Kathleen McLaughlin
The Bulletin
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Past articles by Kathleen:
Renovation of historic downtown Bend building will displace Trivia Antiques
The skeleton seated outside Trivia Antiques is more than a gimmick to draw downtown Bend visitors into the store, which is packed with old jewelry, purses, hats and curios. Shop owner Wendy Sexton’s calcified greeter also reflects her personality. “I love skulls. I love Halloween. I even carry a skeleton in my car the month of Halloween,” she said. “You would not believe how many people take… → Read More
Bend investors bid on The Bulletin real estate
A Bend real estate investor bid $13.25 million to buy out of bankruptcy The Bulletin’s headquarters — property near Oregon State University-Cascades that includes 2.5 acres of vacant land with development potential. Next Development Group, led by Bradley Kent, would pay cash for the property, according to an asset purchase agreement filed in bankruptcy court Wednesday. Prior to filing for… → Read More
Low unemployment rate masks slowing job growth
The unemployment rate in Deschutes County stayed near its historic low in July, but those numbers mask a serious slowdown in hiring, the Oregon Employment Department said Tuesday.“We thought it was slowing, and it actually was slower than we thought,” said Damon Runberg, Central Oregon regional economist for the Employment Department. “It feels like we’re entering a different phase of the… → Read More
Homebuilder closes after starting jobs at Bend resort
The first two houses that Taylor Wolf built at Pronghorn Resort stood out with their striking combination of modern design and traditional materials.Heavy timbers frame the tall windows and simple yet dramatic roof lines. The houses on Ghost Tree Lane were featured on the Central Oregon Builders Association Tour of Homes in 2016. A speculative venture by Wolf’s NWB Builders, the houses were sold… → Read More
Bend is getting more space for coworking
Coworking made its debut in Bend more than four years ago with BendTECH, a 50-desk bullpen ringed by 19 private offices that has become a hub of entrepreneurial activity.In that time, BendTECH has been joined by The Wilds, a coworking space geared toward designers and other creative professionals on SW Century Drive, and Oregon State University-Cascades’ Innovation Co-Lab, which offers… → Read More
Oregon company wins auction for
EO Media Group was the high bidder at an auction Monday for The Bulletin and Redmond Spokesman, offering $3.65 million for Central Oregon’s century-old daily newspaper and a sister weekly.EO Media, or East Oregonian Publishing, outbid Adams Publishing Group in the auction at the offices of Tonkon Torp LLP in Portland, said Michael Fletcher, attorney for The Bulletin’s parent company, Western… → Read More
New marijuana shops underway in Bend
The Bend marijuana shop Creative Crops has faced nearby competition for the duration of its two-year existence, and now, the business and its Scott Street building are for sale.Co-owner Denise Drazil said her customer base is increasing, despite the fact that a large chain, Mr. Nice Guy, bought out her competitor around the block on Davis Avenue late last year. Drazil and her partners — her… → Read More
Bend kombucha company cancels East Coast expansion
Humm Kombucha canceled plans to open a second plant in Roanoke, Virginia, citing greater efficiency and production capacity in Bend.CEO Jamie Danek sent a statement to the city of Roanoke, which is in the process of unwinding its economic development agreement with Humm, said Rob Ledger, Roanoke’s interim economic development director.Danek couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday. Her statement… → Read More
Rhode Island group offers $2.25M for Bend, Redmond newspapers
In the absence of a higher bid, Bend’s century-old daily newspaper and a sister paper covering Redmond will be sold to an investor group for $2.25 million.The offer by Rhode Island Suburban Newspapers Inc. was disclosed in a court filing Friday by The Bulletin’s parent company, Western Communications, which is selling all of its assets through Chapter 11 bankruptcy. A hearing is scheduled for… → Read More
Bend Applebee’s building for lease
The home of Bend’s only Applebee’s is for lease, but the restaurant remains open. Compass Commercial Real Estate Services publicized the Applebee’s building at 3197 N U.S. Highway 97, Bend River Village, in its latest “Navigator” newsletter.The restaurant is operated by a franchisee, J&A Food Service Inc. of Redding, California. A J&A Food Service representative did not respond to a request for… → Read More
