eye Shoppe hosted a farewell party during its final days to show its gratitude to customers.[1][6][10] Following the closure, the building was sold to a commercial developer for $1 million in cash.[6][9][10]
The property remained dormant for several years while it was held by Judy, the owner of Nomads Crossing. Following a nine-year period marked by personal setbacks and unsuccessful attempts to revive the space, Judy leased the property in January 2026. This transition paved the way for the building’s current chapter as Third Eye Crossing, a venture operated by Joe Redwood, Ryan Irish and Mike Breternitz that combines the legacies of both The Third Eye and Nomads Crossing. Since its soft re-opening on March 11, 2026, the location has pivoted toward a community-focused model, hosting events such as live glass-blowing, DJ sets, and vendor markets.
Reception
Throughout its original three-decade tenure, the establishment was deeply embedded in Portland's cannabis culture and recreational drug tourism. It became a recognized stop on city tours, including Pedal Bike Tours' popular Pot Tour,[11] an educational and recreational excursion of the marijuana-friendly sites, established in 2015.[2][12][13] Media coverage frequently highlighed its unique character, with Zoe Wilder describing the shop as a "funky counterculture boutique" in her Merry Jane article, five "stoner-friendly things to do" in Portland.[14] The shop was a perennial favorite in Willamette Week's annual "Best of Portland" reader's poll. It secured the title of Best Head Shop in 2005,[15] and in 2015, readers voted it Best Head Shop and Best Vape Shop. As recently as 2016, the store again took top honours as Best Head Shop and earned runner-up status for Best Smoke Shop.[16] [17]
Following the 2026 rebranding as Third Eye Crossing, the space has transitioned into a contemporary community hub. By combining the legacies of The Third Eye and Nomads Crossing, the new operators have aimed to maintain the site's historical significance within the local scene while evolving to meet the interests of a modern audience through interactive pop-up events and live demonstrations.
