Cartwright’s Market has a long tradition in the Rogue Valley. When Orlin Cartwright, a Navy cook and butcher during World War II, returned to the Rogue Valley, he and his son Jim opened a meat processing facility in Central Point in 1962, later expanding to Grants Pass. It was here that Cartwright’s signature hams and deli meats were born.
By 1997, a new generation took the reins. Jamie Cartwright grew up learning from his father and grandfather, and in 2008 he designed and opened a brand new Cartwright’s Market, transforming the old slaughterhouse into a specialty market with a focus on premium meats, fresh seafood, organic produce and artisanal goods.
They opened a second market in Medford in 2017, allowing them to introduce a production kitchen, creating chef-inspired salads, entrees, and an in-house bakery offering fresh, hand-made desserts.
On October 29, 2024, Jamie and his wife Elvie broke new ground by purchasing Dave Thomason’s popular restaurant, Taprock Northwest Grill at 971 SE 6th, with views of Riverside Park, the Rogue River, and Caveman Bridge.
“Cartwright’s Taprock Northwest Grill offers casual riverfront dining, with attention to higher quality food and cooking techniques paired with exceptional service,” Elvie said. “It is a great place to host any celebration, family gathering, or just a laid-back Tuesday out with a friend. We offer chef-driven food with a ‘made from scratch kitchen’ that gives us the ability to accommodate any dietary lifestyle for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week.”
Taprock is committed to honest ingredients and local flavors, from Pacific Northwest seafood to premium meats and farm-fresh produce.
“Everything on our menu is a celebration of Southern Oregon,” Jamie said. “It is a casual atmosphere with exceptional food and beverages on three different levels of riverfront dining. We have two outdoor patios, two dining rooms, and private party banquet spaces that can host up to 100 guests. Plus we sell a limited selection of retail clothing, including hats, sweatshirts, and T-shirts.”
The Cartwrights are looking forward to the future.
“We’re excited to keep raising the bar,” Elvie said. “Taprock will always be a place to gather, unwind, and enjoy the best of what our region has to offer. We’re committed to supporting local farmers, makers, and the community that makes us who we are. No matter the season, you’ll find good food, good company, and the view that started it all, right here on the Rogue River.”
For more info, the phone number is 541-955-5998. You can also see them at taprock.com and on Facebook and Instagram.
