Interview with Owner, Faye Wickland
Active Culture, a family-owned and operated business, opened their doors in 2018 in Bend. This was their third location, after they opened the first two in Southern California; they just opened another location in Northern California. Owner, Faye Wickland fell in love with Bend on a visit and decided overnight to relocate her family here in 2017. Luckily, they found the gem of a location in a neighborhood they love and opened the business.
“At the time,” Wickland says, “I was a mom with two small children and needed a place for them to play while I worked, so my first priority was converting the previous owner’s herb garden into a kid’s play area with a sandbox.” She says, “There is nothing that makes me happier than winning this award, because I’ve always wanted our cafe to be a place where families and friends can sit on the patio, enjoy fresh healthy food and let the kids play and have fun.
You must be doing something right to win in the restaurant category! What sets you apart from the rest?
We have outdoor and indoor play areas for kids!
What has been your biggest challenge owning a restaurant?
In Bend, the biggest challenge has been sourcing ingredients and absorbing the rapid price increases for produce and other supplies.
What inspires you to get going in the morning and dive into your workday?
My passion for cooking healthy, approachable food and providing a workplace where employees feel proud to come to work.
Active Culture
541-241-2926
activeculturecafe.com/bend
This article appears in Bend Nest Summer 2026.
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