10 lessons from Bend
“What we learn from history is that people don’t learn from history.”
Warren Buffett
If downtown Bend, Oregon was a drink, it would be equal parts coffee, beer, and river water. It’s a cocktail for success - one all of us developers should study - but there’s a handful of other ingredients that make it different (and more effective) than the new stuff we’re building.
Imperfection.
Check out the columns at The Commons Cafe & Taproom - it’s hard to find any new construction that compares.
A Cellar Pub
Basement beverages enhance any urban environment and not enough of them are getting built.
Back alley as a front door
Instead of turning a back to pedestrians, enliven loading areas where possible.
Hand-crafted intoxicants
In an age of wellness-related fast casual brands, “late night provisions” are scarce.
Letter Signs
Most new developments have a “sign criteria” so the Man can prevent personalized expression. RESIST.
Live Music.
It’s not all Birkenstocks and Patagonia - Bend still a few hideouts to hear scream-singing post-punk bands - something every town should all emulate.
Rooftop Signs.
Most municipal sign regulations prohibit this. Why?
Old stuff.
A tavern “Est. 1936” is a proxy for damn good fish & chips. Pine Tavern is no exception.
Record Stores
Smith Rock Records - vintage Rolling Stone mags, Pulp Fiction on a loop, Wu-Tang stickers, and CDs. We all need more of this.
Multi-modal transportation
Mass transit is too expensive for most areas, but bike trails and river commutes make for good living. A bit of surface parking, a flower shop and some food trucks to greet arrivals makes for good vibes.
Old downtowns designed themselves for a purpose. And they worked. Some of them still do - it’s good to understand why.
Thank you for reading Asphalt Jungle - if you’re passionate about transformative real estate development, apply to join AUTOMATIC - a gathering for real estate developers interested in making wonderful places and the innovative retail & hospitality brands, designers, contractors, and capital providers that bring those places to life.
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Superica
Tootsies
Scarlet Capital
Radom Capital
Alamo Drafthouse
Flower Child
Yonder Yoga
Heim BBQ
Sorelle Capital
El Carlos
Culinary Dropout
Triten Real Estate Partners
Dunmoor
Hot Joy
Uchi
Little Death
HomeState
Three Littles
Deal Co.
Ojo de Agua
Local Foods
Hamsa
Dish Society
The Rustic
Asana Partners
Saint Arnold
Loro
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