Roger Mayo

Mar 7, 2024 | storycorps.org | Max Jungreis |Roger Mayo

Roger Mayo (RM): Portland was nothing like it is now. Portland was a run down, dirty, old sea village. It was dangerous to be gay, and people got beat up all the time. And the store was 11 by 22 feet. Once we opened, we realized we were never gonna make a dime. Jim Neal (JN): I knew when somebody was in the store for the first time, and they were a gay man or a lesbian. And this sense of comfort and relief, it was almost like a big sigh. I have a good friend that I’m still in touch with today.