MEDIA ALERT
Media Contact:
Jane Wiley
503-901-7983
Obie Companies Unveils Transformative Riverfront Development
The Gordon Hotel and Gordon Residences will redefine Downtown Corvallis through new residential and hospitality offerings
Corvallis, Ore. (October 10, 2024) - Obie Companies, renowned for developing and managing unique, community-focused projects for retail, multifamily and hospitality, has announced a groundbreaking mixed-use development that promises to transform downtown Corvallis and its iconic riverfront. The new project will build upon Obie Companies’ award-winning Gordon Hotel hospitality and residential concept by bringing it to Corvallis, Oregon. This new development, which includes a hotel with plans for 75 rooms, as well as 92 residences located in the same building, marks a significant investment in the city’s future. Obie Companies intends to create the same kind of vibrant hub for community gathering and economic development that it has seen with its initial Gordon Hotel and Gordon Lofts development in Eugene, Oregon. The site is located in the heart of the city, on the Willamette River riverfront in downtown Corvallis, at the corner of 1st Street and Madison. The development is poised to become a catalyst for continued downtown revitalization, offering an innovative combination of luxurious hotel living with the comforts of home — all within steps of downtown amenities and scenic riverfront views. The project addresses the shortage of high-quality housing options in downtown Corvallis while providing the surrounding community with a dynamic new hub for social interaction, economic development and riverfront activation. Groundbreaking is anticipated for February 2025.
“We’re thrilled to bring the Gordon Hotel experience to Corvallis,” said Brian Obie, President & CEO of Obie Companies. “As we’ve seen with the Gordon Hotel and Gordon Lofts in Eugene, intertwining our award-winning hotel concept with high-quality residences creates a magical fusion of hospitality and residential living. Hotel guests enjoy the authentic, dynamic atmosphere of a residential community while residents enjoy hotel-like amenities and services right at their doorstep. We’re proud to be building a destination that will contribute to the ongoing revitalization of downtown Corvallis and become an integral part of the local community for generations to come.”
The project’s location, in the heart of downtown Corvallis and on the Willamette River, will bring new vitality to the area. With at least 92 full-time residents living, working and spending time in downtown Corvallis, the development will inject new life into the downtown core, creating a significant boost for local businesses and the overall economy.
“When developing a project,” said Obie, “we look to the last 100 years of a community’s history and natural environment to plan for and design a project that will enrich and inspire for the next 100 years. This approach ensures that our developments meet current market needs and continue to serve and elevate future generations. For this property, we’re excited to further activate the connections between downtown Corvallis and the Willamette River through the community created by the Gordon Hotel and Gordon Residences. It will be one of the area’s most impactful projects in several decades.”
The success of the 80-room Gordon Hotel and Gordon Lofts in Eugene serves as a model for the Corvallis project. The Gordon Hotel in Eugene was named one of TripAdvisor’s Hottest New US Hotels in 2022; it was one of only two Oregon properties to receive this designation.
The new Gordon Hotel will be designed to reflect Corvallis’ unique character and history and will highlight connections to the Willamette River. The Gordon Residences in Corvallis will feature a club room with a community kitchen, game area, outdoor terrace with fire pits overlooking the Willamette River, outdoor grilling station, outdoor TV, expansive 24-hour fitness studio, pet wash station, bike storage, and resident parking.
The development will be built on the site of the old Flat Tail Brewery and Blackledge warehouse. While the existing foundation and unreinforced masonry construction were not feasible to use in the buildout, Obie Companies will be salvaging and repurposing materials such as wood and brick for the new project.
Market analysis has shown a strong need for premier lodging and housing options in Corvallis, particularly to support local companies and institutions in their recruitment efforts to draw top talent. The new Gordon Hotel and Gordon Residences will provide the type of high-quality accommodations and housing that Corvallis needs to compete on a global stage.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 20, 2020
Contact: Jenny Ulum, 541-954-6819
NEW TENANTS ANNOUNCED AS MARKET EXPANSION OPENING NEARS
(Eugene, OR) – Anticipation of the opening of the 5th Street Public Market expansion is growing as construction on the project enters its final weeks. With mounting excitement, the Market is pleased to welcome the following new tenants to the Market District.
Bloom Consignment Bridal has opened on the second floor of the Market overlooking the courtyard. The store is owned by mother-daughter team of Jennifer and Madison Gaskill. Visits are by appointment only and may be scheduled through the store’s website. The business donates 10% of sale proceeds to fight human trafficking in Cambodia.
