Dudley’s Bookshop to open second location in Bend’s Old Mill District

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Dudley's Bookshop Café will open a second location this spring, coming to Bend's Old Mill District. It will be the Old Mill's first and only independent bookstore.

“The Old Mill District has always been one of the few places in town that makes sense for a small business like ours,” said Tom Beans, owner of Dudley’s Bookshop Café in a press release Tuesday. “We rely on people walking by, stopping in, and discovering us. That happens naturally down there.”

For more information on Dudley's, click here.

Read the full press release from the Old Mill below:

"Dudley’s Bookshop Café has announced plans to open a second location in Bend’s Old Mill District this spring, bringing the district its first and only independent bookstore while also adding a new retail category to one of Central Oregon’s premier shopping and recreation destinations.

To be located between Will Leather Goods and lululemon, the new Dudley’s Bookshop will sit just steps from the Deschutes River, with its back door facing the river trail. The approximately 900-square-foot shop is expected to open in late spring, ahead of Bend’s busy summer season.

“The Old Mill District has always been one of the few places in town that makes sense for a small business like ours,” said Tom Beans, owner of Dudley’s Bookshop Café. “We rely on people walking by, stopping in, and discovering us. That happens naturally down there.”

Dudley’s and the Old Mill District have been in conversation for more than two years about this opportunity. According to Beau Eastes, Marketing Director at the Old Mil District, both sides recognized a strong alignment between the district’s walkable layout and the foot-driven-traffic Dudley’s receives at its Downtown Bend location.

“We’ve long felt that a bookstore would be a great fit here,” Eastes said. “It’s a category we don’t currently have, and Dudley’s will add a different flavor to the district. We’re excited to welcome a locally owned business that people naturally want to wander into while they’re shopping, walking the river, or spending the day down here.”

For Beans, the expansion has been years in the making. He purchased the downtown Bend bookstore in 2015 and has since seen both the city and the independent bookstore scene evolve dramatically. In fact, he sees the store’s growth as part of a broader cultural shift away from tech.

“People are tired of screens,” Beans said. “There’s a real push-back happening. Analog is back. You see it with books, with vinyl, with people wanting to slow down a little. Supporting local businesses matters to people in this town, and that energy has been huge for independent bookstores.”

While still in the planning phase, Dudley’s co-owner and manager Amy Rose said she anticipates the satellite store will carry mostly newer books, with a curated selection designed for the smaller footprint. Expect more face-out displays, rotating feature titles, staff recommendations, and a strong emphasis on Pacific Northwest topics and authors, she added. Dudley’s in the Old Mill District will focus almost exclusively on books initially and not feature an espresso bar like its downtown location.

The space itself will reflect the Old Mill District’s industrial roots. Beans and Rose plan to reuse reclaimed materials in the buildout, including old brick and scrap metal, as a nod to the site’s history.

“There’s a certain feeling when you walk into a bookstore,” Rose said. “That sense of nostalgia, comfort, and curiosity. Our goal is for people to feel that the moment they step inside, whether they planned to stop in or not.”

For more information about Dudley’s Bookshop Café, visit dudleysbookshopcafe.com.

ABOUT THE OLD MILL DISTRICT 
Once home to one of the largest sawmill operations in the world, the Old Mill District has evolved into one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic mixed-use destinations. With spectacular views, an extensive trail system, and over 60 local and national businesses, the district offers an unmatched experience for shopping, dining, living, and working in Central Oregon. Learn more at www.oldmilldistrict.com."