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In ten years they’ll say it all started with a chicken suit  when developers are scrambling to redevelop the stretch of road near Brick’s Barbershop on SW 22nd Avenue and Barbur Boulevard. Or at least that’s what I’m thinking.

Bricks Barbershop landed on the cover of in recent weeks where hip young things across the city could read about quirky barber Eric Cavizo and his $12 haircuts (sometimes given by a person dressed in a chicken suit).

Then, low and behold, the homeless giant Octopus from the now-defunct Greek Cusina (lovingly referred to as Spoticus) was purchased by Cavizo and placed atop Brick’s previously understated storefront. All of a sudden, newspapers, radio stations and local TV news stations began putting a spotlight on this sprawling business district.

So what does Barbur have to offer Portlanders besides cheap haircuts and giant chickens? Well, there’s the food. (9845 Southwest Barbur Boulevard) has the best Baba Ghanoush in town as well as food and beverages from around the world. Humdinger Drive-in (8250 SW Barbur Boulevard) is a stone’s throw away, where you can get a burger that would make Dick and Mac McDonald weep with jealousy. And then there’s a Portland staple, the , that even with its somewhat remote location usually has a line out the door as early as 9 a.m.

There are also a lot of empty storefronts just waiting to be filled or redeveloped into boutiques or artist studios. And though the area is currently difficult to traverse without a car or riding the 12 bus line, the city this year is working on installing in the area.

There’s also a lot of strip clubs. But isn’t mixing urban grittiness with shiny new studios what Portland does best?