‘Really neat project’: Downtown Redmond’s Old Creamery Building sold to local developers: We’ll soon see what’s next

(Update: Adding video, comments by local developer, Realtors)

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) - Last week, NewsChannel 21 brought you a story surrounding the growth of Redmond after three downtown units in the Old Creamery Building on Southwest 6th Street were sold, with plans for revitalization. 

This week, we spoke with the local development group about its recent acquisition and what businesses could potentially be taking over. 

"I love what's coming into Redmond," said Shannon Hawkins, who grew up in Redmond and is now the executive director of the Redmond Downtown Association. 

As Redmond’s population grows, the city has to adapt. 

 Redmond Urban Renewal Program Manager Chuck Arnold said, "We need to be always moving forward, especially with the growth that we’re seeing in Central Oregon.” 

That requires change, but locals like Hawkins and Erica Davis don’t necessarily view that as a bad thing. 

Hawkins said, "The revitalization of Downtown Redmond has been amazing. We've had some really wonderful businesses coming in.”

Erica Davis, the co-owner of Harcourt’s Garner Group Real Estate, agreed: "It’s nice to see local people who were raised here who went on to bring businesses into town, like Wild Ride. It's owned by local Redmond people, and it's just booming and has done great things for Redmond.”

Three downtown units on Southwest Sixth Street—526, 528, and 530—were recently sold to Evest, LLC, a small group of local developers. 

"The support from the community and the city has absolutely blown us away,” said Randy Emerson, who owns Evest with his wife and lives in Bend.

He’s looking forward to working with the city and community on a new revitalization project. 

“We worked with the city quite a bit, because they've got a really clear-cut vision for downtown and the rest of Redmond,” Emerson said. 

Redmond’s Urban Renewal Program has been working on projects like this for decades, inspiring others like Emerson to follow in its footsteps. 

"Their participation in the SCP Hotel was huge. Being right across the street, we thought we'd enlist their help to get a feel for what they'd like to see,” Emerson said. “So it's a broad mix so far between some newer restaurant concepts, some business and consumer services-type firms that are interested in the space.” 

While Emerson can’t yet say exactly what will be going in the spaces, he’s excited to get to work. 

"It’s the classic Creamery Building, and so there's still some of those structural bones to the creamery. The walls, the doors, the thick cooler doors that really, I think, make it special,” he said. “I think it's going to be a really neat project when it's done.” 

A special project that many Redmondites are grateful to see.  

Hawkins said, "It's wonderful for us locals to see all of that revitalized, instead of torn down and taken away.” 

Emerson says he should have a better idea of what’s to come within the next 60 days. NewsChannel 21 will update you when we know more.