The Business

by Annie Vieira

The ancient Mesopotamian civilization of Sumer is largely accepted by historians to be the first complex society developed by man. The Sumerians are credited with many of the innovations that continue to be an integral part of present day human existence, including the invention of a brewed liquid called “sikaru”––a substance we English-speakers now refer to as “beer.” Perhaps it is no coincidence that the civilization to give us this tasty beverage was the same civilization to provide us with the first records of oral and written communication, a system of numbers, timekeeping, trade, travel, science, and even clothing. As a matter of fact, drinking and thinking––although seemingly conflicting enterprises––actually have a long history of cohesiveness: those resourceful Mesopotamians worshiped the beer goddess Ninkasi, celebrated poets like Horace and Oliver Goldsmith credited some of their best writing to synchronous drinking, even Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence while seated in a tavern; And maybe more fittingly, the initial concept of Double Decker PDX can now be added to that list. 

I guess you could say that from the very beginning, Double Decker PDX has been about one fundamental thing: the party––an area in which Brooks Thompson and Kent Metcalf have an undeniable expertise. Originally, the idea piqued Brooks’ interest during a friend’s birthday party aboard a bus owned but what will now be one of the company’s main competitors. An entrepreneur to the core, he spent the evening celebrating while simultaneously probing the driver with questions. Even my own collaboration with Double Decker PDX was initiated over a frothy beer mug during a casual evening out. Generally speaking, I can think of few people better qualified to run a company whose primary purpose is to show people a good time. As recent graduates, Brooks and Kent have spent the last four and half years at the University of Oregon building their resume as bona fide entertainers. I must admit that many of my own favorite memories from college somehow involve either a party at their house or a night out with the duo. That said, however, the question has never been whether or not Brooks and Kent are qualified as entertainers (I challenge anyone who doubts this notion to spend an evening out with these two and then reevaluate that opinion); Rather, the more weighty question is whether two green, 22 year-old boys barely out of college, possess the imperative resources, qualities, and skills needed to establish and run a successful company. 

Although I have always known Brooks and Kent to be hard workers, what has been most impressive during our preliminary interactions outside the social arena is their incontrovertible professionalism. Let us not lose sight of the fact that this is their livelihood, as neither Brooks nor Kent have neglected that truth. Yes, they are creating a company catered toward recreation and leisure but this is also their job and future––a reality they do not take lightly. In fact it is only by happenstance that their path led them into an entertainment related field. Their initial thought was to go into real estate in some form––Brooks’ father owns a Portland based architecture firm and Kent’s father is a successful contractor, so it seemed like a good fit. They even looked into purchasing properties in Corvallis and Eugene to lease as college rentals only to quickly discover it was a dying market. Despite job offers and other opportunities, if Brooks and Kent gained one common piece of knowledge from their respective work experiences, it was that they coveted more than a career in the typical office environment. Refusing to give up on the dream of stimulating self-employment, Brooks approached Kent with the idea of purchasing a double decker bus. As Double Decker PDX slowly began to take shape during their last 10 week term of college, they discovered an excitement and passion for their company that went beyond the simple desire to show people a good time. Instead, they fell in love with their vision of restoring something vintage and historic and fusing it with the sleek and new, they fell in love with the feeling of complete satisfaction that comes with creating something from your own hard work, and most importantly they fell in love with double decker busses.

The statement, “We have purchased a double decker bus,” can unsurprisingly cause a propensity to stare blankly or stifle laughter. People often doubt what is new and unknown and like all who think outside the box, whose visions fall beyond the bounds of the conventional or ordinary, Double Decker PDX has been met with some skepticism. Brooks and Kent have the unwavering support and confidence of their families and friends, but to the rest of the population their ultimate success or failure is swathed in the passing of time. And who knows? Maybe one day, like those crafty Sumerians with their crazy, unfounded ideas about things like clothes and math and literature, when double decker busses are lining the streets of Portland as the premier form of inner-city travel, people will tell the lore of those crazy, young boys who decided to buy the very first big, red double decker bus. 

Portland party bus. Party bus portland. Double decker bus portland. Portland’s party bus. Party bus. Limo portland. Portland limo.