Two prominent local businesses will soon expand into Makers Row at the Market. Art gallery owner Karin Clarke will open Karin Clarke at the Gordon in January 2021. This is Clarke’s second location. The Karin Clarke Gallery at 760 Willamette St. was established in downtown Eugene in 2002 and remains open.
Beaudet Jewelry is also adding a second location. This is a return to downtown Eugene for the business that first opened in 1976 in the historic Quackenbush Building on East Broadway. Owner Charles Beaudet is a second-generation jeweler known for his masterful work and custom designs.
The Basic Botanist, a tropical plant shop owned by local couple Amanda Yankovich and Kris Kinsella, is opening in the Market Alley, a covered pedestrian walkway that connects the Gordon Hotel, Gordon Lofts and Market Building. Describing themselves as self-proclaimed botanists, the couple gathers plants on their travels around the globe, curating their collections to help customers create an indoor oasis. Contact 541-678-0778.
Bug’s Baby Boutique, owned by Hayley Hall and Wanda Stotts, is opening in January 2021. Established online in 2017, this is the company’s first brick-and-mortar store. All products are original designs and locally made by hand; custom orders are also accepted. Popular items include fleece jackets, bibs, headbands, teethers, clothing, accessories and more.
Electric bicycle business Pedego® has opened at 199 E. 5th Ave., Suite 5, in the Station Square building on the corner of 5th Avenue and Pearl Street. Local owner Mike Murphy opened Pedego Eugene after a 42-year career in banking. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Pedego was established in 2008 and today has a growing network of more than 120 locally owned stores offering premium electric bikes for sale or rent along with accessories and service.
Longtime Market favorite Melange, a women’s clothing boutique, is under new ownership. Amanda Collins Thomas, who began working at the store in 2008, has purchased it from Lauren Visconsi. The store was founded in 1985 in downtown Eugene and moved to the 5th Street Public Market in 2000.
Alesong Brewing and Blending plans to open its second tasting room at the Market, adjacent to the Inn at the 5th, on Nov. 20 for bottle sales. As soon as the governor's two-week freeze on restaurants and bars is lifted, the new location with its outdoor roof deck patio will be open from noon to 8 p.m. daily, serving a wide array of the brewery’s signature barrel-aged beers and small bites.
About the 5th Street Public Market:
The 5th Street Public Market Expansion began construction on Feb. 14, 2019. Located just west of the original Market, the project features a hotel, apartments and retail building. The 82-room boutique Gordon Hotel fronts Oak Street to the west. The Gordon Lofts offers 127 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. The three-story Market Building sits at the corner of 6th Avenue and Pearl Street. Nike is the anchor tenant on the ground floor and co-working office space called The District is on the top two floors. All three buildings are connected by the Market Alley, a 200-foot-long glass-covered walkway teeming with shops, food and Makers Row, where emerging artisans can gain exposure while giving visitors fun and interactive experiences. The Expansion is expected to open to the public in early 2021.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 29, 2020
Contact: Jenny Ulum, 541-954-6819; Lara Yasin Ventimiglia, lara@bellamediallc.com
RESTAURATEUR SELECTED FOR GORDON HOTEL
(Eugene, Ore.) – When the Gordon Hotel opens this fall in the 5th Street Public Market Expansion, it will introduce two new restaurants with local roots: Springfield native Mark Byrum, founder and CEO of Portland-based Urban Restaurant Group, will open Carlita’s Rooftop on the hotel’s seventh floor and The Gordon Tavern on the ground floor.
“We could not be more excited to bring Mark Byrum’s talents in the form of these exciting new venues to Eugene,” says Brian Obie, president and CEO of Obie Companies. “It is with pleasure and anticipation that we look forward to introducing Mark’s popular culinary offerings to our community and the Market District.”
Urban Restaurants operates seven restaurants and a catering company in Portland; this is Byrum’s first venture outside of the Portland area.
“My love of the restaurant business started in Eugene, and my desire to grow and learn led me to Portland,” Byrum says. “Now, 27 years later, my passion has come full circle. I am excited and grateful for this opportunity to be back in Eugene.”
The Gordon Tavern will offer classic American comfort food in the 4,000-square-foot restaurant space, located on the corner of 6th Avenue and Oak Street. The tavern with a full-service bar will open onto the hotel lobby to serve hotel guests and the local community alike.
The tavern will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, as well as a generous early- and late-night happy hour and delicious warm doughnuts and bottomless mimosas during Saturday and Sunday brunch. Expect generous and crowd-pleasing appetizers meant for sharing and unforgettable staples such as crisp fried chicken and house-made chicken pot pie. The food menu is accompanied by extensive craft beer offerings, Northwest wines and original handcrafted cocktails.
