Popina Swimwear Boutique

Terrible service. My friend, an Asian female, walked in there this evening before Camelia Lounge and the girl who was working there didn’t say «Hi» nor looked at her. Then when the next customer came in, a white female with a child, the employee immediately smiled and greeted her. Very disappointed with the store. I love Popina but BYE for now.

Although most of the styles here are a little too boring for me, I received excellent customer service and found a great pair of high waist bikini bottoms. The store seems to have a modest, retro theme going on & a lot of polka dots. I prefer more of an edge in the styles, but the service is fantastic — all the girls here are super helpful and friendly.

I have shopped here twice in the past week. They have a nice selection of merchandise for a wide variety of ages and sizes. The service is very mixed. The young woman with long hair was very helpful and knowledgable. However, the young Asian woman was either resentful or confused about how to be helpful. If I were the lady with long hair, I would resent being the one who was doing all the work helping customers. The whole vibe of the store would be enhanced dramatically if they would play some music.

I needed a bathing suit for my vacation in a week and had noticed multiple ads in some local publications. As I like to shop local when I can, I skipped the online stores (which offer a lot for decent prices) and decided to go to Popina. I thought the special ad said the «happy hour» special was from 4 – 8, but apparently it was 4 – 7. I go to the Pearl on a Friday night, after work, spend fifteen minutes looking for a parking place and make it there at 6:56. The salesgirl was just bringing in their sandwich board. I asked if she was closing and expressed that I had just spent a long time trying to find a parking place. She told me she had to close up and couldn’t let me in. Really? Wow, must be nice to have a business so successful that you can turn away customers. I was self employed for ten years and I know I would NEVER have turned away a customer. Not just for the immediate sale, but for long-​term customer satisfaction. I will never go back there. I will be headed to Nordstrom now for my bathing suit. Its too bad as I really wanted to support the business.

I am a size 18 and while I wish their selection was bigger, I feel like I had about 10 good options and ended up leaving with a tankini that looks great. It cost a pretty penny but I will wear it a lot so we’re good. Ruby was kind and attentive. She didn’t hover. I feel pretty good about things.

I love the suits, but really disappointed in the service. The gal sat behind the counter pretty much the whole time. I was there for over an hour and was never asked if I need help or new sizes. I had to put my outfit on 4 times to go out of the dressing room to look for my own sizes. I ended up spending a fair amount of money… probably would have spent more if I had gotten some help. Good service makes a world of difference.

I was super excited to hear about this place from a cousin in Oregon! I live in MN but love Portland dearly! I needed some assistance from customer service and when I called the sweet girl was very helpful but wanted me to talk to a manager about the situation… I felt confident my situation would be taken care of. When I talked to the manager he was also very helpful but still needed to talk to the owner. When talking to the owner, he resolved my issue within seconds and I truly appreciate that. I support small businesses and felt appreciated by this business. I hope to visit next summer!

I love Popina for the variety of suits they offer, but the woman who runs the Pearl store with her crazy little dog is rude. She made several less than friendly comments when I was looking and struggling to find a suit I liked. She basically told me I needed to hide my body (I’m a pretty fit size 8). All she does is sit behind the counter, baby the little dog, and make rude comments.
Another time I asked if I could bring in my dog in. The younger employee told me it was fine. The manager person kept making comments about how uncomfortable her dog was with us being there. She’s nuts and rude. I won’t go there again.

What a great place! Shelly was sooo helpful and they carry all sizes of suits including up to a G cup! It was the most fun Ive ever had swimsuit shopping! Thanks Shelly!

Tried to browse but the saleswoman implied they couldn’t have what I needed there. Felt like the scene in Pretty Woman. Bummed

One of the best swim suit shops I’ve been to! Loved it because of the great variety of suits, helpful staff, clean and well decorated store, and the spacious dressing room! There is also a nice waiting area for your spouse to sit and enjoy a Kona Brewing beer which they provide complimentary!
The staff there are so helpful! And there were so many swim suits to chose from! I loved a lot of their swim suits. I couldn’t decide so I ended up getting two! Great deal today too because it was 30% off all items with a print. I can’t wait for my Maui vacation to wear my new swimsuits!

Really cute retro style, higher quality suits. Good selection for bustier women. However, the 11^th street location had terrible customer service/​bad energy. The girls were grumpy, unwelcoming, and did not offer to help me find or exchange different sizes I needed. I left in a bad mood.

