Myles Haselhorst, owner of the new gallery/bookstore Ampersand Vintage on Alberta Street, is a smart, affable young guy equally comfortable discussing vintage Mexican pornography posters as he is the cyclical trends he sees taking place in modern design. While showing me around his store on on Tuesday, he motioned toward an ancient looking design magazine encased in trim plastic on the shelf in front of him and explained how trends in design from 50 or 60 years ago are just now resurfacing in some of the advertising campaigns today.

“And I find that really interesting,” he told me.

After six years of working in the antiquarian book trade in Seattle, Myles opened up Ampersand Vintage in Portland in November 2008, hoping to whet the palate of those Portlanders looking for a new source for art and visual inspiration.

Unlike many vintage bookstores, there isn’t a speck of dust in the whole place, and the diverse book titles he sells (mostly on topics relating to art, design, and contemporary fiction) are arranged into individualized categories as distinct as the topics they examine.

Myles told me his main objective was to create a space where people feel comfortable browsing and taking in art. And because his gallery occupies prime real estate for the blitz of art seekers that is Last Thursday, Myles plans on showcasing the work of contemporary artists at least once a month. He already has a schedule posted on his website along with plans for the patio space out back, where he hopes to host outdoor projections and live music during the summer.

As his website explains, Myles is looking to buy everything from vintage photography to paper documents to postcards and even old books. He’s also willing to make house calls if the amount of material to be appraised is too big or fragile to be hauled into the store.

For more information about buying and selling at Ampersand Vintage, as well as upcoming gallery shows and events, hit up the website, or just take a trip over to see Myles in person.

- Matthew Vollono