((L-R) Customers claim that Josie K’s “has become my new favorite spot in Sunriver,” Oregon’s eighth Postal Connections opened at 56880 Venture Lane in Sunriver | Photos by Andrea Hine and (L-R) Stephen Marshall and Brett Bizik, owners of La Petite Boutique Unique in The Village at Sunriver | Photo by Kristine Thomas)
Muddy Hut Pet Store
by Kristine Thomas
Anna and John Luttrell celebrated their first anniversary as the owners of Muddy Hut Pet Store in the Sunriver Business Park in June. “I think the best part of starting the store last year is the opportunities to connect with the community,” Anna said. “I am grateful for how people welcomed us and made this their store by sharing their ideas on what products to carry.”
She has learned a great deal in her first year as a store owner. She recommends anyone starting a new business to research the products they are selling, select the right point of sale system, network with other businesses and community members and to always listen to their customers.
“I like seeing people come in with their pets and talking to them about what’s happening with their pet and how I can help whether it’s recommending a different pet food or flea and tick medication,” she said.
The store carries items including food, toys, shampoos and more for dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and fish. They have lifejackets, backpacks, leashes and dog carriers. “I am thankful for the community’s support, and they are the reason the business has been successful this last year,” Anna said.
She encourages locals and visitors to stop by if they are looking for a certain item or product. The store is located in the Sunriver Business Park.
Josie K’s Wants Customers to Feel ‘They’re Coming into Our Kitchen’
by Andrea Hine — CBN Feature Writer
A hit from the moment it opened, Josie K’s Deli & Kitchen has attracted customers who appreciate the “great deli sandwiches, reasonable prices, outside seating, friendly staff and good vibe,” as one commented. Another frequent patron said that “this has become my new favorite spot in Sunriver.”
“We come from a long line of food lovers, and there was always a pot of meat sauce simmering on the stove,” explained sisters and co-owners April Potesta and Lindsay Morris. “Our parents owned a deli and mini-mart in Sonora, Calif. when we were young (as well as doing catering), and we literally grew up in a deli environment — all we do is eat!”
Influenced by the “hard-working men and women” in their town, and their parents’ desire to provide patrons with “good meals at a good price,” the two women “want customers to feel they’re coming into our kitchen.”
As Potesta noted, “we feature certain family recipes that have been passed down through the generations (such as meat sauce, pesto made with both oil and butter, and biscotti),” augmented by our own creations — classic, simple, hearty food and fresh sandwiches, not too crazy with flavors.”
She added that “we wholeheartedly believe food and family create happiness and memories. The business of food has been a huge part of our upbringing, and we are thankful for the impact it has had on our lives. Now we are paying it forward to Sunriver residents and visitors.”
La Petite Boutique Unique
by Kristine Thomas
Brett Bizik and Stephen Marshall are the owners of La Petite Boutique Unique in The Village at Sunriver. From vintage couture clothing, jewelry and handbags including Valentino, Chanel, Oscar de la Renta and Versace to stylish new clothing from Spain and organic CBD products to Tumalo Tea products, Bizik and Marshall said their boutique is about providing their customers with old-fashioned customer service and unexpected fun-filled experiences.
Their mantras are Service before selling and People before Products. “And we want a visit to our store to be fun, fun, fun,” Marshall said.
Bizik and Marshall vetted everything sold in their store. “We know the owners of the products we sell and the collectors of the clothing,” Bizik said. “We only sell what we are thrilled to have in our store.”
Bizik also offers professional makeup services, making recommendations for healthy sun protection products and mineral makeup. He has 30 years of experience in cosmetics, including 25 years working for high-end boutiques in Beverly Hills. Marshall has a doctorate in music and dedicated many years to teaching at the university level. He now enjoys teaching beginning and intermediate students at Cascade School of Music. “We are both dedicated to only doing the things we truly love and what we know will bring joy to others,” Marshall said.
They invite locals and visitors to stop by and discover why they chose to name their store La Petite Boutique Unique. They love showing people how fun old-fashioned retail can be while finding their own chicness. The store is open 10am to 6pm daily.
lapetiteboutiqueuniqueor.com • 206-919-3439
Postal Connections ~ ‘Getting to Know More of the Sunriver Community’
by Andrea Hine — CBN Feature Writer
A 15-year veteran of the shipping and receiving business, most recently in a managerial capacity at a FedEx location in Bend, Megan Parker repeatedly received calls from people bemoaning the lack of a similar operation in Sunriver. “’The community really needs this,’ they told me,” Parker recalled.
So she and her husband Rich, who had already purchased the popular Big Belly Burgers, decided to fill this void. And opened Oregon’s eighth Postal Connections within the Sunriver Plaza in November of last year.
“We’re really focused on the needs of our customers,” said Megan Parker, “including elderly people who don’t or can’t drive. Even our hours of operation, 9am-6pm, Monday-Friday, and 10am-2pm on Saturday, take into account those who need to come in after getting off work. It really helps everybody to have an option in addition to the post office.”
Noting that business has been good from its earliest days, with primarily local customers, Parker noted that “Almost everyone who comes in the door for the first time says, ‘Can I tell you how happy we are that you’re here?’
When asked what she liked best about operating Postal Connections, Parker replied unhesitatingly, “I love the interaction with customers and helping them with their needs. It has been so good to get to know more of the Sunriver community. People are so kind and thoughtful, and very appreciative of the services we offer. Plus, we’re super blessed with our staff.”
