Nearly two years in the making, the restoration and renovation of a historic building from Bend’s mill town past has been completed as the Dogwood at the Pine Shed opened on Friday.

The outdoor food and beverage entertainment hub on Second Street in Bend had been called The Catalyst while it was under construction. The former mill mechanic repair shop has been moved and renovated to become a cozy, comfy cabin with an industrial vibe, said Sean Lawrence, Dogwood general manager.

“We really wanted to preserve the aesthetic and feel of the old Pine Shed and bring our Dogwood flair to it,” Lawrence said. “The old Dogwood (Cocktail Cabin on NW Minnesota Avenue) was cozy and had a cabin feel. We merged that with the industrial warehouse feel to create a sleek but cozy atmosphere.”

The grand opening of the bar/lounge was on Friday, and was heralded as a sign of the future for the Bend Central District’s redevelopment. The city envisions it as a second downtown and the future home of Bend City Hall.

The Pine Shed was the previous home of Spoken Moto, a coffee and beer hangout on SW Industrial Way. The developer used a grant from Visit Bend’s Sustainability Fund to pay for the transport of the Pine Shed from its previous home to Second Street near Hawthorne Avenue, a 1.5-mile journey. The project was developed by Bend resident Kurt Alexander, who owns Petrich Properties.

“The project has been a true labor of love over the past three years,” Alexander said. “The old pine shed has been transformed into a living work of art — one that everyone in our community should experience.”

Even during the soft opening over the past few weeks of the Dogwood and the food cart openings, the area that had been quiet after 4 p.m. weekdays has come alive, Alexander said.

Bend’s old Pine Shed to become Dogwood Cocktail Cabin’s new home

Bend’s old Pine Shed to become Dogwood Cocktail Cabin’s new home

Cyrus Mooney, Bend business advocate, said the completion of the renovations of the Pine Shed has created some energy and interest for the Second Street community.

“The core area is a place a lot of folks see opportunity in through investments and all of the potential that the neighborhood has to build on,” Mooney said. “The (development) reflects what can happen when community members come together to accomplish something only possible through collaboration, and I think that spirit will continue to thrive in the Central District for years to come.”

Across the street from the entertainment hub is both the Campfire Hotel and the Oregon Spirits Distillers owned by Brad and Kathy Irwin, who say they’re glad to have another open sign in the area during off peak hours.

Spoken Moto building still on blocks after failed lease agreement

Spoken Moto building still on blocks after failed lease agreement

“The Dogwood and (entertainment hub) bring an energetic vibe to the Bend Central District,” Brad Irwin said. “It’s going to be a great summer.”

Also coming to this neighborhood is a pedestrian and bike bridge that the city plans to build over the railroad tracks and U.S. Highway 97 that will connect east and west Bend via Hawthorne Avenue. The bridge, expected to cost $29 million to $36 million, is still in the planning stages and is expected to be built by the end of 2027.

Tod Breslau, broker and developer of the Campfire Hotel on Third Street, is looking forward to the improvements that will continue to shape and shift the Second Street community.

“In only a few days we’ve seen hundreds of customers pouring in the neighborhood, possibly for the first time, to visit the Pine Shed,” Breslau said. “As other brave developers continue their journey into our … neighborhood, and once the Hawthorne Bridge gets completed, we will see a real transformation of the district into the thriving business, housing friendly neighborhood.”

Six food trucks were handpicked by Alexander. They are: The Dominican, Wich Doctor, SOPA Mexican, Dinky Dau, Kook’i and Red Beard BBQ.

Before signing the Dogwood for the Pine Shed, Alexander had worked out an agreement with the owners of Spoken Moto.