For better or for worse, shoulder season offers respite from the influxes of summer and winter tourists. Fewer vacation dollars might wisp in the wind, but downtown parking is a relative breeze.
Still, though, the shuttering of legacy establishments of 900 Wall, and the sale listing of The Lemon Tree, indicate that merchants in downtown Bend might be hurting.
In anticipation of the gifting season, we set out across downtown Bend to chat with shop owners and managers to see how they’re weathering the downtime.
Wild Petals Provisions
At 930 NW Brooks St., standing next to a white neon sign that declares “EAT THE CHEESE,” Nancy Zadoff, the owner of Wild Petals Provisions, raised her hands in praise toward the ceiling.
“Thank goodness for this big order,” she said, detailing the private event across town that ordered a smattering of her imported cheeses, charcuterie and other provisions. Every order, large or small, matters to Zadoff, who opened the shop in 2022.
This summer, when Bend is typically thronged with foreign visitors, seemed absent of those from Canada and Europe.
“A lot of people from all over the world just didn’t come,” Zadoff said.
Tariffs on her many imported perishables — such as European cheeses and wines — have eaten into her bottom line. Foreign tourists, especially Canadians, are bypassing American vacation destinations, in way of boycotting the Trump administration’s tariffs, the New York Times reported this month.
“Trump is a pain in the ass,” she said. “It’s slow for everybody. These are tricky times.”
Zadoff is “forever hopeful” that business in downtown Bend will return to its typical bustle. Still, Central Oregonians are scared to spend their money, she added.
“It’s a bummer,” Zadoff said with a laugh.
Bummer indeed. Zadoff’s store feels like a little portal into Europe. Packages of handmade pasta imported from Italy stand at attention. Jars of jams and mustards from France are stacked in columns. Baggies of handmade Swedish gummies tempt customers where they sit on a tray by the checkout counter. Aside from purveying European delectables, Zadoff sells products from about 25 local vendors, including butter and meats from North 44 Farm, Blue River Ferments & Pickles and dips and spreads from Fixa Foods.
“Local, local, local,” Zadoff said.
Brown Bag Popcorn Co.
A couple blocks away at the Brown Bag Popcorn Co., co-owner Lynne Szymanski greeted regulars as she moved between the large glass jars, home to more than 60 varieties of sweet and savory popcorn flavors. Szymanski says the shoulder season is inevitably slower. But last summer saw “heavy, heavy foot traffic” as tourists tucked in for very portable bags of popcorn at her shop at 920 NW Bond St.
“People ask me how the popcorn business is,” Szymanski said. “And I always say, ‘It’s poppin’!”
Summer tourists represent a slight majority of customers, she added. “A lot of locals, though, come back because they’re addicted.”
During the fall and spring shoulder seasons, local customers outweigh tourists as their return to downtown shopping is eased by more available parking spots, she said.
Szymanski and her husband, Bill Szymanski, moved to Bend from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They opened Brown Bag Popcorn Co. brick-and-mortar store in Bend in 2021. Previously, the couple operated a wholesale popcorn operation that provided bar-side snacks to about 160 craft brewery taprooms throughout the country, including Boss Rambler, the local brewery that closed its westside taproom at the end of summer. The Szymanskis continue pairing popcorn with beer and wine, however — to-go cans are available in a cooler. The holidays are a popular season for popcorn sales; local shoppers will order 10 to 20 bags to ship to loved ones as gifts, Szymanski said. December was the Brown Bag Popcorn Co.’s biggest month last year.
“You can’t make this popcorn at home,” Szymanski said with a grin. “This is gourmet. It’s my spice blends, the real cheeses. Our number one flavor is truffle, parmesan and black garlic. Everything is real, real, real.”
Underground Book Gallery
Down the stairs below the northern sidewalk at 206 NW Oregon Ave. lies the Underground Book Gallery. Justin Schlosberg, currently the sole owner, says business during the summer season was “mediocre.” But he’s not complaining — sales have steadily ticked upward since July 2021, when he co-founded the shop. Bookselling isn’t new to Schlosberg; he owned and operated Old Man Berkins Bookstore, a bookshop in Breckenridge, Colorado, for 19 years. He estimates that, between the titles he has on his ample shelves and in storage, his collection spans 20,000 titles. Schlosberg isn’t certain what slice of his customers are tourists or locals. In greeting, he asks whether they’ve visited the shop before, and then, accordingly, tailors his guidance through the various sections. A reality of having a literal underground bookstore is that passersby can’t peek in the window before deciding whether to step inside, Schlosberg said.
This holiday season, Schlosberg will bring back his “buy four books, get the fifth free” deal. He’s prioritized collectable — and therefore highly giftable — leather-bound and gold-inlaid Easton Press editions of classic titles.
“But that also keeps the rent down,” he added with a grin.
ccMcKenzie
A couple blocks away at ccMcKenzie, a woman-led clothing boutique on 920 NW Bond St., manager Victoria Zollman says business has been steady, owing to a relatively smoke-free summer.
“We’ve had a tremendous shoulder season,” Zollman said. “There’s been increased foot traffic. I think a lot of people are visiting from out of town.”
A perennial frustration, however, is customer parking. Zollman wishes the City of Bend would grant more than two hours of free nearby parking.
“Three hours is what they always request,” she said.
Looking toward the holiday season — and winter in general — Zollman says she sees a positive trend. Customers tell her they’re looking forward to the Christmas Tree lighting, which will happen Dec. 7.
“People like the tradition of being downtown, and they love the sparkling lights in the downtown area. It’s a beautiful ambience, being downtown shopping during the Christmas season.
“I just want to thank downtown customers for their loyalty, for always thinking to shop local,” Zollman said. “We really appreciate it.”
This article appears in the Source November 20, 2025.
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Victoria of ccMcKenzie has nailed it – we need our free parking back, 3 hours would be aweome in the garage and 2 hours back in the parking lots by the river, well until the Pine Tavern one goes away – for tourists, 2 hours is NOT enough to have lunch/coffee/shop etc and please, tell Tobias Marx – try to get into the garage or out, it’s ridiculous as is the electronic parking signs. Meanwhile I supported downtown businesses today, albeit on a Sunday when parking is free !!