W.C. Lawson |
The student essentials of lattes and pizza are a tad cheaper for UP students since the launch of the “Pilot Experience” card. The card is free for all active UP students that will grant them more than a handful of deals around the University Park neighborhood, sponsored by the University of Portland Alumni Association. The card is $10 for UP alumni, faculty and staff. Fifty percent of the proceeds goes to the Alumni Association.
“It is not as well known as it should be,” ASUP President Quin Chadwick said. “Every student should have one.”
The card was created by University Park Business District President Darell Grenz and Treasurer Curtis Merrill this past August. During UP’s President’s Dinner, Grenz and Merrill heard some guests were reminiscing college days going out to their favorite local dives. Grenz and Merrill’s idea that alumni should have a way to “re-experience” their time at UP, while simultaneously benefiting neighborhood businesses, inspired the Pilots Experience card.
From there Grenz and Merrill started the grassroots campaign for their new idea, going door-to-door to businesses around the neighborhood to recruit them to the program.
“It became a transcendent idea,” Merrill said. “Many businesses have gotten a win-win situation out of it so far.”
Even though most of the businesses participating in the program are in the University Park Neighborhood, the deals extend all the way from Kenton St. to St. John’s neighborhood. Discount specials tend to be in the range of 10-20 percent off for many of the businesses.
Grenz and Merrill have been distributing these cards at different UP community events throughout the year, including a few women’s home soccer matches as well as the student activities fair.
“One of the challenges has been distribution,” said Grenz. “In the beginning we had thousands of cards that we didn’t know how to get in the students’ hands.”
CPB Assistant Program Director junior Sarah Berger has been working with Grenz and Merrill to plan an event where they can showcase their mark in the community. On March 29, the University Park Business District will be sponsoring the “Western Roundup” on campus where students will be able to try a ride on a mechanical bull. Some of the local businesses, such as one of St. John’s coffee shops, Anna Bannanas, will host booths at the event serving food and beverages. There, Grenz and Merrill will distribute the Pilot Experience cards to students.
“The cards are free. Some schools sell these kinds of things for profit,” Berger said. “As students, we want to be good neighbors to the businesses that want to be good neighbors with us.”
Senior Joey Hoffman received the card last fall and has enjoyed it throughout the year.
“I didn’t think it was real at first because no one I talked to had ever seen one of these,” Hoffman said. “Once I received a discount, I knew it was legitimate and have been using it ever since.”
Next year, Grenz and Merrill plan to take the project a step further by creating interactive Pilot Experience 2.0, which will allow them to track revenue trends from the businesses around the area to see where students are frequently going around the neighborhood.
If students scan the QR barcode on the back of the current Pilot Experience card, a list of all of the businesses and their specials will be available to view. To receive one of these cards students, alumni, faculty and staff can go to the Alumni Relations house on campus.
“The Pilot Experience card could be a great topping to the evolution of the business district in our neighborhood,” Grenz said.
Where to use the Pilots Experience Card (from the Pilot Experience Directory)
FOOD / DRINK
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8716 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 286-2030
Special: U/P Students receive 10% discount for September with card or student ID.
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7123 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 522-4012
Special: $2 off any any main entree over $7 with card or student ID.
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8671 N Ivanhoe St Portland, OR 97203
(503) 286-8600
Special: 10% off your purchase with card or student ID.
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Cathedral Coffee
7530 N. Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203
Special: 25% off your entire order from 3-7pm
(During U/P finals week the special offer is expanded to all hours)
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8608 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 477-5489
Special: $1 off cocktails off cocktail menu (no beer/no wine) or
10% off food entree.
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5507 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 289-6111
Special: Buy one entree, get one of equal or lesser value at 50% off.
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7540 N. Interstate Ave, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 477-9887
Special: 20% off your purchase.
(Open late - great study room)
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4808 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 595-0073
Special: Pilot Burger w/fries + beverage = $7.95
(1/2 lb fresh ground cheese burger w/fries + age appropriate beverage).
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5328 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 285-7150
Special: Free soda or iced tea w/any entree purchase.
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3011 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97217
4926 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97206
(503) 928-9539
Special: $10 OFF your purchase of $40 or more
(when you sign up for Zebra Cash)
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Kenton Station Restaurant & Pub
8303 N. Denver Ave, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 286-9242
Special: Free upgrade to french fries on any burger purchase or sandwich purchase
(Not valid with happy hour menu).
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4940 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 289-1117
Special: $2 off your total bill ($10 minimum purchase)
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6423 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 285-7177
Special: Come in for details.
