Where should I open a restaurant? And other questions about relocating. (Portland: house, purchase)

[Bijoux]

I'm thinking of moving from Berkeley to Oregon and I'm interested in opening a restaurant. I want to be outside of Portland. Currently, I'm thinking about McMinnville. What do you think? Do you think there's much of a need for another restaurant? Also, I want to purchase a house outside of town where I plan to grow organic fruits and vegetables for my restaurant. I'm also a painter and I want to be able to should my paintings and my husbands work in the restaurant, so I would like a location where it's possible to sell art.

What location do you advise? Something about me, I'm from Berkeley and extremely liberal. I hold a higher degree in Archaeology and I love Independent and foreign films. I'm also an International traveler with an international literary business. So, where do you think I would fit-in?

In the past, I lived in a small town in California--Sutter Creek--and I had a difficult time living in an ultra conservatives community. Also, how religious are most communities? Being a non-believer I found it difficult living in an extremely religious small town. I love living in an area that's beautiful and open-minded.

Corvallis sounds really lovely but I think it's too far from Portland. Also, is Corvallis a foodie town? My cooking is basically CA cuisine but with more of a French slanted because I spend a great deal of time in France every year and my husband is French.

Everything about Oregon appeals to me.

[Silverfall]

Well Salem is dying for good restaurants, but we are a more moderate town. Non-believers are all over Oregon but sticking to the valley is better...

Corvallis has some good restaurants. I would check out McMinnville before you move there. It is a great town, but it is more like Salem in that it is moderately conservative. Newberg might be an option as well.

[Oregonbeachlover]

Just a question: Berkeley sounds ideal for you. Why do you want to leave it?

[Bijoux]

I love Berkeley but it's sooo expensive, everything I would like to do here is impossible because of the cost. After living in the country, I love have land and space but I missed having exciting conversations which those around me.

Also, I find myself fearful these days when I go on walks because of the violence. Many of the restaurants we go to have been robbed and there are homeless people everywhere. It's so sad to see what's happened to this city.

Oregon appears to be that perfect balance between the country and Berkeley. In addition, my daughter is planning on moving to Eugene and my son who's an actor is thinking about moving to Portland.

[Oregon Transplant]

Every time I go from Portland to Seattle on Interstate 5 I am shocked how few places to eat there is on the route. Traffic is heavy but at the exits there is few if any places to eat. If it were back east there would be 10 chain restaurants at each exit. A Cracker Barrel Restaurant would make a mint in Oregon and Washington.

That is my recommendation!

[scone]

I agree with Silverfall, Newberg could work for you. It has a little of that Sonoma County wine country feeling, but it's not too far from the city. There's a lot of Quaker influence, and a small Quaker (or maybe formerly Quaker) college. Eugene, however, is the most Berkeley-like place in Oregon, IMO, and they have some nightlife. They could use a few more good restaurants. And the school is very good, some pretty decent intellectual life. In fact, as I recall there are quite a few Berkeley grads at UOE.

[EnricoV]

From what you describe, you'd probably want to plunk yourself down somewhere tourists might venture. A wine area being a good thought. Looking at this site, at the lodging and dining choices everywhere ... McMinnville does look needy. My biggest question is whether McMinnville is too much of a "town."

The Portland foodie "community" has a message board you might want to check out, here. Maybe ask their advice.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by Oregon Transplant

Every time I go from Portland to Seattle on Interstate 5 I am shocked how few places to eat there is on the route. Traffic is heavy but at the exits there is few if any places to eat. If it were back east there would be 10 chain restaurants at each exit. A Cracker Barrel Restaurant would make a mint in Oregon and Washington.

That is my recommendation!

Ugh...why would we want that? Give me a local ma and pa restaurant any day. We've worked hard not to have sprawl.

[Leisesturm]

Do something risky. Find some amazing location halfway up a mountainside or underneath a waterfall or something and hire the season winner of 'Top Chef' and pitch it to the creme de la creme of Portland society. I won't be able to make the cut but I will wish you well.

H

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by Leisesturm

Do something risky. Find some amazing location halfway up a mountainside or underneath a waterfall or something and hire the season winner of 'Top Chef' and pitch it to the creme de la creme of Portland society. I won't be able to make the cut but I will wish you well.

H

You know...there is an old Boise Casacade plant that will be demolished here in Salem that sits on the Willamette River. The plan is for multi-use. I was talking with one of my friends who is an event planner and we both agree that a restaurant right on the river would be spectacular...

We're not ultra-liberal in Salem, but pretty desperate for good food. Does that peak your interest at all?