Norm cherishes the relationships he has with his customers and plans to sell Street Roots for life
Retired chef and Street Roots vendor Norm Chamberlain first fell in love with Portland while visiting his grandfather, who worked in a steel mill in Oregon. He settled in Portland after cooking school and worked until he was 61 years old. For the last eight years, Norm has sold Street Roots. The routine is important to him.
“Street Roots gets me out of the house,” he said. “It also puts me in contact with healthy adult customers and gives me a chance to do something honest and forthright. It’s a good way to have some fun. When my customers ask about Street Roots, I tell them that Street Roots is a good, clean read.”
It’s his customers, though, that keep him going. He has built his customer base to about 70 regular customers and more than doubled his sales since he first started.
“There’s an old saying that ‘everybody needs somebody,’ and it’s a two-way street,” he said. “I’ve got a number of people who come and check on me.”
While he may have retired from a professional kitchen, Norm has no intent to retire from selling Street Roots.
“I plan to keep selling until I die,” he said. “I”m 70 years old. I just saw my doctor, who told me I’m in darn good shape.”
The secret to his youth? His perspective, he said.
“I’m a very grateful individual,” Norm said. “I don’t take anything for granted. I take things one day at a time. I take what the universe gives me and use it carefully and properly. It prevents aging.”
Another secret? Good food. Norm’s grandparents came from France, and his style of cooking combines herbs and fresh foods together to produce good aromatic dishes.
“I cook for myself every day,” he said. “One of my friends told me I need a girlfriend. They’re probably right. I hope it happens.”
One of his favorite dishes to make is one he created — an Italian Macaroni Salad. He combines macaroni, shredded cheddar, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, black olives and Miracle Whip. He adds a little ketchup to sweeten it and then refrigerates it overnight. He adds Italian seasoning to the macaroni, and sometimes he adds chicken or ham to make it a meal.
“It’s absolutely to die for,” Norm said. “It’s simple. It’s very good. It’s colorful. It looks good to eat, and it is good to eat.”
Norm sells Street Roots every day at Southeast 34th Avenue and Southeast Belmont Street between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Norm can also be supported via @StreetRoots Venmo by entering his name and badge number (414) in the notes.
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