Repp Bros. Groceries and Meats
Conrad Repp was born in April 1857 in Norka, Russia, the son of Peter Repp (born 1828) and Elisabeth Döring (born 1832). Conrad married Anna Maria (Emma) Weidenkeller on April 24, 1878, in Norka. Emma was born in Norka on May 23, 1856. Conrad and Emma lost several children at an early age. Their son George, born January 28, 1886, would accompany them to America and later return to his native Russia to help save thousands of lives.
Conrad and Emma decided to immigrate to the United States in May 1886, along with Conrad's parents and his siblings George and Elisabeth. The family departed Europe from Hamburg, Germany, and Le Havre, France, and arrived in New York on the steamship Suevia on July 1, 1886.
The Repps initially settled in Sutton, Nebraska, where Conrad found work with the Union Pacific Railroad. Conrad's father, Peter, died in Sutton. In the spring of 1890, Conrad's family and mother migrated westward to Portland, Oregon. The Repps first settled with about 15 other Volga German families at the foot of Russell Street near the Willamette Riverfront on land leased from the Montgomery Estate. Here, they remained until the spring of 1894, when the Willamette River overflowed and carried many of their homes downstream. This entire group of Volga Germans then moved up the bank to the area around Union Avenue (then Margaretta Avenue), where the earliest Volga Germans had settled in the early 1880s. The Albina City Directory shows the family residing near Russell and Margaretta Avenue (later Union Avenue and now MLK Blvd.). Conrad worked as a laborer in the garbage-hauling business for several years. The Repps traveled to Portland with the John O. Miller family.
Conrad and Emma were charter members of the Ebenezer German Congregational Church, which was founded in 1892.
On February 1, 1899, just nine years after the family's arrival in Portland, Conrad had saved enough money to buy a store with grocery stock at 760 Union Avenue North, near the intersection with Beech Street (now 3536 MLK Blvd). Son George was working as a clerk in the store in 1900.
Conrad and Emma's family grew to four children with the birth of Paulina (born July 4, 1889, in Sutton, Nebraska), Adam (born October 2, 1892, in Portland), and Magdalena (born January 5, 1895, in Portland). Paulina (Pauline) married John H. Sinner on January 1, 1908. Conrad partnered with his son-in-law, John, and for several years, the store was named Repp and Sinner Grocery.
Conrad sold his business in July 1908 and bought a 300-acre farm in Kalama, Washington.
George and his brother-in-law, John H. Sinner, bought the store Conrad had owned and went into business together as Repp and Sinner Grocery. In 1915, George decided to go into business independently and sold his interest to John Sinner. It appears that John Sinner continued to operate the original store until the end of 1919 before selling the company to Alexander and David Hildermann. Brother Adam later joined George, and the business was renamed Repp Brothers Grocery and Meats. A new location was opened about two blocks south at 3904 NE Union (at the northeast corner of the intersection with Failing Street).
Conrad Repp died on August 13, 1916.
Conrad and Emma decided to immigrate to the United States in May 1886, along with Conrad's parents and his siblings George and Elisabeth. The family departed Europe from Hamburg, Germany, and Le Havre, France, and arrived in New York on the steamship Suevia on July 1, 1886.
The Repps initially settled in Sutton, Nebraska, where Conrad found work with the Union Pacific Railroad. Conrad's father, Peter, died in Sutton. In the spring of 1890, Conrad's family and mother migrated westward to Portland, Oregon. The Repps first settled with about 15 other Volga German families at the foot of Russell Street near the Willamette Riverfront on land leased from the Montgomery Estate. Here, they remained until the spring of 1894, when the Willamette River overflowed and carried many of their homes downstream. This entire group of Volga Germans then moved up the bank to the area around Union Avenue (then Margaretta Avenue), where the earliest Volga Germans had settled in the early 1880s. The Albina City Directory shows the family residing near Russell and Margaretta Avenue (later Union Avenue and now MLK Blvd.). Conrad worked as a laborer in the garbage-hauling business for several years. The Repps traveled to Portland with the John O. Miller family.
Conrad and Emma were charter members of the Ebenezer German Congregational Church, which was founded in 1892.
On February 1, 1899, just nine years after the family's arrival in Portland, Conrad had saved enough money to buy a store with grocery stock at 760 Union Avenue North, near the intersection with Beech Street (now 3536 MLK Blvd). Son George was working as a clerk in the store in 1900.
Conrad and Emma's family grew to four children with the birth of Paulina (born July 4, 1889, in Sutton, Nebraska), Adam (born October 2, 1892, in Portland), and Magdalena (born January 5, 1895, in Portland). Paulina (Pauline) married John H. Sinner on January 1, 1908. Conrad partnered with his son-in-law, John, and for several years, the store was named Repp and Sinner Grocery.
Conrad sold his business in July 1908 and bought a 300-acre farm in Kalama, Washington.
George and his brother-in-law, John H. Sinner, bought the store Conrad had owned and went into business together as Repp and Sinner Grocery. In 1915, George decided to go into business independently and sold his interest to John Sinner. It appears that John Sinner continued to operate the original store until the end of 1919 before selling the company to Alexander and David Hildermann. Brother Adam later joined George, and the business was renamed Repp Brothers Grocery and Meats. A new location was opened about two blocks south at 3904 NE Union (at the northeast corner of the intersection with Failing Street).
Conrad Repp died on August 13, 1916.
Repp Brothers Groceries & Meats at 3904 NE Union at Failing Street. Source: City of Portland photographs collection circa 1925-1945. Repository: Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Repp Brothers was a mainstay for many in the Volga German community. Many recall that groceries could be bought on credit in the winter, and the bill was settled during the summer after farm workers were paid for berry, hop, and bean picking.
George helped found the Volga Relief Society in 1921 to help his countrymen suffering from a severe famine in Russia. George left the business in Adam's hands while he represented the relief society and the American Relief Administration in Russia. George's work saved countless lives in the Volga German colonies.
In 1939, George sold his interest in the store to Adam's son, Earl George Repp, who continued operating the store and expanded into the wholesale meat business. Repp Brothers remained in operation until 1969, when increasing vandalism in the area caused the third-generation business to consider closure. Further impetus to close was provided by the City of Portland, which would no longer permit meat processing at this location. This area along Union Avenue was slated to become part of the Model Cities Program, an effort to revitalize the area that had minimal success.
George helped found the Volga Relief Society in 1921 to help his countrymen suffering from a severe famine in Russia. George left the business in Adam's hands while he represented the relief society and the American Relief Administration in Russia. George's work saved countless lives in the Volga German colonies.
In 1939, George sold his interest in the store to Adam's son, Earl George Repp, who continued operating the store and expanded into the wholesale meat business. Repp Brothers remained in operation until 1969, when increasing vandalism in the area caused the third-generation business to consider closure. Further impetus to close was provided by the City of Portland, which would no longer permit meat processing at this location. This area along Union Avenue was slated to become part of the Model Cities Program, an effort to revitalize the area that had minimal success.
Sources
U.S. Census lists - Ancestry.com
Albina and Portland City Directories - Ancestry.com
Robert Repp, son of Earl Repp.
"Signs Point To Urban Wasteland As Troubled Area Loses Stores." The Oregonian [Portland], June 19, 1969, page 14.
Haynes, Emma S. My Mother's People. N.p.: 1959. Print.
Albina and Portland City Directories - Ancestry.com
Robert Repp, son of Earl Repp.
"Signs Point To Urban Wasteland As Troubled Area Loses Stores." The Oregonian [Portland], June 19, 1969, page 14.
Haynes, Emma S. My Mother's People. N.p.: 1959. Print.
Last updated October 8, 2025