A second food-truck lot is in the works for the east side of Bend.

The city of Bend Community Development Department recently approved plans for a taphouse and five food trucks on a half-acre lot at 787 NE Purcell Blvd.

Jessica Swartz and Paul Shorey hope to break ground in early April on River’s Place, Swartz said. The couple has leased the land, which is just northwest of the Purcell entrance to Costco, Swartz said.

Swartz and Shorey started working on the food-truck lot early last year and moved ahead even as a similar business, On Tap, was being planned for 1424 NE Cushing Drive, near St. Charles Bend.

Swartz said she thinks there’s plenty of demand for food trucks on the east side, and the two lots will draw traffic from different sources.

While On Tap is positioned to capture traffic from the hospital and 27th Street, Swartz expects River’s Place to draw from Costco and the apartment complexes around the base of Pilot Butte.

“Great minds think alike,” Swartz said. “We’re both tapping into that need on the east side for options and fun and socializing.”

Access to River’s Place will be from a private drive that runs west and south from Purcell, according to a site plan on file with the city. The taphouse entrance will face west and overlook outdoor seating and an open lawn. Parking will be along the private drive, the plan shows.

The taphouse will have a garage door that opens to the lawn in nice weather, but it will be fully heated and air-conditioned for year-round operation, Swartz said.

She said she expects to start talking to potential food-truck tenants soon. “We were waiting for our project to be approved by the city so there was actually something to talk about,” she said.

The couple plan to keep their day jobs. Swartz runs a Pilates studio, and Shorey is a teacher. While Shorey previously worked in construction, Swartz said, River’s Place will be their first commercial construction project.

“This town has so much growth going on, so much energy and potential,” she said. “It seemed like a great way to get in on the fun of Bend.”

On Tap’s plan for a taphouse and six spaces for food trucks was approved by planners last fall. The taphouse is under construction.

—Reporter: kmclaughlin@bendbulletin.com, 541-617-7860