Whiskey River Bar
by Kristine Thomas
Sunriver residents Amanda and Michael Sumpter were often asked by friends and visitors where they could go for a drink after 9pm. “We noticed there wasn’t a place for adults to gather after 9pm so we decided to fix that by opening Whiskey River Bar,” Amanda said. “We wanted to create a place that would be a nice addition to the Sunriver area and that combines our many years of restaurant experience.”
Amanda said they hope to have everything ready to open the bar in mid-July. The bar will be open 3-11pm Sunday through Thursday and 3pm to midnight Friday and Saturday. “We offer a rustic space and patio with an atmosphere that acts as a place where friends, wanderers and adventurers can share a drink together,” according to their website. “Just as if you stepped off the Oregon Trail, we are happy to embody how the West has won the hearts of so many.”
Amanda added they created Whiskey River Bar as a timeless place where everyone will feel welcome. They will serve several food items including charcuterie, sliders and artisan pizza as well as local beers and wines. “We will have a full bar including topline whiskey,” Amanda said. “We will have a pool table, dart room, as well as live music with some local bands. Our goal is to provide a place that people want to visit.”
Whiskey River Bar is located in the Sunriver Business Park at 56880
Venture Lane.
whiskeyriveroregon.com • 541-508-7207 • whiskeyriveroregon@gmail.com
Sunriver’s Fold Kitchen ‘A Little Something for Everyone’
by Andrea Hine — CBN Feature Writer
You know that Lauren Copelan and her twin sister Lisa weren’t afraid to face challenges when they opened The Fold Kitchen — not only was the pandemic in full swing, but their competition included three existing pizza establishments in Sunriver, and two dozen more in Bend.
Yet in a matter of weeks, locals were already applauding their decision. “This place is really good,” said one customer. “I love that the ingredients are homemade, and sourcing them locally is always a plus in my book.” Added another: “This is the best pizza restaurant in town — exactly what we needed here in Sunriver.”
Several years since their auspicious start, although pizza remains “the cornerstone of our menu (with choices such as Sweet Cheesus, Bee Sting, Fun-Guy, and Hula Girl), we like to think there is a little something for everyone,” Copelan noted.
Other menu options live up to this promise, including signature sandwiches, salads, soup of the day, small plates, and a full bar with craft cocktails.
Said Copelan, “Our life’s passion and purpose is to provide our guests and more importantly, the community as a whole, with a place they can go to enjoy all the things we love: food (with a focus on locally sourced and organic ingredients), drinks, a friendly staff, and welcoming environment.
Two New Health Providers
by Kristine Thomas
Summit Health
After more than four decades and treating thousands of patients, Dr. Dan Skotte retired and transitioned Sunriver’s High Desert Family Medicine to Summit Health.
Skotte said he has been fortunate to work with and take care of many people in Sunriver during his time in practice at High Desert Family Medicine.
“My top priority, as I prepare for retirement, was to ensure the community that has enriched my life would have access to the highest quality care available in the state of Oregon,” Skotte said. “I am very excited that Summit Health will take over operations of the clinic and bring consistent specialty care services to the community for the first time.”
Summit Health opened June 5 and offers full-service primary healthcare, point-of-care testing and laboratory services for all ages to community members in Sunriver, Gilchrist, La Pine and the south county area.
Clinic hours are 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday. Over time, Summit Health’s clinic in Sunriver will expand operations with weekend hours, radiology services and introduce specialty care services like cardiology, pulmonology and neurosciences to the community. The clinic will continue to offer same-day walk-in visits as well as pre-scheduled appointments for primary care.
Karl Schweinberg, PA-C, is eager to continue to offer quality care to residents of Sunriver and the surrounding South County area.
The clinic is located at 57067 Beaver Drive.
smgoregon.com/clinics/sunriver-clinic • 541-382-2811
Ahava Healthcare
Talisa and Joel Myers are a husband-and-wife team of practitioners who own and operate Ahava Healthcare. Their vision for Ahava Healthcare is to offer dedicated compassionate care to patients in their homes, offering hour-long visits as well as 30-minute remote telehealth visits.
Talisa has 20 years of experience in the medical field, and she is currently a RN with a background in Aesthetics, Emergency and Urgent Care Medicine. Joel is an Advanced Practice Clinician (PA-C) with 25 years of experience in Emergency and Family Medicine.
They offer a broad range of services treating most conditions and urgent medical issues with a style that focuses on root cause medicine, which blends Western and functional approaches. They can perform the same services one can receive in a traditional medical office right in the comfort of the patient’s home.
They also perform cosmetic services including Botox, facial fillers and skin care with their Obagi product line. Their practice name “Ahava” comes from an ancient Hebrew word “to love.” They chose the name for their business as it reflects their mission in serving people seeking better health with an open-hearted, open-minded and nonjudgmental approach.
ahavahealth.care • 541-203-3110 • joel@ahavahealth.care
Sunriver Saturday Market
by Kristine Thomas
Peaceful Pet Supplements owner Heather Sainsbury is the catalyst behind the Sunriver Saturday Market. She approached Sunriver Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Kristine Thomas about the need for a market to showcase the many small businesses in Sunriver and surrounding communities that didn’t have storefronts and needed a way to promote their work. Sainsbury and Disturbed Threads owner Nikki Ketchum are the market managers.
Since this is the first year for the market, it has been limited to 20 vendors.
The market is 10am to 2pm Saturday, July 8, August 12, September 9 and October 14 at SHARC by the basketball court. For information, email sunriversaturdaymarket@gmail.com or follow the market on Instagram and Facebook to see what vendors are participating each month.
