What makes The Open Door so special is that it never set out to be just a restaurant, or, in its unique case, just a gallery. The Open Door is really a sense of place and belonging. Walking into the patio on a bright summer morning, I admit, I felt extremely at peace.
In 2000, Dan and Julia Rickards opened their gallery, The Rickards Gallery, in Sisters. Twelve years later, they opened The Open Door right next door. Both the gallery and the restaurant are the epitome of a family business.
Both spaces come from each of the Rickards’ passions. Dan is an artist, hence the gallery, while the restaurant came from Julia’s love to gather people.
“We are truly one entity, we are not one without the other,” said general manager Emily Luz, the couple’s daughter. “It’s such an integral part of the space and the flow and the atmosphere.”
“What sets us apart is my parents and their legacy that they have built,” she said.
Dan Rickards is the creative force behind the property’s inviting outdoor space, which was once an empty lot. He built the stage and the small structures scattered throughout the grounds, transforming the area into a thoughtfully designed gathering place with lots of charm and character.
“That’s how they’ve lived their whole life…not being afraid to dream and work hard and make things happen. So, I’ve seen that. I’ve grown up watching that.” said Luz.
Getting into a family business is sometimes, well, risky business, but the Rickards’ family contributions to the restaurant and gallery blend together in their own unique way.
“Dan’s always been the Da Vinci and Emily has always been logically organized,” said Julia Rickards. “I think the collaboration has been sweet for the three of us.”
The Open Door aims for their employees to feel like an extension of their family. As for their clientele, it’s all about community outreach; living with the community who comes into the space.
“It just really feels like having friends over for dinner,” said Luz. “It’s the biggest compliment when people say we just feel so known. Whether they’re from out of town, locals who come every summer or whether they’ve lived in the community since I can remember. I just love that people feel welcomed and invited.”
Not playing into the status quo of the restaurant business ensured The Open Door’s readers’ choice victory as Best Sisters Restaurant.
“We’ve had our growing pains, we’ve learned a lot, and we’ve always done things a little differently,” Luz added with a smile.
Runner-Up: Luckey’s Woodsman
The Open Door
Tue-Sat 11:30am-8pm
303 W. Hood Ave., Sisters
opendoorwinebar.com
This article appears in Best of Central Oregon 2026 and the Source August 13, 2026.
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