Carlita’s Rooftop will open in spring of 2021 on the seventh floor of the Gordon Hotel. Carlita’s Rooftop is modeled after Carlita’s in northwest Portland that is known for its tacos, tequila and whiskey. The indoor-outdoor space with city views will be open daily for dinner as well as early and late happy hours and weekend lunch.
Carlita’s serves up a tasty mix of Mexican small plates infused with locally sourced ingredients in a cozy yet modern setting. The spectacular view complements the elevated Mexican fare. While tacos are the main attraction, the menu is chock-full of options including fresh ensaladas, tostadas, sopas and shareables like the Carlita’s Skillet, Ahi Ceviche, Chicken Mole Nachos and the ever popular Elote, better known as street corn. Margaritas are prominently featured, along with an extensive list of tequila, whiskey and agave selections, as well as house-selected barrels, flights and seasonal tastings.
In addition to the two restaurants, Byrum and Obie hint that there will be a third restaurant location in the Gordon Hotel, but details remain under wraps. The Gordon Tavern will offer room service and banquet catering to the hotel’s three meeting rooms as well as to the public for special events off site.
Urban Restaurants expects to employ about 65 people total when every venue is open. Hiring will begin in late summer. Visit www.urban-restaurants.com for information on how to apply.
A 1987 graduate of Thurston High School in Springfield, Byrum began his career bussing tables at the Red Lion Hotel in Springfield. He attended the University of Oregon and Portland State University before going to work for several Portland-area restaurants. He gained additional experience in San Francisco and Napa Valley in California before returning to Portland to launch his restaurant management company. With more than 30 years of industry experience and a tireless work ethic, Byrum has garnered a reputation as an expert in concept creation, restaurant management and guest service.
The Gordon Hotel is part of the 5th Street Public Market Expansion currently under construction just west of the original Market. In addition to the 82-room boutique hotel, the Expansion features the Gordon Lofts with 127 apartments and the three-story Market Building with Nike on the ground floor and co-working office space on the top two floors. All three buildings are connected by the Market Alley, a 200-foot-long glass-covered walkway teeming with shops, food and Makers Row, where emerging artisans can gain exposure while giving visitors fun and interactive experiences. The Expansion is expected to open to the public in late 2020.
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For immediate release, March 4, 2020
Contact: Bonnie Glass, Euphoria, 541-344-4914; Jenny Ulum, 5th Street Public Market, 541-954-6819
Euphoria Chocolate Coming to 5th Street Public Market
Makers Row welcomes Euphoria Chocolate Company to its lineup of shops along the Market Alley that connects the three buildings comprising the 5th Street Public Market Expansion currently under construction. Euphoria Chocolate joins Pfeiffer Winery as the first local companies to secure space in Makers Row, a collection of eight 300-square-foot retail spaces designed to give local artisans and other makers a showcase for their creations.
For 40 years Euphoria Chocolate Company has been delighting chocolate lovers. It has been owned by Van and Bonnie Glass since 2014. Their handmade artisan chocolates and hand-dipped signature truffles are sold in retail locations and dozens of specialty stores, coffee houses, and gourmet food markets throughout the Pacific Northwest. Creating products at a high standard has been the key ingredient to Euphoria’s success. Euphoria’s commitment to using the highest quality ingredients in their small batch creations has earned them regional acclaim.
One factor in Euphoria’s decision to open a shop at the Market was the appeal of teaming up with another locally owned company. “We are excited to be part of this next chapter in Eugene’s development and being part of the community that is coming together at 5th Street,” Bonnie Glass says. “This town is amazing and bursting at the seams with talented innovators doing creative work. We care about this community and we look forward to helping to make where we live and work even better.”
Glass says the new location will offer smaller batches and allow chocolatiers to experiment with new flavors and seasonal ingredients to create confections that aren’t available at other stores.
Makers Row is on the ground floor of the three-story Market Building which houses Nike and HQ Office, new co-working space, at the corner of 6th Avenue and Pearl Street. This collection of eight 300-square-foot retail spaces will highlight local artisans and other makers. It will feature a covered walkway, short-term and accessible leasing options for emerging artisans to expose new products and provide fun, interactive experiences for the Market District’s estimated two million visitors annually.
