Biz Beat 11-26-2014

The Dexter Lake Club closed Nov. 17 and the land and building are for sale for $279,000, according to the nightclub and café’s Facebook page and website. The club was featured in Animal House in 1977 and has been in operation along Highway 58 since 1949. The business has changed hands nearly a dozen times, most recently in 2011 when Greg and Shannon Stewart took over the roadhouse from Michael McCann. Hundreds of local musicians have performed there over the years.

Anderson Watchmaking, previously located at 888 Pearl St. for the last 24 years, has moved six blocks away to 1385 Oak St., Suite A. Marc Anderson started out in the Coburg Road area 35 years ago and is a fifth-generation watchmaker. He sells and repairs vintage and antique watches, and installs batteries in new quartz watches. Call 342-1610.

A greener alternative to Black Friday will be provided by Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts at its fourth annual “Create Something Day” from noon to 5 pm Friday, Nov. 28, at MECCA, 449 Willamette St. near the Amtrak station. MECCA will provide all materials, tools and instruction to make meaningful, fun gifts out of reusable materials. Contact Maiya Becker at 844-6526.

The nonprofit Reality Kitchen has been certified by the Oregon Department of Human Services and granted an endorsement to provide employment and alternatives to employment services effective Nov. 14. “This is a huge step for our organization which is already a provider organization and a vendor to vocational rehabilitation,” says Executive Director Jim Evangelista. “We have much to be grateful for and much work to do to continue serving the needs of those individuals we serve who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities.” Reality Kitchen operates a retail café and wholesale bakery at 645 River Rd., the former location of Wild Plum Bakery. See realitykitchen.org or call 337-1323.

The slow-money movement in Eugene and Lane County is growing. The new group Slow Money South Willamette Valley has a website at slowmoneyswv.org and has connected local businesses and local investors in creating about $98,000 in peer-to-peer loans so far, says Erin Ely, organizer of the local movement. A new law goes into effect in Oregon in January to accommodate “legal” investing. The law allows Community Public Offerings or CPOs.

Rich Bruer, senior consultant at Solid Ground Consulting, will speak at GreenLane Sustainable Business Network’s monthly member meeting from 11:30 am to 1 pm Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the Eugene Hilton. Lunch is optional.

Delivered Dish/Pony Express of Eugene and Springfield is holding a food drive for FOOD for Lane County through Dec. 31. “Customers can donate seven cans at one time in exchange for free delivery on their food orders with us,” says Andy Valentine of the company. “It’s been an awesome drive so far; we’ve filled up a massive barrel already.” Customers can enter the coupon code FoodBank14 for online orders, or mention the code when they call in orders. See ddish.com or email greg@d-dish.com.

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