Peterson’s On Morrison

Peterson’s rests on it’s locational laurels. The convenience store has lots to eat and drink, but the prices are a bit higher than usual. They do have a vast beverage selection, but they could try and offer some entrees up front as 7-​Eleven does. One really nice thing is that Peterson’s On Morison is adjacent to light rail.
I walked in looking for a quick bite. I settled on Lay’s Barbecue for $ 1.50. It was an okay size for the price, though lots of the beverages range near $ 2, even in the cheap, processed bottles. Nothing was really bad, though the store can be narrow at times.
Peterson’s is here with what you want it to do.

I have stood at the MAX train stop just outside this store for years and have never once stepped into the store (what I call a cold drink and smokes store). I changed that trend today because I heard a familiar voice. It turned out to be the manager, a former neighbor, so I went in and greeted her and bought a cup of coffee just to stop along enough to have a short conversation. It was great seeing her. I’ve always felt it was a little dicey to spend any time there because I’ve seen every variety of human along the spectrum stop in there, but it felt safe enough to go in today because of my former neighbor’s presence and also because it was morning. I’ll probably stop in again in case I’m in need of coffee or a cold drink and definitely to say hello to my very nice former neighbor.

This place SELLS FILTHY PORNOGRAPHIC MAGAZINES — just to the left of the Front Counter — so that kids and «nice people» walking in cannot help but see them.
I asked one of the clerks why they sell such FILTH — and she replied that she «needs her job and can’t ‘pass along any comments to the manager’, as she’ll lose her low-​paying job.
THAT’S HOW BAD PETERSON’S «CONVENIENCE STORE» TRULY IS !
Go elsewhere ! Plaid Pantry is just a few blocks away — as are others.
(P.S. Peterson’s just sells overpriced Cola-​Cola and Beer and STALE JUNK FOOD —
GO ELSEWHERE !).
Thank you (IF YOU HAVE ANY MORALS AT ALL !).

Id give 0 stars if it was possible but the old man who helped me refused my card because it was bent… Worked everywhere else but wouldn’t swipe on their machine. Thanks so much guys…

Stopped in quickly on my way to work and was sold an overpriced bottled coffee that was nearly 3 weeks expired! Luckily I noticed before taking a second sip — there were large flecks of curdled milk throughout the bottle and just one sip made me sick to my stomach. Horrible! There are far better places to stop and get a quick beverage or snack downtown — and I know I have purchased the same product at other markets for 50 – 75 cents less. I will never return.

It’s a convenience store; what were you expecting, a concierge? They have glass-​bottled Mexican Coke, beer, wine, chips, dips, and tons of snacks. There’s a small smattering of grocery items for the truly desperate.

Such an expensive convinient store. Better off hitting a plaid or even a 7 – 11. Too pricey, the set up is awful, I have night mares of knocking over your chip displays whenever I enter any location. If you’re in a wheelchair def stay clear. Or else you’ll clear the shelves of merchandise.

Yes, it’s sketchy. The advantage is that you can use it to dodge more scary people while waiting for the MAX train. If you are looking for a snack or drink, however, better to just o to the Elephant Deli a half a block away for more healthy fare and same low prices.

I used to work right across the street from this little armpit o’ Americana. It’s ²⁴⁄₇ so that’s one great big star, right there. 2^nd star for the people watching, which is a super-​condensed form of Walmart ghetto-​fabulosity. Allow me to let far more capable minds do the heavy lifting, when it comes to the real estate surrounding and enclosing Peterson’s…
Vonnegut:
«…Harlotry, divorce, alcoholism, liberalism,
… pornography, abortion, venality,
murder, labor racketeering, juvenile delinquency,
cowardice, atheism, extortion, slander and theft were
the height of fashion. Rome was a paradise of
gangsters, perverts, and the lazy working man, just as
America is now…»
—‘Pearls Before Swine’
Swift:
«.vast numbers of our people are compelled to
seek their livelihood by begging, robbing, stealing,
cheating, pimping, fore-​swearing, flattering,
suborning, forging, gaming,
lying, fawning, hectoring, voting, scribling, star–
gazing, poysoning, whoring, canting, libelling, free–
thinking, and the like occupations: every one of
which terms, I was at much pains to make him
understand…»
—‘Gulliver’s Travels’
Not every one could cater to such crowds and such peoples with such grace as does Peterson’s, day and night, year round, no days and no nights off! So there’s your third Great Big star! Cheers to you!!!