THIS PLACE! Just when I thought I totally hated swim suit shopping, this place helped me learn I only loathe it! I still do NOT like getting my butt into a swim suit just to realize what I did to my poor body over the winter, but if I am going to do it, I might as well do it with a free beer in my hand. The ladies that were working were super helpful. I came in early on a week day and they helped me find a suit that actually fit and did my body some favors, drawing attention away from icky places and too places that were more flattering. The free beer really enhances the swim suit buying experience. Thanks gals.
It got 4 stars instead of five because that was the most I have ever paid for a swim suit (I am cheap yes) but I am hoping that the suit last a long time.

Yes, Popina has great swim wear, but when the sales associates are less than friendly and less than helpful, it doesn’t want make me want to shop there any longer. There are other swimwear shops available. I realize that the selection may not be as big, but I am HUGE on customer service and it was very much lacking here :(

Ever have trouble finding the perfect swim suit? Tired of the tiny bikini’s that only fit 12 year olds? Than check out this place!!!
They have multiple types of swim suits: tankini’s, full piece, bikinis, and retro styles. They even have suits that have built in body shaping. You will find something here to compliment your figure. The staff can help with recommendations for your particular body type.
They also carry accessories: hats, coverups, flip flops, and all natural sunblock.
Be prepared to drop some cash. But in my opinion it’s completely worth it to have a flattering swim suit.

Leaving a review as a favor from The Mrs… She has had many problems in the past shopping for suits, as she has a longer than average torso. As we’re heading to Jamaica in less than two weeks, my SO wanted something more special than a Target tankini.
The Mrs said that she tied on something close to 30 suits until finding something flattering, stylish and frame-​friendly. She definitely plans on returning w/​girlfirends in tow in prep for a Vegas trip this summer.

Jana, @ the NW location is the Greatest Sales Associate in the WORLD–
Best shopping experience EVER!
Popina is the only place I will buy my swimwear.
Lots of amazing selections, super helpful staff– a real self esteem builder– unlike one that I would have never experienced without Popina staff assistance…
PLUS beer !
Once feeling as thought swimsuits were not for my body type, now feeling beautiful and SEXY in my Marilyn Monroe style suite.
Every women should have this experience!
Thank you Popina– I will be back!
~Desireé

I’d heard recommendations about this place from friends. A great place to get tubes, I was told.
This place must be doing great business! Because they really didn’t want mine. We walked in a tad after closing (the hours on Unilocal are not correct, it closes at 6 earlier in the week – the door was open though) and were very rudely told to leave. No questions allowed! Happy to take my business elsewhere!

Holy crap, did I just spend over $ 140 on a bathing suit right before winter?
Yes. Yes, I did.
The story starts with Kallie going to PSU aqua aerobics and being told by the quasi-​Johnny Depp lifeguard that I had to get a bathing suit to be able to enjoy the pool and hot tub. What, my male board shorts, old bikini top and tank top don’t work? I hadn’t bought a bathing suit in 4+ years. Ugh. Okay.
I came in, Sierra was very helpful. I asked her where the fat girl suits were, and she pointed me to the back right corner. Nice!
I grabbed a couple suits, but knew right away what I would and would not wear. It’s too bad bathing suit designers want all of us to show everything. Is my Italian showing?
I tried on 2 bathing suits, bought the first one, and made my way to class in less time than my parking ticket allowed. I was pleased to find out that my bathing suit top had a bra-​like structure inside with underwire for my sweater puppies. With all the hopping around in water, I was worried for a minute. Well, I’m not worried anymore!
They include a little card with care instructions. I needed that. Somehow I let the other one get all mildewy in the plastic bag from the week before. Thanks a lot, lifeguard. I got myself a hot new bathing suit and I’m not afraid to wear it.

There is nothing like swimsuit season to inspire healthy eating habits and an extra set of crunches at the gym.
Popina has those darling pin-​up girl swimsuits and I am dying to get into one of them.
For you hotties that go for a traditional string bikini look, I dare say you will find that hot little number in a vast array of colors and styles. There is also a stunning collection of sexy one piece fashions to choose from.
We wandered in as a group on First Thursday and the gals in the shop were terrific.
After seeing all those adorable suits — Oh heck yes! I AM getting into that bikini!