The Medford Food Coop opened on August 8, 2011—just over 6 years ago—and in early November they will be the opening of The Café, a locally sourced and community-minded eatery located onsite at their current location, 975 S. Riverside. We recently had the chance to ask MFC’s Marketing Manager Halle Riddlebarger a few questions.

Not long ago owner Greg Hayden and store manager Matt Endress, childhood friends from Indiana, were sitting around the backyard fire drinking a beer chatting about the future of their modest operation where the obvious became, well obvious. “There really isn’t anyone in Medford that does what we do,” Matt said. And what is it that they do?

Behind the doors of Paradise Tans, owned and operated by Deseray Brown, lies a far deeper portion of Medford’s history.

Three years ago, Deseray Brown purchased Paradise Tans from her step-mother, with whom she had worked with for 11 years to get the business on the right track. It was only recently that Deseray was presented with a new and interesting business opportunity. Arthur Alfinito, of Art’s Barbershop, has been welcomed with open arms to the tanning salon, creating an interesting beauty duo between haircuts and tans.

Troy and Karen Irving, owners of Papa Murphy’s Take n’ Bake Pizza located at 1120 Biddle Rd., moved to Medford in 1991 from San Diego, CA. Troy was born and raised in San Diego and Karen from Boring, OR. “We wanted a safe community to raise our kids and to be able to afford a home,” Karen said. “Troy worked at Costco when they first opened. When we moved we had a 4 year-old daughter and I was expecting our second child.”

Tucked away inside the Medford Center, amongst the bustle of eateries and some shopping outlets, there can be found the Collaborative Theatre Project (CTP). A cozy little start-up co-founded by Susan Aversa-Orrego, owner of the Yogurt Hut, Obed Medina, an Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) veteran, and local actor Pam Ward. This local gem features a 90-seat theatre, done up in the immersive Black Box style, as well as a competent team to accompany it.