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Pattie's Home Plate Cafe
8501 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 285-5507
Special: Come in for details.
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8208 N Denver Ave, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 289-1319
Special: Buy one specialty drink, get one free.
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8638 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 445-2007
Special: 10% discount - to be used on purchase in our market or cafe
(Limited to one time only)
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6635 N. Baltimore Ave, #102, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 789-2009
Special: $1 off all glasses & $1 off all bottles
(Must be of legal age to purchase).
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8620 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 283-4321
Special: Come in for details
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Tulip Pastry Shop
8322 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 286-3444
Special: 10% off purchase with card or student ID
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5242 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 283-5091
Special: Come in for details
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PRODUCTS/SERVICES
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Ace Hardware - St Johns
7825 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 206-8633
Special: Come in for details
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8040 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 285-9966
Special: Pilot Checking Offer
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7314 N Leavitt Ave, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 289-2755
Special: Come in for details
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7238 N. Burlington Ave, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 819-6839
Special: Come in for details
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8417 N. Lombard St Portland, OR 97203
(503) 978-0333
Special: Come in for details
Find us on Facebook
Body Bistro
7305 N Alta Ave, Portland, Oregon 97203
(503) 285-4980
Special: Free hand treatment with purchase of any other service ($9 value)
Find us on Facebook
5701 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 621-7122
Special: Come in for details
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8836 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(971) 255-0839
Special: 10% off your purchase at Coffee Kids
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4784 N. Lombard St, #B, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 283-7767
Special: 25% off posters or banners
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7425 N. Leavitt Ave, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 852-1505
Special: 10% off your purchase (can't be combined with other offers or coupons).
Find us on Facebook
Darrell Grenz Insurance Agency
5651 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 206-6736
Special: Come in for details
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Discovery Gardens Childcare Center
1030 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97217
(971) 400-8816
Special: Come in for details
Find us on Facebook
7434 N. Chase Ave, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 422-2458
Special: 20% off any service or package
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6635 N. Baltimore Ave, #131, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 974-4740
Special: Free delivery with zipcodes: 97203, 97217, or 97227
(for orders over $45)
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8128 N. Denver Ave, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 954-2221
Special: 10% discount on your 1st purchase over $20
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8709 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 286-2668
Special: Come in for details
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7319 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 289-3370
Special: Come in for details
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8315 N Denver Ave, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 285-6227
Special: 20% off acupuncture visits, 20% off Chinese Herbs, 20% off massage sessions,
$5 off yoga classes, 5 FREE counseling sessions with Cheryl Jefferson (female students only)
Discounts can't be combined with insurance and/or other discounts.
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6815 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 240-4168
Special: Come in for details and ask for Curtis
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8026 N. Denver Ave, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 289-9851
Specials: $100 rebate on any non-insurance auto body work over $1,000
$5 off our signature oil change
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Man's Shop
8511 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 286-3514
Special: 10% off your purchase (not valid for alterations/tailoring)
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7429 N. Leavitt Ave, Portland, OR 97203
(971) 200-5058
Special: Pilot Experience cardholders receive 10% off your entire purchase.
Every time, all of the time!
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6434 N. Kerby Ave, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 703-5019
Special: 10% or $20 discount at time of service (whichever is greater)
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Stepping Stone Realty, Group of Oregon First
Tatiana Xenelis-Mendoza
5136 N. Garfield Ave, Portland, OR 97211
(503) 756-2559
Special: Free 1 hour selling preparation & valuation consultation
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Sterling Bank
3333 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 283-5246
Special: Come in for details (Ask for Dan King)
4818 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 289-4996
Special: $10 off pet exam fee
(Plus, if you're walking your pet in the neighborhood stop in for a FREE for your four-legged friend)
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7330 N. Leavitt Ave, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 247-8111
Special: For each client insurance account quoted by our agency, we will
donate $25 to the University of Portland. You chose the beneficiary (eg,
Alumni Assn, Athletics, General Scholarship)
Find us on Facebook
7301 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 286-1669
Special: $10 off a complete oil change
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University Cleaners
5210 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(971) 404-9390
Special: 10% on dry cleaning services only (not valid for alterations/laundry)
Find us on Facebook
7522 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 283-5404
2310 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 688-5130
Special: 1/2 off current enrollment special.
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7522 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 247-3433
2310 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 289-8408
Special: 1 Free movie rental when you rent 2 others.
Find us on Facebook
5279 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 283-3883
Special: $5 off our standard bicycle tune-up
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