‘It’s like the old Bend used to be’: As Redmond’s population grows and changes, so do its businesses

(Update: Adding video, comments from residents, city official)

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- More than 37,000 people call Redmond home, and that number is only growing. 

“Redmond is on the up and up,” Gavin Young, a Redmond resident of two years, said Thursday.  

The growth is reflected in changes across town. 

“Redmond is growing. It’s like the old Bend used to be,” said Zach Follett, a Redmond resident of 10 years. 

Revitalizing the town is something the city says it works hard on. 

Redmond Urban Renewal Program Manager Chuck Arnold said, “The city has been committed for decades now to working on revitalizing.”

Arnold explains Redmond is growing at a rate close to a family of three or four moving in every single day. That creates opportunities for businesses. 

"In the last five years, we've had over 90% occupancy downtown on our restaurant and retail fronts,” Arnold said. “Some of the buildings in downtown Redmond, across from the SCP Hotel, they are starting to see new investment.” 

Businesses at 526, 528, and 530 on Southwest 6th Street are being transformed after the units were recently purchased by Evest, LLC, a group of local developers. 

One of those businesses is the Double J Saloon. It’s been a popular Redmond hotspot for years, being one of the only bars open late at night. 

Now, many are looking for new nightlife options. 

Young said, "The only place that's really open is the Moon Tower. And then there is the Clock Tower. Everything closes around 10 o'clock, I think.” 

Exactly what businesses will go in the newly vacant spaces remains a mystery—but residents like Young are daydreaming about the potential. 

"It'd be nice to have a place that is open," he said. "A larger space, indoor, with activities where you can hang out during the winter."

Proving that while change isn’t always easy, sometimes it’s necessary. 

Arnold said, "Change is really hard. I think ultimately change needs to happen.” 

If you live in Redmond and would like to get involved in the city’s revitalization efforts, Arnold asks that you head on down to City Hall to see how you can help.