Cascade Lakes Brewing Co.’s west Bend location, with its vivid blue gondola cabin outside, will be closing its doors on Jan. 14, ending an era as the company’s main Bend location.

The owners have decided to close the pub and instead focus on the brewery’s Redmond and new east Bend pub locations, said Andy Rhine, co-owner of the brewery. Rhine and his father, Bruce Rhine, purchased the brewery in 2019 from the founders, Rick Orazetti, Doug and Ron Kutella and Chris Justema, who stayed on for a period of time.

“Business has not declined, but, as I’m sure you know, restaurants are a very challenging business,” Andy Rhine said. “We made a decision while refocusing efforts on remaining spaces like the pub on Reed Market in Bend and the pub on Seventh Street in Redmond.”

Cascade Lakes Brewing Co. is among the oldest brewpubs in Bend. It’s beer is brewed at its Redmond facility. The iconic blue gondola cabin that sits on the pub’s corner at Century Drive and Chandler Avenue will remain with the building. The Rhines are hoping a new tenant will want to purchase it along with the equipment in a sublet, Rhine said.

New majority

Cascade Lakes Brewing has new majority owners

Compass Commercial Real Estate Services, which is leasing the site, said it did not have new tenant lined up yet, said Bruce Churchill, Compass Commercial’s principal broker. The leasing agent does have some prospects, said Churchill.

“It’s a great building with an outstanding location,” Churchill said.

Rising inflation and the pandemic has challenged pubs and restaurants in recent years, particularly in finding and retaining staff.

Cascade Lakes pledges to donate net profits to Central Oregon charities

“It’s always disappointing to see an icon close — even if it’s only one of their locations,” said Katy Brooks, Bend Chamber of Commerce CEO. “We are glad Cascade Lakes Brewing Co. is doing well on the east side and look forward to supporting them in their expansion elsewhere.”

Central Oregon’s Cascade Lakes brews up a new pub

Since purchasing the brewery, the Rhines have made a series of changes to the business. In 2022, they announced it was donating all its net profits to Central Oregon charities. The brewery had also vowed to step up its pay for its 80 workers above industry standard wages, health insurance and the 401(k) retirement savings plan.

With the closing, an unspecified number of employees will be laid off, Rhine confirmed.

East side opening

Cascade Lakes Brewing opens July 19 in the east side of Bend

“The closing of the Century Drive location is not correlated with the opening of the pub on Reed Market (Road),” Rhine said. “Each of our brewpub locations serve a distinct purpose within our community and the decision to close the pub on Century Drive is part of a broader effort to concentrate our resources for more impactful community support.”

Central Oregon’s Cascade Lakes brews up a new pub

The Rhines said in a letter to patrons that the move will allow the company to reorient its presence in the community.

“We aim to magnify our impact and further support the charitable causes we partner with, empowering us to make an even greater difference,” according to a letter to patrons.