Biz Beat 2-6-2014

Greater Goods is closing after 23 years in Eugene. Joan Kleban is retiring and she has been a good friend to EW and a consistent advertiser all these years. We wish her well and expect she will continue to be a positive force in our community. We also appreciate her dedication to offering fair trade, hand-made products and folk art from around the world. Fair trade goods promote social and environmental sustainability, rare qualities in developing countries and even here at home. Greater Goods is located on High Street across from 5th Street Public Market and will remain open until the inventory is sold.

Lane County Farmers Market started its winter market Feb. 1 and will continue, rain or shine, from 10 am to 2 pm Saturdays at 8th and Oak downtown. We’re still waiting for some kind of breakthrough that will provide a permanent year-round market, at least partially indoors. The city is sitting on $500,000 in urban renewal funds to help make it happen.

Corvallis is expecting a new hotel downtown. “The estimated $18 million project is expected to bring to life a 130-room upscale hotel situated along the riverfront,” according to Lisa Lawton of Eugene, Cascades & Coast. Tom Nelson, the city’s economic development manager, says the project could be completed as early as March 2015. 

We hear work continues on the Candlewood Suites hotel in Glenwood and acreage near the Valley River Inn has been purchased for a 100-unit hotel. Eugene Airport officials say a proposed hotel site near the air field is currently undergoing additional land evaluations. And the Eugene Hilton has completed a $5.5 million renovation of all its 269 guest rooms, corridors and the Share Small Plate Bistro. 

The annual KLCC Microbrew Festival is coming up Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7-8, at the Fairgrounds. See our Calendar.

A community forum on Obamacare will be at 6 pm Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the Eugene Public Library, sponsored by The Main Street Alliance of Oregon and the Eugene Downtown Neighborhood Association. See DNAeugene.org.

Looks like Hoodoo ski area finally has enough snow to open Friday, Feb. 7, and the resort hopes to maintain a Thursday through Sunday schedule until the end of the season. Call the hotline at 822-3337. Willamette Pass has been open Wednesday through Sunday with limited operations. No night skiing this season. Call 345-SNOW. Farther away, Mt. Bachelor has 10 inches of fresh snow and is open daily. See mtbachelor.com.