A new kind of local love is taking root on Bend’s east side. Bend Roots Mercantile, a fresh new co-op-style market founded by local entrepreneur Merrideth Lindsey, is set for a soft opening in mid-October with full daily hours launching in November. The space will feature a curated selection of local foods, artisan goods and pantry staples, all made right here in Central Oregon.
If the name sounds familiar, that’s because Lindsey is also the founder of Oh Ghee!, a local farmers market favorite, that features clarified butter as the main ingredient in all its products. Her Oh Ghee! production facility and storefront on Dean Swift Road, right next to the East Bend Library, will now also serve as home to Bend Roots Mercantile.
“I’ve had a lot of success having the space as a retail shop for my own company, and I’m excited to bring a one-stop shop concept to the east side of town,” Lindsey says. “Not only is it a chance to offer more products to the consumer, it’s another outlet for the makers too.”
Lindsey’s vision is simple but smart: create a space where local producers can sell their goods directly to customers, no middleman involved. Think of it as a farmers market, but indoors, open year-round, and designed for browsing on a snowy January afternoon or a sunny June morning alike.
From baked goods and gluten-free treats to ferments, pickles, dry goods and pasta, the Mercantile will stock an assortment of items that showcase the creativity and resourcefulness of Central Oregon’s small-scale producers. “Everything is sold direct to the consumer from the makers,” Lindsey says. “So not only do customers get fresh, local products, but the people behind those products get the full benefit of their sales.”
For shoppers, that means discovering small-batch foods and handmade goods you might otherwise only find at the summertime farmers markets. For makers, it’s a chance to reach new customers without worrying about the logistics of staffing a booth or managing online orders.
Lindsey is constantly blown away by what people are making here. “I’m always impressed at what products come out of Central Oregon,” she says. “There are so many amazing things being created right here that people don’t even know about.”
From Idea to Reality
The concept for Bend Roots Mercantile didn’t appear overnight. Lindsey has been percolating on the idea for several years, drawing on her own experience as both a producer and a former meal prep business owner. “I know the obstacles that people face to bring product to market,” she explains. “It’s hard work to make something and then figure out how to get it into customers’ hands. I want this to be a home for folks to do that.”
That empathy for other entrepreneurs is baked into every part of the Mercantile’s design. By offering a shared retail platform, Lindsey hopes to create a community space where makers can thrive together rather than compete for limited shelf space or market exposure. Her long-term goal is to see the Mercantile grow organically, expanding to include more producers and a broader range of products as word spreads. “This is just the beginning,” she smiles.
In a city that embraces local food culture with open arms, Bend Roots Mercantile feels like a natural next step. The concept bridges the gap between the energy of summer farmers markets and the quieter winter months when local shoppers crave those connections but options are limited. It’s a small but meaningful nod to the crossover between food, wellness and sustainable living that defines so much of Bend’s entrepreneurial scene.
The Mercantile will also carry Oh Ghee!’s signature line of products, including its original and flavored ghee, as well as its body and pet products. And while the focus is on food and pantry staples, Lindsey sees Bend Roots Mercantile as more than just a place to shop. She imagines it as a gathering spot, a hub of community energy where customers can pop in for a jar of local honey or a bag of handmade granola and walk out with a deeper appreciation for the people behind it.
Lindsey’s enthusiasm for the project is contagious. She lights up when talking about giving makers a home base and customers a space to connect with local food. “I invite everyone to come check it out and see the wonderful things made here locally that you may not even know about,” she says.
For anyone who’s ever left a farmers market wishing it happened more often or wished they could find those same fresh, local products closer to home, the Mercantile is an easy yes.
Bend Roots Mercantile plans its soft opening in mid-October, with regular daily hours beginning in November. Local makers interested in joining the co-op-style shop can reach out through Instagram at @bendrootsmercantile.
Bend Roots Mercantile
62080 Dean Swift Road, Suite 120, Bend
Thu-Sat 11-3
Open Daily beginning November 2025
IG: bendrootsmercantile
This article appears in the Source October 16, 2025.
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
