by RENEE PATRICK Cascade Business News Feature Writer
Owners of Mother’s Juice Café, Mike and Janet Sackin, are tapping into Bend’s Eastside growth with the opening of their second location in the Borden’s Corner Shopping Center off of Highway 20. The expansion will help to bring fresh and local food options to the neighborhoods and the largest employer in Central Oregon, St. Charles Hospital.
“Part of our decision making process in moving into the Eastside is to bring healthy wholesome food to the doctors and medical community,” said Mike. With fresh juices, local Kombucha, unique sandwiches, falafel, vegetarian options and baked goods, the couple is poised to strengthen the Mother’s brand in a new part of town.
The Sackins took a chance in a new business direction when they purchased the Mother’s Westside location on Galveston Avenue in 2008. Mike had been working in real estate, and at the height of local economic uncertainty, the couple decided to try something different where they could both work with the business and help make it grow.
“We put our personal touches into it from the start, but the basic business is the same. We run it very similar to what it was in the past,” Mike explained. “We freshened it up with paint, put couches in a cozy corner to make it softer and more friendly, and we worked closely with the staff to develop customer service; that is what separates Mother’s from other places: friendly and knowledgeable staff and the time and effort we put into training.”
The core business model of Mother’s is based on healthy foods sourced as locally as possible. With an impressive list of smoothies and juices, the café has been a popular destination for a loyal customer base after a ride on the trails, a run in the park or grabbing an early morning treat.
“Healthy options are everything. We are pushing healthy wholesome goodness; healthy food should be embraced and we do all we can to get everything locally,” Mike said.
“We have built up a pretty good following and business relationships with local farms and producers, and as general manger I try to maintain our relationships, it is important to me to keep my finger on the pulse.”
Expansion has always been a goal for the couple since buying the café, but they were waiting for the right scenario to come along. “The Eastside offers a whole new demographic; it is close enough that the brand and name carries through,” said Mike.
The new location has provided Mother’s with a full kitchen, and will enable everything to be made from scratch. The menu has been updated from what is offered on the Westside, and once the new systems are in place for making their own soups, aiolis, pesto and more, Mike and Janet will plan on bringing the changes to the Westside location.
The two stores employ close to 20 people with both Mike and Janet active in the daily operations. Janet helps with everything from labor issues to streamlining procedures, but her main activity is running Mother’s Baked Goods. Based on three generations of homemade family recipes, she started baking a variety of different treats using all natural ingredients.
Her goodies range from banana, pumpkin and carrot breads to cinnamon rolls, cookies and tarts. The baked goods can be found at the café, Newport Market and Whole Foods.
Mother’s is focusing on expanding their catering services, especially hoping to tap into the vast medical community to cater their lunches, meetings, events and more with delicious and healthy options.
The couple is excited about the potential their new Eastside location offers, and with any luck Bend can expect to see more Mother’s locations in the future. “We are always looking to expand,” concluded Mike. “We will take what we have on our plate right now and develop it and grow it, and maybe a year down the road we would be ready look for another location.”
www.mothersjuicecafe.com, Eastside location: Borden’s Corner Shopping Center, 62090 Dean Swift Rd, Bend, OR 97701, 541-318-0989. Westside location: 1255 NW Galveston Ave, Bend, OR 97701, 541-318-0989.