I work across the street from Peterson’s and spend at least 3 «federally mandated breaks» a week there with co-​workers. They have all of the staples of a successful convenience store (sugary snacks, soda fountain, scratch-​its) plus some characters who may or may not be loitering or working, it can be hard to tell.
The good: the BIG boxes of Mike & Ikes and Sour Patch Kids
The bad: the terrible selection of beer
The ugly: so much porn, so little space (though watching those in that section is most entertaining)
I’ve been to other Peterson stores but this one is definitely my favorite.

Ok ok, I can understand some of the negative reviews and points listed in them. Sure, you might contract tuberculosis from just being near here as vagrancy on a scale of 1 to 10 must lie somewhere near a solid 7. Yes, there are toothless troglodytes that frequent the exterior, stare at you through their vacant hollow eyes and intone the ever familiar «spare any change?» mantra that is so common in downtown (has anyone done a remix or auto-​tune of that I wonder??). But come on! Some of these things are what make Peterson’s the place to go!
Where else can I not only find a plethora of energy drinks (often with great deals of say, buy 3 for $ 5) but I can also have beef jerky AND porno mags! I mean really! It’s like visiting that buddy of yours who still lives in his mom’s apartment except you don’t have to worry about sitting on anything in his room… well, because you wouldn’t even dream of it here. The best part is, the magazine rack has a sign asking to limit your ‘browsing’ time. How picturesque. I can only imagine what scene led to the placement of that sign and THAT is one of the prime reasons this place is such a gem. Like a few others here, I’ve been stopping in to buy the odd snack or beverage at this place for several years (since it’s close to work) and maybe it’s the cynic in me or the voyeur… but I really enjoy the freak-​show demeanor of some of the folks that both shop here or just sit around outside waiting for someone to clank a coin in their cup. The staff is freakin’ weird but damn helpful and if you call looking for say, an odd energy drink, they’ll go out of their way to find out if they have it. Oh… and I have not yet been knifed, shot, mugged, or anything else here… but I guess there’s a first time for everything. So exciting not knowing if it’ll happen!

I just saw something very racist, ugly, and embarrassing happen at this store. The culprit of the scene was the «manager». I’m hoping I don’t see this again in Portland or anywhere else for that matter.

Oh, Peterson’s, what would I do without you?
What would I do after a movie, and all I wanted was a Jones? Where else could I go if I wanted a snack at midnight? I can’t think of another place I could go for some late night Flaming Cheetos.
Sure, your staff is a little odd at times, but they are always friendly (and always apologetic about their slow credit card/​debit machine). Sure you have your share of homeless people taking shelter outside, but you’re the end of Fareless Square. I’d be confused if you didn’t have droves of homeless people getting off of the MAX here.
Honestly, this place is safe, and they’ve just hired a security guard and installed cameras outside to make it safer. They’re the closest place to me where I can grab a drink or snack late at night without having to go into a café or restaurant. I was devastated when the city was going to evict them (thank goodness for Commissioners who do independent investigations).

I heart this location, as they are the closest to my office and have a plethora of snacky options. Pricey cigarettes, but good prices for everything else.
Half of the staff is friendly, half certainly must dwell on the fact of the place they work as they are douche-​y at minimum.
The other reviewers have mentioned the ‘interesting’ clientele, but let me say that although the patrons are «quirky», I’ve popped into this location several times to avoid unsavory people waiting at the Max stop and have always felt safe in the store.

Freak-​show? Ding!
Diverse and voluminous selection of porno mags? Ding Ding!
Shitty coffee and cheap donuts? Ding Ding Ding!
Fear and wonderment about whether your might get knifed, stabbed, molested, or otherwise assaulted at any given moment? Ding Ding Ding Ding!
Right in the middle of downtown at a busy Max stop? Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding!
24 Hours? Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding TILT!!!
Peterson’s is a good place to fulfill basic needs at any hour of the day, but for some reason it seems to be a VORTEX for freaks, hobos, gangstas, vagabonds, junkies, punks, and every other color of strange. It’s filthy, and I have the feeling that the lives of each and every clerk at that store have been threatened at one time or another. If I were to trip and fall on the ground in the entryway of this store I would immediately take a 30-​minute shower in Lysol and Clorox.
I would expect to find this kind of place on, maybe, Interstate or 82^nd, but not smack dab in the middle of downtown. Oh well.
One extra star for pure entertainment’s sake.

Magazines, drinks and snacks. An «interesting» type of folk always seem to be hanging around in there, but no one bothers you.
Had to head here both nights I was in town for missing toothpaste one time and to stock up on various energy/​vitamin drinks for Mt. Hood. The cashier both nights was the same guy and he was very friendly and even gave me my drinks when his debit computer wouldn’t work.
Looks like it’s on one of the stops for the MAX too so if you like your convenience stores a little on the shadier side (without being harmful) this is a good place to go.