Are you a GarajMahalic?

We're experiencing an interesting buying trend here at SLP - which, while not to pat ourselves on the back too much, nor according to any estimation other than our own - makes us believe we may have the hottest selling project in Bend currently. That's right - The GarajMahal.
No, not built for the love of a maiden, this project is simply geared around the love of big toys. Given the stringent restrictions governing the ability to park large vehicles, extra vehicles, and boats in many of Bend's neighborhoods, The GarajMahal project has seemingly come about at the right time and in the right place. Really, it is just a lot of fun to be representing a project which people are so incredibly excited about...so many people in fact that we've taken to calling them The GarajMahalics.
Just don't confuse them with the fans of these other guys.

Sumi's New Space!

Here at SLP we're proud to be able to help local businesses achieve their growth and expansion goals. After an extensive search, and some very hard work by Michael, Sumi Douglass and the business formerly known as Kuishinbo Kitchen have a new home in the former Zucca/Mercury Diner space at the base of College Way. With an expanded floor plan and menu, an outdoor patio, and what is likely to be the most affordable Japanese food in town, "Sumi's Japanese Restaurant" is likely to become a popular eating destination with a solid following. Check out the article from today's paper.

Back in business!

The owner of Kuishinbo Kitchen — a Japanese restaurant that operated on downtown Bend’s Minnesota Avenue for almost 10 years before her landlords chose to remodel the space and change its use — is reopening the popular eatery on Bend’s west side.
Renamed Sumi’s Japanese Restaurant, it will operate in more than 2,500 square feet of space formerly occupied by Zucca Italian Kitchen and, before that, Mercury Diner. The restaurant, at 1444 N.W. College Way, Suite 1, is in the same complex as the popular Mexican restaurant La Rosa.
“This has been my goal,” said owner Sukmi Douglass. “To have more extended hours and at least have a bathroom and a full-service Japanese restaurant in the authentic style.”
The restaurant is expected to open Friday at 11 a.m.
At Kuishinbo Kitchen, Douglass had no bathroom and limited seating, and her back-door access was shut off when construction began on a four-story office-retail-condominium building behind her late last year. She knew it was a matter of time before she’d have to leave, but she worried that she would not find another spot downtown because of limited restaurant space and expensive leases.
On Wednesday, Douglass closed on the purchase of all assets of the former Zucca and Mercury Diner businesses, including all kitchen equipment and restaurant improvements. Details of the sale were not disclosed.
Neal Kramer co-owned Zucca and Mercury Diner. He sold the business in order to concentrate on raising his 20-month-old daughter, although he will continue his catering business, Chowhound Concepts Catering LLC.
“My priorities have changed,” Kramer said. “It will be nice to step away and do the catering … it’s more conducive to family life.”
Kramer owned the Mercury Diner space for 3 1/2 years, changing it to Zucca, the Italian word for squash or pumpkin, six months ago. Before that, he was a partner in Marz Bistro and Astro Lounge in downtown Bend and Mangia! Pasta! on the east side. Zucca officially closed Aug. 14.
For Sumi’s owner Douglass, the new space will be a drastic change — but she hopes to retain the casual, friendly atmosphere she cultivated for almost a decade in her funky downtown building.
“I want everybody to stop by in shorts and sandals,” Douglass laughed.
The new space is nearly double what she had in the historic D.H. Sphier building and will hold 90 seats. She had 13 seats downtown.
Douglass’ downtown location was a favorite among locals, who crowded the small space during lunch for quickly prepared and inexpensive Japanese food such as bento boxes and stir-fry dishes of yakisoba noodles or rice. Douglass expects to keep her lunch prices nearly the same — around $7 per entree.
To manage the increased capacity, Douglass hopes to hire five or six workers in addition to the three she employed downtown.
Ten days or so after opening, Douglass hopes to stretch her culinary muscles with a dinner menu that offers an assortment of dishes never found at her old lunch-only restaurant. She’ll offer around 20 different Japanese-style appetizers, including vegetables cooked multiple ways — barbecued on skewers or breaded with panko bread crumbs and deep-fried.
Tempura-fried foods — common in sushi restaurants — also will be available, she said. Douglass also will have customized sushi “big rolls,” as she calls them, but doesn’t plan a full sushi menu yet. The dinner menu also will have bento boxes available to-go, which will be cheaper than the sit-down dinner menu.
Douglass had been reluctant to open such a large restaurant, but believes locals have a taste for real Japanese food.
“I think Bend is ready for something like this,” she said. “(The west side) currently has no casual takeout options for a (Japanese) eatery.”

Anna Sowa can be reached at 383-0304 or at asowa@bendbulletin.com.

Travels and Changes

Harbor View Development - Klamath Falls, OR

As a company we're trying to stick with the "work hard - play hard" ethos that we've established at SLP. Over the past several weeks, we've had a few extended closings which have created a bit of stress (but when does that not happen?), and thus, this past weekend we all did a bit of stress relief traveling. Independently, both Steve and I traveled down from Bend to NorCal. Steve apparently spent a lot of time getting re-acquainted with his bike (poor guy has barely ridden at all lately), and I spent a lot of time being lazy and expanding my knowledge of viticulture. Initially, I took a great detour over to the coast and enjoyed not only the sun and surf, but also the opportunity to check out various coastal properties and classic film locales. On the way down, I also did a drive-by of our exclusive listing in Klamath Falls, OR - The Harbor View Development - which we've just reduced the total price on, and which we are now offering for purchase in 5-Lot parcels as well. I was pretty astounded by how nice the boulevards (and other completed infrastructures) actually are (see photo above) and at the scope of the lake views from the lots. Back here at home, Michael has been holding down the fort and keeping track of the progress on our new office suite. Another shipment of chic furniture has already shown up, and today the painters have been hard at work on finishing up the walls. Friday is shaping up to be the biggest day yet, with the majority of our cabinetry and trim scheduled for installation. Finally, we've gotten word from The City of Bend that our address change is now official, due to the difficulty which people were experiencing trying to find Cyber Drive.
Our new building address is 404 SW Columbia Street, and SLP will now be located in Suite 220.

Everything Is New

The construction of our new offices is continuing to move forward (we can hear the crew banging on the walls right now), and damn if we aren't all a little antsy and excited to get in there and set up shop permanently.
Located in the brand-spanking-new Vision Plaza building on the west side of Bend (yep, we feel pretty lucky to be here), we're trying to reflect our image as a non-traditional real estate company through the innovative construction and design of our condo space. Not just any cube-land, the new home of SLP will feature exposed-structure "warehouse" ceilings, polished concrete floors, and bright colors which play off of our blue and green standard.
As of this morning, the drywall is in place and the workers are texturing the walls. As with all of the suites in Vision Plaza, because they are office condos, as suite owners, we can build out our suite in pretty much any fashion we choose. This makes the process infinitely more enjoyable than moving into a pre-fab space where you have no say over the paint colors/layout/image.
The future home of SLP is just under 1000SF and will be the third building tenant. Designed by GGL and built out by HSW, although the process has been a bit slow (but isn't that par for the course with any construction project?), we're hoping to be in our space within the next 3 weeks.*
Thankfully, in the meantime, we've been the beneficiaries of the kindness of our neighbors in Suite 206 (Viking Construction) and have been using one of their offices (Thanks Guys!!). Despite the close quarters, we're still making deals and garnering new listings daily, as well as taking advantage of the goodies which Kurt has been leaving out for us in the kitchen.

*We're taking bets. "Price Is Right Rules" to the nearest day.