“Makers Row is a great fit with the focus on the arts and local artisans (“makers”) that we are infusing into this project and the entire Market District,” says Irene Alltucker, Market District General Manager and Director of Real Estate. “We are thrilled to welcome Euphoria Chocolate to Makers Row and to use this new venue to highlight the quality of their handmade chocolate. It is a great example of exactly the kind of maker we envision for these spaces. We are excited to introduce the millions of visitors we see each year to the local artisans in Makers Row.”
Glass adds that Euphoria is looking forward to continuing to expand its offerings of chocolates made with locally sourced flavors. “Oregon wine, beer and spirits feature prominently in our product offerings, and we see even more opportunities with the other makers who are part of the Market District,” Glass says. “As a locally owned small business, we value relationships with our clients, partners and local businesses.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/17/2019
CONTACT:
Marne Dunder
Café Yumm!
541.683.YUMM (9866)
Café Yumm! to Open in 5th Street Public Market Expansion
After 15 years, the Eugene original returns to 5th Street with a new restaurant.
Eugene, OR – Café Yumm! will soon bring its fan-favorite menu, including Yumm! Bowls®, soups, salads, and wraps to the new Market District development on 5th Street in Eugene. The famous Northwest restaurant announced today that a new location will open in the $75-million Market Expansion project now underway just west of the Inn at the 5th boutique hotel.
“It amazes me that we now have over 20 restaurants across three states, and it’s wonderful to return to the place where it all began. Mark and I opened the first, small Café Yumm! restaurant inside the 5th Street Public Market in 1997,” said Mary Ann Beauchamp, co-founder of Café Yumm!.
The expansion project by Obie Companies broke ground in February 2019 and is expected to open in fall 2020. It includes a second hotel, apartments, offices, restaurants, and retail spaces joined by a 200-foot-long covered promenade known as Market Alley. The walkway will connect the Gordon Hotel to Pearl Street as well as to the existing 5th Street Public Market. The design is inspired by early 20th-century warehouse buildings and evokes the area’s history as Eugene’s industrial center.
“Opening a restaurant in the new Market Building is a fantastic opportunity to once again be in the heart of Eugene. We see the expansion project as an inspirational vision of how our downtown community can become a true urban village. Café Yumm! is honored to be a part of it, and we are very much looking forward to coming back to 5th Street,” said Mark Beauchamp, president and co-founder of Café Yumm! restaurants.
“Café Yumm! is a homegrown success story beginning in the 5th Street Market. It is a perfect complement to the wonderful array of retail, food, and beverage options available here. The plans for the Market Alley will create such a unique experience. We will see people coming for a bite to eat and staying to explore and enjoy the surrounding offerings,” says Irene Alltucker, director of real estate at Obie Companies.
Café Yumm! has doubled its number of locations since 2012 and currently operates 23 restaurants across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. With its most recent development in new market areas, Café Yumm! opened in Eagle, Idaho in January of 2019 (one of three franchised units planned in the Boise metro area). More details about the new Eugene location to come.
About Café Yumm!
Café Yumm! has restaurants throughout the Pacific Northwest serving Beautiful, Delicious, Nourishing™ food prepared fresh with sustainable, locally sourced ingredients. The menu includes a variety of Yumm! Bowls® made with the brand’s signature Yumm! Sauce®, as well as all-natural chicken and turkey, certified organic tofu and tempeh, salads, soups, and wraps. Receiving numerous awards for environmental values, Café Yumm! installed America’s first solar-powered electric vehicle charging station at a restaurant, uses recyclable and compostable materials, and features over 50% certified organic ingredients. www.cafeyumm.com
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For immediate release – Nov. 11, 2019
Contact: Amanda Yankovich, amanda@obie.com, 541-799-0220; or Jenny Ulum, 541-954-6819
Co-Working Space to Open in Market Expansion
Downtown Eugene’s newest urban village under construction at the 5th Street Public Market will soon be home to a new co-working space called HQ Office. The latest venture of Obie Companies, HQ Office is a prototype for a concept that Obie looks to replicate in other communities.
HQ Office will occupy the two floors above anchor tenant Nike in the Market Building going up on the corner of 6th Avenue and Pearl Street. With two skybridges connecting the three buildings that comprise the project – hotel, apartments and retail/office – HQ Office will be uniquely situated to take advantage of the amenities afforded in the development.
“At HQ Office people will truly be able to live, work and play all in one place,” says Amanda Yankovich, director of business development for Obie Companies. “It’s where people can be what we’re calling double connected – connected to one another in the office and connected to the world through the latest technology.”
Built primarily of glass and steel, the offices will occupy about 20,000 square feet and can accommodate an estimated 200 workers.
