News

Posted on: July 5, 2022

Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza Makes its Debut

The Downtown Farmers Market Pavilion Sign

By John Adair

 

June 4 was a standard Saturday morning in the Pacific Northwest. A light rain fell on shoppers as they wandered the Lane County Farmers Market and Pavilion. Tom Murray, 44, of Slo Farm, admitted he hoped for sunnier weather but said...

Read more about the new home of the Farmers Market

Downtown News
Posted on: March 28, 2022

Tens of Thousands to Visit Eugene for July's World Athletic Championships

Hayward Field Torch

The World Athletics Championships are fast approaching, and for 10 days in July, Eugene will be the epicenter of the track and field universe.

 

Running from July 15-24, Oregon22 was supposed to happen in 2021 but was postponed because of the COVID...

Read on...

Downtown News
Posted on: February 9, 2022

Learn about Hearing Loops Available in Downtown Eugene

Blue Hearing Loop Logo

Article by John Adair

 

On Saturday Feb. 12, Loop Lane County Committee, a special committee of The Shedd Institute, hosted its monthly workshop to showcase its hearing loop installment. Hearing loops are a technology that has existed since the 193...

Read more about the new mural . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: February 9, 2022

New Mural in Downtown Eugene: Rising TOGETHER

New Rise Mural

Article by Kelly Johnson, Executive Director of the Arts & Business Alliance of Eugene (ABAE)

 

Art ignites change. That was the message at the heart of the City of Eugene Cultural Services’ We Rise project. We Rise, a program that th...

Read more about the new mural . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: December 2, 2021

Downtown Eugene Spaces are a Hotbed for Tech and Innovation

Interior view of The District, showing desks side-by-side in front of what appears to be a kitchen.

By Sally Bell, Vice President and Executive Director, Technology Association of Oregon, Southern Willamette Valley

 

Eugene’s downtown tech scene is stronger than ever, thanks to a variety of spaces that offer coworking, collaboration, in...

Read More About Innovation Spaces Downtown . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: November 8, 2021

Community Sporting Events Boost Recovery Efforts in Eugene

A group of runners in the park.

Photo courtesy of Run Hub Northwest 

When the pandemic hit, the owners of Run Hub Northwest knew they would need a strategy to keep their local running supply shop thriving. Like many brick-and-mortar stores, sales plummeted in 2020 when closed to...

Read more about events helping recovery . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: July 15, 2021

A new spark downtown for students

Three SparkLab students pose in front of the SparkLab sign.

by Becky-Jo Samples, Connected Lane County

A new spark downtown for students

Connected Lane County opened SparkLab in 2021 to help teach youth technical skills

If you’ve been in downtown Eugene recently, you may have noticed the new SparkLab sign on West 7th...

Read more about SparkLab . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: July 15, 2021

Park Blocks Pavilion: A View From the Other Side of the Fence

Park blocks pavilion construction site from above, showing demolished butterfly lot.

If you’ve had a chance to visit downtown over the past few weeks, you may have seen the huge changes that have been made since the City of Eugene began the demolition of the Butterfly Lot. Now we would like to show you the scene from the other s...

Read more about the pavilion construction . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: July 15, 2021

Bringing Vibrancy Downtown

A Window Display in Downtown Eugene on Eugene Taiko

by Caitlin Caldwell, Arts & Business Alliance of Eugene Intern

This month we sat down with Kate Ali, City of Eugene Public Art Manager, and Chanin Santiago, Downtown Program Assistant, to learn more about the Windowfront Exhibitions. These temporary in...

Read more about window exhibits downtown . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: March 30, 2021

Popular Downtown Eugene Socializing Spots Reopen with New Owners

Dominic and Angela Valdes pose inside Tea Chai Té.

The pandemic has been tough on small businesses, but two couples have brought a pair of formerly popular gathering places in the heart of downtown Eugene back to life.

Eric and Karen Nelson reopened The Barn Light on Feb. 26. in the Broadway Commerce Cente...

Read more about reopenings downtown . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: March 25, 2021

Downtown Performing Arts Venues Invest in the Future

Hult Center for the Performing Arts Director Theresa Sizemore stands inside the venue.

