I guessed it was a newspaper shop before he got to the bit about the Oregonian. All the marks are in blue pencil, which was a common tool in graphic arts until

I guessed it was a newspaper shop before he got to the bit about the Oregonian. All the marks are in blue pencil, which was a common tool in graphic arts until the digital era. And because it's a big basement in an old building in the center of a big city, that to me says newspaper.