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Writer's pictureRyan DiLello

The Portal Vintage: Somerville's Mysterious Antiques & Prints Shop


Inside The Portal Vintage at 95 Elm Street in Porter Square

“You looked open, the sign says you should be open, and your message said you would be open, but there’s no sign of anybody here. So fuck that shit, I have other places I have to be before you show up. You probably didn’t have what I wanted anyway. Have a lovely day, goodbye!” 


That’s one of countless angry voicemails Mike Curtis receives on a weekly basis from potential customers looking to visit his shop The Portal Vintage in Porter Square. But Curtis doesn’t care.


“I don’t do advertising. My social media has some vague stuff. I don’t answer the phone. I’m glad to see more people are interested in it. It’s a word of mouth thing. And if you look up the shop online, people have great things to say, but the one thing they say is, ’he’s never open!’ I’m just terrible at keeping solid hours.”


But the owner has his reasons for the unpredictability. A firefighter with the Somerville Fire Department and a print artist, Curtis’ staggered schedule at the firehouse and endless print work makes it difficult to maintain consistent shop hours. It’s equally hard to find help at a moment’s notice, he said. 


The shop has the chaotic organization and inventory of a typical hoarder-style thrift store, treading the line between old gold and junk. The outside is lined with intriguing items from prints to pottery and even the occasional art installation. This month features a statue from a familiar friend of SOME: Bob Smith of Minimum Wage Art.



A statue made by Bob Smith and friends of Minimum Wage Art

“People are just happy to give me stuff and I don’t have more storage outside of this place, so it looks like crap in here," said Curtis. "Some people love that. People like to dig. Open any drawer; you won’t know what you’ll find."


Amidst the assortment of obscure paintings, antique lamps, books, and stowed-away gadgets are new silkscreen t-shirts, collage posters, reprinted posters, and other modern offerings. The blend of new and old forms a funky and anachronistic shopping experience that sparks visitors’ interests. 


“It’s a curiosity shop. I don’t want to define this place as anything. I’ve changed the name a couple times – cause I don’t have a sign,” Curtis said, smirking.  “You know, whatever works best. I just don’t want to be the cookie-cutter vintage corny shit you see a lot of.”  


The Portal is only the latest stint in Curtis’ free-flowing career as a self-taught screen printer, graphic designer, and budding antique collector. 


Born and raised in Somerville, Curtis was an active member of the arts scene and an advocate for Somerville youth arts. Growing up, he saw connections between the City’s neglect of public buildings and its youth.


Curtis sought to communicate these issues through exhibits and activism. Those efforts included an exhibit at the Nave Gallery in 2008 to commemorate the loss of a friend and a citywide campaign to document neglected property and offer restoration free of charge. According to Curtis, the City dismissed his offer to repaint buildings like City Hall and the Somerville Museum. Somerville announced plans to begin restoring the City Hall clock tower and roof just this past fall.


Alongside his community work, Curtis started a screen printing business, Villen. He sold original works out of a truck he renovated into a mobile shop and made commissioned prints out of his basement throughout the early 2000s.


In 2012, Curtis found a warehouse in Union Square and with business partner, Peggy Morrissey, opened “Union,” a mixed events and antiques space. Curtis and Morrissey worked to cement the space as a staple for everything from weddings to underground parties, but Curtis burned out and left the space to Morrissey who now operates the building as Warehouse XI


Around 2023, Curtis opened The Portal Vintage under the name “ReUnion.” The store opened with a punk show on Halloween. Despite the pouring rain, over 50 people turned out. “It was insane,” Curtis said.


Opening the shop was especially meaningful for Curtis because the building once belonged to his grandfather, who operated Porter Square Furniture there from 1990 to 2005.


“I’d go [t]here after school and help load up people’s cars, wash the store windows, and read the newspaper with him. I grew up working for him and he taught me the business,” Curtis said. Opening The Portal was a sentimental, full-circle moment for him.


But last year Curtis almost to shuttered the store. The lease was ending and he wanted to focus more on his art. He renamed it Hard Times Emporium, painted the new name on the windows and door, and held a final exhibition featuring work from street art quipsters NOT ART, Endless Courage, and fine artist Alex Kalil. Whether it was a closing ceremony or a publicity stunt, the exhibit triggered an outpour of community curiosity, support – and sales. 


“It just came all at once. Hauls from everywhere, people suddenly coming in buying things, telling me not to close,” Curtis said. “It seemed like the portal was open and I couldn’t close it. So that’s why I renamed it.”


Generally speaking, the Portal Vintage is now open for business again: selling a mix of antiques, new prints, and formal framing and matting services. Just check with Curtis to be sure they’re open on time.

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