Redmond business flourish amid change, growth

Published 8:24 am Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Grit and perseverance helped Redmond businesses navigate the pandemic, and as restrictions have been removed, many are ready to flourish.

Redmond Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Eric Sande noted the Redmond business community has faced challenge after challenge since he joined the chamber over 30 years ago, showing that grit and resilience each and every time.

Back in the 1990s, downtown Redmond was completely different. Highway 97 ran right through town, bringing along loud, heavy traffic that clogged streets. It was an uninviting place for locals to shop, or visitors to stop and get out of their cars to wander around.

A major project for revitalization was the highway getting relocated to the east. But just as it was completed in 2008, the economy took a tumble. Time for more grit and perseverance and the business community bounced back.

Since then, there have been façade upgrades and a major water line improvement for the downtown business district, which Sande said has made it more appealing to business owners. But just as business was ramping up again, the pandemic hit.

Luckily, businesses are back in swing and empty shops are once again being filled. Sande estimates there is only about a 15% vacancy rate in downtown, a healthy number that encourages growth and opportunity.

Not only are new businesses popping up frequently, but it’s also a wide variety of different shops.

“This block right here, which I’ve heard people call the north block, we have shopping for every age range and men and women,” said Kristy Barton, owner of The Muddy Merch Co. at 231 SW Sixth Street.

Barton said because of Redmond’s shopping diversity, families can enjoy the day walking through town together. To her, that makes Redmond stand out from other communities.

From restaurants and breweries to clothing shops and cafes — and even Barton’s hat and leather shop — she says Redmond has something to interest every member of the family.

Aside from the variety, Barton notes that the Redmond business community is supportive of one another. Other shop owners buy from her and she buys from them. It’s a cycle that keeps this close-knit group going.

“The Redmond community has just been amazing,” Barton said. “That has been the most impactful thing for us.”

One of the newer business owners is Christie Chapucci. She opened Atomic Bazaar Vintage in May 2021. As a new owner on the block, she has already felt that community support.

Chapucci used to live in Redmond and her youngest son is in school in Redmond. When she was thinking about opening her business, she already knew Redmond was the place to operate it. She was drawn back to the Hub City because of the town and the people. Plus, she likes the small-town charm that is very much up-and-coming.

“With all the new businesses coming in, it’s becoming more of a destination place than a pass-through to go to Bend,” said Chapucci.

That’s evident in the flow of traffic. Sande said 30 years ago if you were on Highway 97, everyone would be driving to Bend for work and play. But now, traffic is going in both directions.

One reason behind the increased traffic is because of the job growth and large employers relocating to Redmond.

Illinois-based Medline Renewal, a globally recognized medical device reprocessing company, is one of the larger businesses that has contributed to local job growth. Right now, the company employs about 265 in Redmond employees with an expansion on the way.

Steve Bettis, vice president of operations, said Medline does not have final numbers on the expansion yet. But the increase in capacity will bring in new customers which will lead to more employees.

“Redmond is very pro-business,” Bettis said. “They understand the benefits of business and that really sets Redmond apart. All the communities in Central Oregon are great, but Redmond really worked hard on that.”

Bringing Dave Benson, chairman and cofounder of BasX, to Redmond was decades in the making. He said the city never gave up courting him and his company.

Sande and the economic development group first introduced Benson to the area about 25 years ago. When plans to locate in the area didn’t come to fruition, Redmond still kept in touch. The initial pitch stayed in the back of Benson’s mind as a place he would like to be someday.

“I tell people when you’re in Central Oregon and have a successful business that we have going right now, it’s always great to be wearing the company swag,” said Benson. “People all around will be like, ‘Oh, you work at BasX?’ It’s fun to know the impact you have had in the community and being recognized, which is a different field than you would have in Portland or some of the bigger communities where you’re just a number, not a company or a name that is recognized.”

Sande said Redmond remains a city that takes pride in its business community and likes to do business with people they know and trust.

Looking ahead, Sande doesn’t see business growth slowing down. Older buildings in downtown are getting being renovated to include more residential units on the second or third floors which will bring in more foot traffic, more business, more restaurants and more nightlife to its downtown core.