Biz Beat 7-16-2015

Last week we wrote about Barnhart Associates selling its historic building on East 14th Avenue to Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide and moving out. We’ve since learned from Jim Barnhart, one of the real estate agency’s founders, that the business has dissolved and the agents have scattered, nine going to Equinox Real Estate, and owner David Holland is now a commercial broker with Evans, Elder & Brown. We wrote that Holland was co-owner of Barnhart Associates with Jim and Nancy Barnhart (based on his online profile), but Jim Barnhart tells us Holland bought the couple out over time starting in 2004, and completely in 2007, including the building. At its height, Barnhart Associates had 30 agents. “I’m grateful this wonderful building was sold to ELAW,” says Barnhart, “a very solid organization.”

Rent The Chicken is an unusual national franchise that has now expanded to the Eugene and Springfield area. “Consumers can try out urban laying hens with full phone and web support but without a long-term commitment,” says “Homestead Jenn” Tompkins of the franchise’s home office in Pennsylvania. Mountain Meadow Ranch outside of Springfield is the local connection. The service will deliver a portable coop, two or more laying hens and feed for six months within 50 miles of Springfield, or beyond for a delivery fee. At the end of six months, customers can renew, end the agreement or buy the hens and all equipment. Call (724) 305-0782 or visit rentthechicken.com for more information.

The nonprofit Oregon Country Fair last weekend saw the biggest ticket sales since 2000, according to outgoing General Manager Charlie Ruff. A three-day total of 52,300 fairgoers hopefully boosted sales for the 80 food vendors and 350 craft booths. As usual, Saturday saw the biggest attendance with 20,117 people showing up under cool, cloudy skies.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

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Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

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