By Kelly Johnson

 

Many of us have been patiently waiting for the moment when we can safely gather at live performances. As we inch closer to this often dreamed of moment, you might be wondering what's been happening at the venues in downtown Eugen...

Read about ongoing venue upgrades . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: March 17, 2021

Downtown Coworking Spaces Support Digital Workers and Create Community

Eugene Mindworks founders Aloma Loren Murray and Shaylor Murray.

By Darby Giannone

Coworking spaces–businesses offering workspaces, high-speed internet, and officelike amenities–provide resources to support digital workers. The shared space allows freedom and flexibility yet provides an opportunity t...

Read more about coworking spaces in Eugene . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: February 17, 2021

Multi-tasking Ambassadors a Valuable Presence in Downtown Eugene

Downtown Ambassadors Stand on Steps

Eugene’s Downtown Ambassadors perform different duties, but all of them are meant to achieve the same outcome -- making people feel welcome and safe in downtown.

Recognizable by their blue attire, the ambassadors are the City of Eugene’...

Read more about downtown ambassadors . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: January 25, 2021

More People Making Downtown Eugene Home

The Midtown

A welcome trend is underway in downtown Eugene.

More residents are moving into new housing in the City center -- adding vitality to the area and helping the community make progress on key goals.

Four residential projects with apartments and townhomes were f...

Read more about new downtown housing . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: January 4, 2021

Downtown Program Fund Available for Artistic and Cultural Programming

Close-up of dancers performing on a stage in purple lighting.

Artists and organizations encouraged to apply through Feb. 7

The City of Eugene Cultural Services Downtown Program Fund offers artists and organizations an opportunity to transform downtown outdoor spaces into arts and culture destinations. Funding of up t...

Read more about the downtown program fund . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: November 24, 2020

More Of A Good Thing – City of Eugene Extends “Streatery” Program for Restaurants

Downtown Streateries.

The City of Eugene is extending an outdoor café seating program for another six months to help restaurants stay in business during the pandemic while complying with physical distancing requirements.

Restaurants can expand their serving areas onto sidewalks...

Read more about the streatery program . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: November 24, 2020

Iconic Downtown Eugene Coffee Shop Transfers to Familiar Hands

Staff member in front of Palace Bakery.

Michael Phinney wanted to find the right person to take over Full City Coffee in downtown Eugene. After all, he had spent 30 years making the Pearl Street business an institution in the city’s highly competitive coffee shop scene.  

“I didn’t want...

Read more about Palace Bakery . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: November 24, 2020

Downtown Eugene Continues to Inspire, Attract Entrepreneurs

Porterhouse.

Two stores and a restaurant have opened recently in downtown Eugene, proving that while COVID-19 has disrupted daily life and the economy, entrepreneurs remain confident in the commercial and cultural center of the city as a place to start a business.

Two ...

Read more about entrepreneurship in Eugene . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: November 24, 2020

Supporting businesses in downtown Eugene may never be as important as this holiday season

Worker inside Mosaic with Give Joy, Shop Local text overlay.

After enduring months of COVID-19-depressed sales, downtown merchants hope to get a boost from holiday shoppers in the weeks ahead, even as the pandemic continues and they operate under new restrictions. For some merchants, the seasonal sales could make t...

Learn how to support businesses downtown . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: December 1, 2020

Downtown Eugene is a Beacon for Visual Arts

Art pieces hang on a wall in a gallery.

A vibrant arts scene is a vital piece of any city's downtown. Artists define the character of communities. In Eugene, we have a wealth of places downtown where we can see art, find supplies to make art, and buy pieces from the local artists we love.&n...

Ways to support Eugene arts . . .

Downtown News
Posted on: December 16, 2020

A Place For People to Belong: 50 Years of The Kiva

The Kiva at night.

by Micah Elconin

Entrepreneurial dreams from a half century ago led to The Kiva, one of Eugene’s cherished food institutions.  

Owned and operated by Melissa and George Brown, The Kiva is a downtown grocery store long popular with people who prefer...

Read more about the Kiva's 50th anniversary . .

Downtown News