(The Fold is owned by Lisa Cassity, Chris Copelan and Lauren Copelan. Lisa and Lauren are fraternal twins | Photo Courtesy of The Fold Craft Pizza + Kitchen)
Throughout the years owning restaurants and enjoying meals with their family and friends, Lauren and Chris Copelan and Lisa Cassity have witnessed how food has the magic of bringing people together.
“You can learn so much about a person or culture through food,” Lauren shared. “It brings a connection and joy, and that’s what we always hope to create in our restaurants.”
Fraternal twins Lauren and Lisa are the owners of The Hook and Plow in Hermosa Beach, California and Redondo Beach, California and Barnacles Bar and Grill in Hermosa Beach. They recently opened The Fold Craft Pizza + Kitchen in the Village at Sunriver, along with Lauren’s husband, Chris Copelan.
“We like to think that we are the “farm-to-table” version of pizza,” Lauren said. “We love eating local, sourcing local and supporting local as much as we can. The Fold definitely has a focus around craft beer and wine from the area as well as local ingredients.”
Menu items range from porchetta fries to squash and burrata salad to pepperoni, goat cheese, pineapple and jalapeños pizza to pepperoni pizza. Menu items can be made vegan or vegetarian.
Lauren and Lisa have more than 20 years of experience working in the restaurant industry, doing everything from scrubbing toilets to working as hostesses to managing staff members and managing the business side of a restaurant.
The Fold is in the former Ponderosa Pizza space. Chris and his brother, Dave, spent two months remodeling the restaurant, taking it down to the studs to build it back again to create a beautiful, clean and warm space ready to be enjoyed by guests.
What remains are the two giant pizza ovens that inspired the family members to create an upscale pizzeria using locally sourced produce, Pacific Northwest seafood and local wines, craft beers and cocktails.
This being their fourth restaurant venture, Lauren said her and Lisa’s restaurant philosophy of success is based around three pillars: Have amazing food, great service and an inviting ambiance.
“We believe if you have these three things then you have a winning combination,” Lauren said. “Sometimes, it is easier said than done but this is the cornerstone on which we built our businesses.”
Quality food has always been a cornerstone in their lives, Lauren said, adding she remembers cooking with her mom and Lisa.
She believes her and her sister’s inspiration for crafting memorable meals comes from cooking with their mom and growing up in Hawaii.
“One of our favorite Hawaiian dinners our mom taught us to make was Kalua pork and cabbage over rice,” Lauren said.
The Fold is an extension of who they are and how they live their lives. “This business also gives us the opportunity to make a living and spend time together doing what we love — eating, drinking and creating an experience for our guests,” Lauren said.
It also gives her an opportunity to work with her best friend and her husband. She and Chris live in Bend, and Lisa lives in Redondo Beach and travels back and forth.
Lauren said the key to working with her husband and her sister is knowing to “stay in your lane.”
“We all have different strengths and weaknesses, and we try to keep those in mind while working together,” Lauren said. “For example, I am the number’s person, Lisa is the creative and Chris is an amazing people person. We weigh in if someone needs help or needs an opinion on something, but for the most part, we each know our role and that helps get the job done.”
Lauren and Lisa see the pandemic’s silver lining. They felt last year was an opportunity to slow life down and reflect on what’s important.
“We were able to spend more time together as a family,” Lauren said.
Lauren and Chris enjoy exploring with their children the many hiking trails, fishing spots and campgrounds in Central Oregon.
“We are excited to be living in Central Oregon and enjoying everything it has to offer,” Lauren said. “Our restaurant allows us to have a balance in our lives to enjoy all the things we like doing.”
The Fold Craft Pizza + Kitchen
57100 Beaver Dr., Building 18
in Sunriver
541-598-3040
Email: sunriver@thefoldkitchen.com
Visit: thefoldkitchen.com
