Posted by admin on 26 August
Thanks for visiting the new website for Historic Downtown Oregon City!
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Posted in Home
Posted by Lloyd Purdy on 11 August
Summer Concert Series Downtown Wraps Up This Friday.
A perennial summer favorite in downtown Oregon City, the Liberty Plaza Concert Series, wraps up this Friday August 14th. Friday night’s concert is the last of three summer concerts in downtown Oregon City. Music begins at 5:30 pm at Liberty Plaza next to the historic downtown court house on Main Street.
This recurring summer concerts series in downtown Oregon City features regional musicians, local restaurant vendors at the plaza, and a great crowd. Kicking off this final Liberty Plaza Concert of the year will be, Dry County Crooks. This is the third season for Dry County Crooks at the downtown Oregon City concert series. The Dry County Crooks are an outlaw country/rock outfit from Portland, Oregon with punk roots and a blue-collar message that has become their trademark. Touring the Western United States since 2001, they’ve played over 300 shows including multiple appearances at MusicfestNW and opening for bands ranging from Eddie Spaghetti to The Tennessee Three. More information about this downtown Oregon City Liberty Plaza Concert performer, Dry County Crooks, can be found at http://www.drycountycrooks.com/index3.html
“This has been a great season for the Liberty Plaza Concert series,” said Andy Busch, concert organizer and local businessman. “We’re pleased to be wrapping up on such a high note with great regional musicians.”
The closing performance of Downtown Oregon City’s Liberty Plaza Concerts features Robbie Laws at 8 pm on Friday, August 14th. Considered the “Blues Pride of the Pacific Northwest” Robbie Laws honors the styles of great Texas Bluesmen from the past. With deep emotion, Robbie’s song writing, vocal, and guitar virtuosity are showcased in his powerful mix of original and traditional electric blues. For more information about this Liberty Plaza concert headliner visit http://www.visionmusic.com/laws/robbielaws.html .
“Music in downtown Oregon City is a great way to celebrate summer, and a Friday night out on the town,” said Oregon City’s Downtown Manager Lloyd Purdy. “The Liberty Plaza Concert series downtown really shows how downtown is developing as the social and cultural heart of our community.”
The sounds of downtown are complimented by a taste of downtown as local restaurants show off their street smarts in an outdoor dining experience. This year, downtown Oregon City restaurants at Liberty Plaza include: McMenamins, Mi Famiglia, Coffee Rush, The Verdict, and Maui Camp 3.
The Liberty Plaza Concerts in downtown Oregon City are produced by the Oregon City Downtown Business Coalition with financial support form the Oregon City Civic Improvement Trust. More details can be found at www.ocdbc.com .
Posted in News & Press
Posted by Lloyd Purdy on 9 August
Historic downtown Oregon City’s second oldest business – Tony’s Fish Market at 1316 Washington Street – completes a nine-month renovation this August.
Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd the Petrich family will celebrate these renovations with a patio party open to the public. All are welcome to stop by for a visit between 10 am and 6 pm for free samples, discounts and the grand opening of the patio and Fish Market.
Tony’s Fish Market, a family owned business since 1936, at 1316 Washington Street in downtown Oregon City has upgraded its retail operation to provide on-location seating for dine-in customers. The recent construction was done primarily through F & F Structures and includes new windows, an updated service counter, signs, coolers, freezers, and an updated color scheme as well as the new patio.
“Our new patio is the perfect place for customers to sit and enjoy our signature products like fresh smoked salmon, lox & bagels, and our famous smoked salmon chowder,” said Penny Petrich. “We will also entertain guest on the patio as we cook crabs in the winter ad crawdads in the summer in our famous old crab pot.”
This remodel of the Fish Market continues a tradition of innovation at Tony’s Fish Market. Stazie and Tony Petrich created Tony’s Fish Market in 1936. Tony was a commercial fisherman and fished the Willamette, Columbia and Pacific Ocean. Their son Vincent and his wife Rolla Petrich continued the business and in 1964 added the first of several smoke houses and started the smoked fish business. In 1986 Marko Petrich – their son – took over the business and built a processing operation next to the market.
“The new and improved Fish Market is a great place to have a snack and then pick up what you need for dinner,” said Penny Petrich.
As each generation of Petrich has taken over management of Tony’s Fish Market innovations have helped the business evolve. Marco and Penny’s adult children are the 4th generation to run the family business. “Marko’s Grandma Stazie started this business, she’s the one that had the vision,” said Penny Petrich. “All these years later, the Fish Market is still at the core of what we do.”
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Posted in News & Press
Posted by Lloyd Purdy on 3 August
Downtown Sign Fund Commits $6,000 to First Six Projects
Last week the non-profit Main Street Oregon City awarded $6,000 to six new sign projects in downtown Oregon City. There are currently six more requests for funding for matching funds waiting for review this month. That still leaves $12,000 in funding for new sign related projects in historic downtown Oregon City.
Visitors to downtown can expect to see new signs on several of downtown’s old buildings. Funded projects include: Ruud’s Jewelers on Main Street, Busch Furniture on Main Street, Laura Edmond’s Farmer’s Insurance Office on 7th Street, Mi Famiglia at the Corner of Main Street and 7th by the Oregon City Arch Bridge, a new awning at 1401 Washington Street, and a new sign for a new business opening on 212 14th.
“Through a range of programs we are working to make downtown more vibrant, successful and relevant as a modern marketplace,” said Lloyd Purdy, Downtown Manager for Oregon City. “This particular program helps improve the curb appeal of downtown’s buildings and really welcomes visitors to downtown’s businesses.”
With a grant from the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department and matching funds from Oregon City’s Urban Renewal Commission downtown business and property owners have $24,000 in sign improvement funding to draw from. The non-profit Main Street Oregon City used these grants to create a Downtown Sign Fund. With this Main Street Oregon City managed project, business owners and property owners can match dollar for dollar up to $1,000 on the best sign, sign lighting, or awning improvement projects downtown.
“This program is a very visible result of Oregon City’s commitment to our historic downtown,” said Lloyd Purdy Oregon City’s Downtown Manager. “A sign across the front of a businesses is the best way to catch someone’s attention and say we are open for business.”
This state funding from the Oregon Main Street Technical Assistance program is intended to provide assistance to communities revitalizing their downtown, preserving their identity, and creating opportunities for economic development. The state funds granted to downtown Oregon City are earmarked for building façade renovation with a specific focus on improving the quality of business signage on historic buildings in downtown Oregon City. Grant funds are gathered in part through the Oregon State Lottery Funds administered by the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department.
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Posted in News & Press
