Biz Beat 4-23-2015

The pending sale of the Tsunami Books building at 2585 Willamette was announced in this column last fall, and it looks like the deal will finally close later this month. Owner Scott Landfield tells us “We will get at least two more years at this location, likely at a considerable increase in rent.” To help cover the rent boost and improvements to the bookstore and events venue, Landfield has launched a 50-day Indigogo crowdfunding campaign. Links can be found at the Tsunami Facebook page. 

Near Tsunami at 2621 Willamette is the old Holy Cow restaurant building and we see a “Sale Pending” sign on it. It appears the first offer fell through, so this is the second deal. A new eatery coming? Good location with 16 parking spaces, but we’ve seen several restaurants come and go over the years. Santa Fe Burrito Co. was one. Asking price for the property is $600,000.

The new Oregon Retailers of Cannabis Association will have its monthly meeting from 7 to 9 pm Friday, April 24, at The Terpene Station, 645 River Road. Guest speaker will be Sen. Floyd Prozanski. Free for members, $40 for non-members. ORCA formed in early March as a nonprofit “working to help shape responsible cannabis policy in Oregon” and now has about two dozen members, mostly medical marijuana retailers, but also wholesale distributors, software developers and other associated businesses.

Coalesce Juicery and Whole Foods Kitchen is a new food cart that held its grand opening April 19 at the M. Jacobs parking lot, 8th and Olive. Owner is Karina Wolford and she can be reached at (619) 993-0526 or on Facebook. 

Rosie is a new nonprofit started by university students to supply free feminine hygiene supplies to low-income women locally and eventually elsewhere. Executive Director Manju Bangalore is a physics and math double major at UO and says she hopes to expand the nonprofit’s services beyond Oregon. Rosie is currently partnering with First Place Family Center and also provides packets of hygiene products to individuals and shelters. The group is doing fundraising through its Facebook page and at rosiecenter.org. Other students involved, all freshmen, include Austin Ferrie, Lucas Pyper and Maria Pervova. 

We hear Todd’s Place, the popular breakfast and brunch restaurant at 355 E. Broadway, is being torn down to build the new Whole Foods store and will be relocating to 1909 S. A St. in Springfield, site of the former El Rey Family Mexican Restaurant.

The third annual 90by30 Child Abuse Prevention Conference will be Saturday, April 25, at Valley River Inn in Eugene. Scholarships are available for those who cannot pay all of the $149 regular registration fee or $50 student fee. Speakers at the conference include Richard Cooke, Lesley Taylor and Charles Martinez. Find a schedule and registration information at conference.90by30.com/#register.