Carmel Corn vendor opens Washington Square store after Lloyd Center closure

Joe Brown's Carmel Corn begins operations Friday at 10 a.m. in the food court of Washington Square mall. The move establishes a permanent foothold in Washington County for the confectionery, which had operated exclusively in Portland's Lloyd Center for the past 66 years.

The new site at 9585 S.W. Washington Square Road will sell caramel corn, cheddar cheese popcorn, white cheddar, kettle corn, and an Oregon-style blend that mixes caramel and yellow cheese varieties. The menu also includes cookies, banana pudding, cheesecake, and caramel apples.

The company has operated in the Lloyd Center since 1960. That location served as the tenant's home after a period of closures during World War II. The business originally opened in 1932 and expanded to three Portland locations by the mid-1930s.

The Lloyd Center closed permanently on Aug. 8, ending the tenure of its longest-standing occupant. The Washington Square opening provides a new retail anchor for the brand in the Portland metropolitan area.

A release from the business stated that it has created sweet memories for generations of Portland families since 1932. The company expressed excitement about continuing that tradition at its new home in Washington Square mall.

The grand opening takes place on the second floor of the shopping center. This expansion allows the vendor to reach customers in Washington County without requiring them to travel to the northeast Portland neighborhood where the original store stood.