“Greater Eugene’s tech community will grow by at least 23 percent over the next 10 years,” says Matt Sayre, vice president of the Technology Association of Oregon. “HQ Office will offer exciting, fertile new soil for local startups to grow in, as well as space for new satellite offices of tech companies looking to expand to Oregon who are attracted to the region’s abundance of tech talent.”
The floor plan is still being developed along with the leasing price structure. A mix of private offices, meeting rooms and flexible spaces will be offered along with kitchen facilities, showers and common areas. Other amenities include high-speed fiber, AV equipment, printer/copier, secure bike storage, 24/7 building access, Market District security, and access to hotel services and meeting spaces.
“Proximity to the hotel and apartments is a real advantage this space offers,” Yankovich says, adding that Obie anticipates adding more HQ Offices to its future hotel developments.
HQ Office represents a significant investment by Obie Companies in a long-term lease for the space as well as high-end furniture, fixtures and amenities. The brand-new construction features ample windows and high ceilings to create a light, airy space right in the middle of all the Market’s attractions.
“Flexible, fluid work spaces are the office of the future,” says Brian Obie, CEO of Obie Companies. “We see this as a strong market response to Eugene’s vision for an Innovation District and to fulfill the potential of the Knight Campus. There won’t be anything else like it in Eugene.”
Prospective tenants should be able to sign leases by next summer, with a variety of durations available.
“Everyone from startups to entrepreneurs can feel part of this cool, connected community we’re creating,” Yankovich says. “We are excited to introduce HQ Office to the Eugene community and beyond.”
For more information contact Amanda Yankovich, amanda@obie.com, 541-799-0220
Friday, March 9, 2018
For immediate release
Contact: Jenny Ulum, 541-954-6819
5th Street Public Market Poised to Expand
$60 million project brings new living, lodging, shopping and dining options to downtown Eugene
Eugene, OR – The 5th Street Public Market is preparing to embark on its largest construction project ever, with plans to break ground later this year on a new hotel, apartment building and retail center on a lot bordered by 6th Avenue and Pearl and Oak streets.
The project takes up half a block on land owned by Lane County and leased to Obie Companies, owner of 5th Street Public Market, under a 99-year agreement signed in 2013.
“This is the largest undertaking in our company’s history, and a significant investment in the ongoing redevelopment and revitalization of downtown Eugene,” says Brian Obie, president and CEO of Obie Companies and former Eugene mayor (1984-1988). “We love this community and the community has always loved the Market right back. We think they’re going to love this evolving Market District even more.”
The estimated $60 million development project on what is now a county-owned parking lot consists of three buildings:
- a seven-story, 113-unit apartment building, the Market Lofts, with ground-floor retail
- a three-story retail and office building, and
- a seven-story, 82-room boutique hotel, to be called The Gordon Hotel in honor of Gordon Obie, Brian Obie’s late father.
The three buildings will be connected by a glass-covered Market Alley that leads from the hotel to Pearl Street. Small shops, cafés and tasting rooms will open onto the Alley where Market residents, hotel guests, visitors and locals can explore and interact.
The Market expansion is a major step forward in the ongoing formation of a Market District that adds to the vibrancy of the downtown area and promotes local arts and culture by incorporating the works of local artists into interior and exterior designs as well as through community events and business opportunities.
“We see the Market District evolving into a vibrant hub for the arts where there is always something new to discover and something going on to delight our residents and guests,” says Casey Barrett, vice president of Obie Companies and a member of the Obie family. “Building on the programming already under way at the existing Market, this new project will provide new opportunities for people to browse, shop, sip and taste and to come together for events and celebrations.”
The architect for the project is Ankrom Moisan, perhaps best known for its work in Portland’s Pearl District. A contractor has not been selected. Obie is committed to keeping as much construction work local as possible.
Obie Companies is also supporting an affordable housing project being developed by Homes for Good on a quarter-block site across Oak Street west of The Gordon Hotel. Homes for Good is planning a five-story, 50-unit workforce housing project. Obie is planning to purchase the 5,500-square-foot ground floor retail space in the building in a condo arrangement.
The 5th Street Public Market has been called one of the best loved and most successful places downtown. With more than 1.5 million visitors a year, the Market is an enchanting collection of local and regional stores, cafés, a salon and day spa, and the exceptional Inn at the 5th boutique hotel. Established as a poultry business in 1929, the property was reinvented as the Market in 1976 and has been owned by Obie Companies since 1981. In addition to the 5th Street Public Market District properties, Obie developed and manages the Inn at 500 Capitol in Boise, Idaho, which opened last year.
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