Local Flair Found at 5th Street Public Market
Submitted by Jenny Ulum, Obie Companies
Long before sociologists coined the term “third place,” where people could gather separate from home or work, there was the 5th Street Public Market. For more than 40 years the Market has curated a unique blend of retail shops, eateries and offices to draw people in and keep them coming back. The secret to the Market’s longstanding success has been to never stop evolving and innovating while remaining true to its local roots.
Standing in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods in a historic industrial area, the Market is keenly aware of its ties to the past as it builds a major expansion for the future. The Market Expansion represents the largest private commercial development ever in downtown Eugene and easily the Obie Companies’ single biggest investment. With great fanfare the project broke ground in February 2019 and is expected to open to the public in fall 2020 with a hotel, apartments and retail building on a half-block just west of the current Market. Recently Obie announced that Nike would be the anchor tenant in the retail building.
“Local” is an important value at Obie Companies, owner of the 5th Street Public Market. The Obie family has deep ties to the community. Fourth generation family member Casey Barrett currently serves as company vice president under the leadership of his grandfather, Brian Obie. The family has a strong track record of civic involvement, volunteering in public service and supporting causes including the University of Oregon, state and local historical societies, A Family for Every Child (a nonprofit started by Christy Obie Barrett who is Casey’s mother and Brian’s daughter) and more.
Today an international brand, Nike famously got its start in Eugene. In fact one of its earliest retail stores was on the third floor of the current 5th Street Public Market. It operated there from 1988 to 1999 before moving to a new location built expressly for Nike in the Market on the corner of 5th Avenue and Pearl Street where the Inn at the 5th now sits.
“Local” is loosely defined as Pacific Northwest but there is no question that, just like the Saturday Market, many well known local businesses such as Uncommon Scents, Sattva Gallery, Café Yumm and others trace their early days to the 5th Street Public Market.
What’s so important about keeping it local? According to Brian Obie, it is all part of creating the best possible experience for their customers. “It’s a win-win proposition,” Obie says. “We’ve taken daily activities that can be regarded as a chore and made it fun. At the Market our guests can experience what makes each season special while taking in our flowers and decorations and enjoying the environment we’ve created. It’s the opposite of a cookie-cutter shopping mall and that’s what people love about the Market.”
“We’ve taken daily activities that can be regarded as a chore and made it fun. At the Market our guests can experience what makes each season special while taking in our flowers and decorations and enjoying the environment we’ve created. It’s the opposite of a cookie-cutter shopping mall and that’s what people love about the Market.”
The possibilities and potential for the 5th Street Public Market ratcheted up significantly when Obie got into the hospitality business in 2012 with the opening of the Inn at the 5th. Since then Obie has opened another hotel in Boise, Idaho, with a third under construction as part of the Market Expansion. Offering a memorable retail and dining experience to hotel guests and other visitors doubles their enjoyment and gives them even more reasons to come back and explore some more.
With the opening of the Market Expansion, people for the first time will be able to live, work and play all at the Market. As a place where hotel guests, visitors, local folks and residents can gather and mingle, the Market becomes a “third place,” a local bricks-and-mortar place, and that creates community. For Obie Companies, that’s what matters.
About 5th Street Market:
Fifth Street Public Market is located in the heart of Downtown Eugene on the corner of 5th and High Street.The flavor of your favorite foods, local artisans, the fun of being in the middle of it all. See the world, the way we see it from the Fifth Street Public Market.Within the walls of the Historic Market, you’ll find a colorful collection of Shops, Services, International Cafés, Bars, Restaurants, and a Hotel and Spa. Business and pleasure mix to create one of Eugene’s most entertaining destination points. The courtyard and balconies are perfect for taking a break to watch local musicians, artists or other people watchers just like you! Whether you’re on your own or with a crowd, you will be delighted at Fifth Street Public Market.
