We’ve seen this intersection before but that was in photos from the 1930s. This time we see the Creston Drive-In Cleaners on the northwest corner of SE 39th & Powell in 1955; we’re looking north here. The little building facing 39th is apparently still with us, as is the apartment building beyond.
(City of Portland Archives)
Vintage Portland 
Yes, what was Creston Cleaners is maybe somewhat larger now and is a payday loan storefront. The small building to the north on 39th is now a hearing aid office.
We lived in those apartments until about 3 years ago – in fact we lived in the town-house apartment in the corner that you can see in this photo. Looks exactly the same except the color. I have to say, I miss absolutely nothing about that corner in modern-day Portland. Nothing at all.
The corner spot is now a loan agency, I think, it was, Duncan Donuts. I used to walk by this corner on the way to, Creston Park Pool.
Years ago when I was a kid that Creston Cleaners building used to be Tom’s Barber Shop.
The little building that is now a hearing aid center was a lawyer’s office when I was a kid. I walked past this corner day in and day out on my way back and forth to Creston elementary school 1967-1976.
Old stomping grounds. The cleaners had changed names/owners by the time I moved into the neighborhood in 1974. Then shortly after it was Tom’s Barbershop for a bit. Wow, old memories.
Cool! I grew up a block away from this intersection, and walked past it every day enroute to Creston school or to the pool in the summer. The little building is now a hearing aid store. I still miss Pieri’s (the south side of Powell) and Meek’s Powell Pharmacy, both long gone.
The little building was my father’s law office from about this time until he died in 1986. It then became the hearing aid store.