Open shipping container converted into a small shop with wooden doors, shelves stocked with wine bottles, and a counter at the back.

Dame Container

Photographer: Tom Schaller

  • In the midst of the pandemic, a fun collaboration presented itself with a past client, Dame, a restaurant in NE Portland. While the restaurant was closed, Dame had pivoted to selling wine out of the building. But over time, the restaurant became overcrowded with boxes of wine preventing the flexibility of reopening when the time allowed. With so many restaurants struggling, and being longtime friends with the owners, Owen Gabbert wanted to help. Together, he and the owners purchased a shipping container and built it out to accommodate an open-air wine shop that Dame was able to fit in its side yard. While overall scope was small, some framing, sheetrock, painting, HVAC and electrical, the effect was quite large: a cute shop up front with a lot of storage in the back. Today, Dame is back open and now the owners rent out the space to a sake shop.

Entrance of a sake shop with glass doors and shelves of bottles visible inside, located in a converted shipping container.
Small Japanese sake shop with shelves of bottles, various snacks, and traditional ceramic drinkware. A counter with a laptop and decorative items is seen. The space is cozy and well-organized.
A small retail shop with shelves stocked with various bottles, likely wines or spirits, and a counter in the back. Decorative items and baskets are displayed, and a colorful patterned rug is on the floor. The shop has a cozy and organized atmosphere.
View from inside a room with shelves of bottles, looking out to an outdoor seating area with a gazebo and picnic table.
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