2021 You Gave Us A Good Run!

The Old Mill District in Bend, OR celebrates the memorable moments of 2021.

As we reflect on the events of last year and what our folks endured and accomplished – shop and restaurant owners, studio managers, sales associates, janitorial service, security team – one word keeps coming to mind: inspired. We’re inspired by the perseverance of the team in the Old Mill District who’ve been navigating a pandemic while remaining creative and productive!

Momentous milestones:

Keri Travis owner of Wild Child celebrated her one-year anniversary! Her decision to open a new small business in the thick of a pandemic and make it thrive is an entrepreneurial spirit that rings true to our hearts.

Keri Travis, Owner Wild Child

We joined Savory Spice Shop in recognizing 10 years of serving up flavor and making cooking Spice ‘n Easy for the rest of us!

Our high fashion meets eclectic streetwear boutique Vanilla Urban Threads reveled in 15 years here in the district, along with Saxon’s Fine Jewelers who’ve been “the gem in the heart of the Old Mill” since 2006!

Truly inspiring was the number of businesses who opened their doors for the first time in 2021, including Kara Hansen at Kara’s Kitchenware who now offers cooking classes most Wednesday evenings, and the Durham family who are keeping us caffeinated at Sister’s Coffee Company near Center Plaza – their third location in the state! Speaking of multiple locations, this year City Home opened their first Bend location in the district featuring modern-vintage home décor, in addition to Winsome Construction who inspire us with their luxury, high-performance home building projects. We can’t forget about Rapa Nui Tiki Lounge, whose cozy island vibes and Asian fusion cocktails are perfect any time of day.

Winsome Construction in the Old Mill District

Winsome Construction Team

The return of live events and community collaboration:

2021 saw the return of First Friday Art Walk showcasing not only our galleries Lubbesmeyer Studio & Gallery, Tumalo Art Co. and Amejko Artistry, but a plethora of local artists and creatives as well; including, Bend painter Sheila Dunn who unveiled this year’s Winter Art Series Piece, featuring a spectacular view of the Cascades and the Deschutes River.

First Friday Art Walk in the Old Mill District

Hundreds of littles experienced the magic of Santa flying into SantaLand via help from our friends at AirLink Helicopters and spirited locals decked out their boats for the Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe Holiday Lights Paddle Parade.

Hayden Homes Amphitheater completed their new stage construction, phase I of the venue remodel, hosted 25 concerts and more than 109,000 people came to groove to the rhythm of live music surrounded by the spectacular Central Oregon night sky.

John Legend at Hayden Homes Amphitheater Sept. 12, 2021 Photo: Gwen Shoemaker

Avian Amazement:
Our home nestled along the Deschutes River offers prime wildlife watching and a vibrant corridor for bird species of all kinds. Folks strolling the river trail were frequently entertained by the swooping and soaring of our resident bald eagle and red-tailed hawk. Next time you’re down, check out a pair of Leupold binoculars from our Ticket Mill (next to LUSH) to start your birding adventure!

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