Popular seasonal businesses to reopen

Richard’s Produce, more popularly known as Sisters Farmstand, and C&C Nursery are reopening after reaching an agreement with the current owners of Space Age Fuel on West Cascade Avenue and the prospective purchaser. Space Age was engaged in a lengthy and contentious planning application as it sought to modernize the aging store and increase the number of fuel pumps.

The application was denied by the City after citizens strongly objected to the expansion. Following denial of the request, Space Age Fuels, based in Portland, listed the business for sale at $4.95 million including the real estate on which the station and store sit and the unused land behind it to West Hood Avenue where C&C and Richard’s set up their seasonal shops.

The listing claims fuel sales of 111,000 gallons per month and convenience store sales of $96,000 per month.

Neither the prospective buyer nor the seller or seller’s agent wished to discuss the deal as it was still being negotiated. Several in contact with both say the transaction seems to be headed to conclusion.

Moreover it appears that the potential new owners are interested in not only keeping the current arrangement with the seasonal tenants but possibly increasing their presence as part of an upgrade to the premises.

Earlier this year, The Nugget observed test core drilling on the gas station property, likely part of the due diligence to ascertain if the underground fuel storage tanks were intact.

Sale completed on large parcel next to Sno Cap

The property, on West Cascade Avenue adjacent to Sno Cap Drive In and running east to Oak Street, had been on the market for 1,083 days. The .24-acre lot sold for $1.25 million according to public records. The purchasers, based in Portland, are also the owners of Cascade Spirits and Wild Roots.

The former runs a tasting room and bottle shop at 261 W. Cascade Ave., across the street and a block east of the acquired lot. The latter operates a vodka and gin distilling and packaging facility located at Sun Ranch Drive and Camp Polk Road.

The fast growing company houses two tasting rooms in Portland, one at the high traffic, upscale Washington Square Mall next to Nordstrom, and the other at Northeast Grand and East Burnside. The tasting rooms can be rented for private gatherings after normal business hours.

At press time, The Nugget had not been able to interview CEO Chris Joseph. This is a developing story.