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Out with the Beefeater, In with new Heathman doorman uniforms

"You feel good in it, you're looking good, and I feel that way in this," Josh Edinger as he stood at his post outside on S.W. Broadway said.

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Heathman Hotel is the second oldest in Portland. Opened in 1927, their doormen are an iconic part of their history.

For many decades, the Heathman doormen wore bright red polyester uniforms commonly known as a Beefeater, complete with the top hat. It has an English history. But that was, up until this week, when the final phase of hotel modernization included debuting new uniforms.

The three doormen, who've been there six, 11 and 16 years, are rocking new, teal, wool coats and pants. The day doorman, Josh Edinger, gave KGW a closer look.

The brass buttons on the double-breasted jacket match the brass outside the hotel and have the signature Heathman diamond pattern on them. The HH monogram is hand-stitched on the collar.

The coat and pants are made of U.S.-grown wool, and they were hand-dyed, designed and sewn by Portland company, Wildwood. The teal and mustard colors are part of the hotel's new branding. The uniforms are specifically tailored to each doorman's body. And on these cold winter nights, they have modern matching beanie hats and cowl necks.

"You feel good in it, you're looking good, and I feel that way in this," Edinger as he stood at his post outside on S.W. Broadway said. "It's refreshing, it's a new look and it's kind of exciting."

"I love it, it looks great on him, he looks wonderful, he looks elegant now," Vania Jonusan who works next door and sees Edinger every day said.

He feels like it's a fresh start from old uniforms, joking "It was like a social experiment out here with that suit. You got every type of comment you could imagine," Edinger said.

It's the last phase of an entire renovation for The Heathman. Inside, the lobby sports new acrylic columns with coins inside to represent the penny flip that decided our name was to be Portland. A gold map of the city hanging behind the front desk. And the incredibly redesigned library, with over 3,000 books all signed by their authors.

But outfitting the three doormen, was a priority. They're the first, and the last impression, visitors have of the second oldest hotel in the city.

"They've given us the time and it's time that we show our appreciation to them as well," said Daniel Kahn, director of guest services. "We're making sure they feel good, and they look exceptional."

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