Grocery Outlet surges in first day of trading
Shares of Grocery Outlet closed at $28.51 Thursday, the first day of trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange.Thursday’s closing price represents a 29.6% premium over the initial public offering price of $22 a share. The Emeryville, California, discount grocer with roots in Redmond said it sold 17.2 million shares at the IPO price, raising $378 million. The money will go toward retiring debt.The… → Read More
Report: Bend home prices reach new high in May
After a volatile winter, the Bend housing market seems on track for another summer with plenty of sales and record-high prices.That’s according to one measure that is closely followed by Bend real estate brokers and homeowners. The Beacon Report by Beacon Appraisal Group in Redmond shows the median sales price of single-family homes in the Bend area reached a new high in May of $466,000, up… → Read More
Work to begin on southeast Bend neighborhood near golden eagle nest
High-volume builder Hayden Homes will take over construction of a southeast Bend subdivision near a golden eagle nesting site.The nest’s exact location hasn’t been disclosed, but it is adjacent to the planned subdivision, which is off Brosterhous Road north of Tillicum Village, said Geoff Harris, Central Oregon regional director for Hayden Homes. Active in the area since 2014, the mating pair of… → Read More
Central Oregon Business Index turns negative
The trajectory of Central Oregon’s economy turned downward in the first quarter, marking the first significant decline in nearly eight years, according to an index compiled by the University of Oregon. The Central Oregon Business Index was at 143.2, down 2.5 points, or 1.7%, from the fourth quarter 2018. The last time the index posted a decline of more than a fraction of a point was from the… → Read More
What’s going up in Bend’s NorthWest Crossing neighborhood?
Owner: District 2 East LLC, a partnership of Brooks Resources and Taylor DevelopmentsGeneral Contractor: SunWest BuildersArchitect: Steele Associates ArchitectsDetails: The most noticeable aspect of a new office park under construction on the far west side of Bend is the retaining wall along NW Mt. Washington Drive.The property owner and developer hopes that by the end of 2021, five new… → Read More
Bend River Promenade listed for $47.9 million
One of Bend’s longstanding shopping centers, anchored by Macy’s and T.J. Maxx, is for sale for $47.9 million.Compass Commercial Real Estate Services publicized the listing this week of Bend River Promenade at 3148 N. U.S. Highway 97.Bend River Promenade tenants are thriving, said Rich Costanzo, a partner in the shopping center. “That’s when you sell a center,” he said. “You don’t sell a center… → Read More
Budget ADU company does business in Bend
Driving around central Bend, Dweller CEO Patrick Quinton sees a lot of construction activity in backyards.Accessory dwelling units, known as ADUs or granny flats, can produce rental income or provide private living quarters for an aging relative. Yet because of their cost and hurdles to obtaining financing, they remain unavailable to most homeowners, Quinton said.“Only rich people are able to… → Read More
Les Schwab wants to move Franklin Avenue store in Bend
Les Schwab Tire Centers wants to move its longstanding store on Franklin Avenue near downtown Bend to NE Third Street.The move would free up more than 3 acres of real estate at the gateway to downtown. It would also displace multiple small businesses on the block of Third Street between NE Clay and NE Burnside avenues.Les Schwab needs permission from the Bend City Council to make the move… → Read More
Nationwide home builder returns to Bend
One of the nation’s largest homebuilders, D.R. Horton, is doing business in Central Oregon for the first time since 2011.The Texas-based company bought 49 lots in the Stone Creek neighborhood in southeast Bend and has several homes under construction. D.R. Horton’s return is noteworthy because the homebuilding scene in Central Oregon is dominated by local companies, though two of them — Hayden… → Read More
Sony’s Bend Studio releases big-budget game
Sony Interactive Entertainment will release a big-budget video game created by the company’s Bend development studio on Friday, and local gamers are eager to play “Days Gone.”The game, rated for mature audiences, is set in a High Desert landscape two years after a pandemic virus wiped out most of the population and turned many of the rest into “freakers.” Playing as lead character Deacon St.… → Read More