News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Charlie and Tami Bunker, with their daughters, are excited about their new business endeavor.
For years Tami Bunker delivered foodstuffs to Sisters Market. Owner Susan Couch joked with her that in a few years she'd sell her the business.
It turned out to be no joke at all.
About two weeks ago, Susan and Ken Couch sold Sisters Market to Charlie and Tami Bunker - and the Bunkers have been hard at work here ever since.
For Charlie, commuting from home in Bend is no big deal. For the past there years he's had a much longer drive.
"The last three years I was running stores on the coast, and our daughters were here in high school (in Bend)," he said.
He's delighted to have a store close to home.
"We love Sisters," he said. "I enjoy smaller towns. Sisters is one of those places you always drive through and say 'Some day I'm going to live and work here."
The bunkers will stay at least one more year in Bend until one daughter graduates from high school. Then they plan to move to Sisters.
Tami says that the family has always felt more connected to Sisters and events like the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show and the Sisters Rodeo than they have to Bend anyway.
As for the store, they plan to continue the operation in much the same spirit that exists now - with a few additions. They're adding deli foods for cold cuts and expanding the selection of wines and craft beers. They'll have frozen foods and some organic produce.
"We've got worms!" Tami announced proudly. "People asked for four days and finally we found someone who had worms." That kind of responsiveness to customer desires will be a hallmark of the Bunkers' operation.
"My philosophy is, listen to the customers," Charlie said.
Sisters Market is located at 110 W. Cascade Ave. at the corner of Elm Street.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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