OldTown Medford

Local Business Owners Provide

New Perspective on OldTown Medford

Choosing a parking spot is an easy decision, in fact, it will be the easiest decision of the evening. Now you’re standing on the sidewalk, pondering which of the 25 or so restaurants you will eat at before heading to a show at a world-class theater. And after the show you’ll have another tough decision: which bar to meet your friends at. Perhaps you’re in the mood to go to a wine bar that features local varieties, or a tapas bar with unusual cocktails, or maybe you just want to shoot pool and drink a Bud-Lite. Regardless of your mood, you’ll find what you’re looking for in downtown Medford.

Unfortunately, the public’s general view of downtown does not always match the reality of what is actually offered in our city’s center.  This common misconception is what led a group of downtown business owners to band together and create OldTown, a non-profit marketing group dedicated to changing the perception of downtown Medford.       \

“The primary goal of OldTown is to increase awareness of the unique dining and entertainment options in Medford’s historic core,” said Chris Dennett, owner of Elements. “Essentially we are trying to change the public perception of the downtown core by showing people the diversity and quality of offerings here. The historical core is where Medford began, and it is where many of Medford’s most vibrant, locally owned and operated businesses are still located."

As they begin to re-brand the downtown entertainment and dining district as OldTown, they will give it a unique and historical perspective that will draw business to the city’s core. “We are using Portland’s Pearl District as a model,” Dennett said. “The challenge with Medford’s downtown is not that there is nothing to do after 5pm, it’s that no one business can afford the investment to change this perspective. As a group, we have a chance.”

The group will utilize a number of methods to achieve these goals. “First, we are working closely with groups that are already dedicated to improving the downtown experience including the Heart of Medford Association and Medford Visitors and Convention Bureau by providing more marketing dollars for promoting downtown,” Dennett explained. “We are essentially a non-profit marketing group, so all of our funds are dedicated to marketing only. Each OldTown member contributes a percentage of their sales to fund our programs.”

In five years Dennett believes more people will consider OldTown as one of the best dining and entertainment options in the area, which will in turn drive customers to a variety of businesses. “In ten years, we have the ability to put Medford on the map,” Dennett added, “and revitalize the core as the best place in the area for unique and local dining, entertainment, and shopping.”

While Dennett led the charge to create a marketing co-op, the idea behind OldTown was actually a group effort. Several years ago many of the local restaurants started a group called HOOT (Hospitality of Old Town) but it never got fully off the ground. “I approached the original HOOT members and others about creating a new marketing cooperative,” Dennett said.  “I was aware of other successful branding projects in other areas, like Wild Rivers Coast and Land of Umpqua. I was convinced we could do the same thing."

Currently, OldTown consists of 13 businesses: 4 Daughters, Red Rock, Porters, Habaneros, Elements, Craterian Theater, Rack ‘Em, The Red Lion, Bear Creek Beers, Corks, Jackson Creek Pizza, Pallet Wine Company, and Shenanigan’s. “The group is constantly growing,” Dennett said. “Plus there are several other OldTown merchants who have expressed support for the project.”

“We have no political agenda,” Dennett continued. “We are not an organization that is membership driven, which is to say that we do not require dues. We are simply a group of people who want to see the historical core revitalized, and who are willing to contribute our advertising dollars to that end.”

Helping support OldTown’s mission is quite simple: head downtown, take advantage of the locally owned and operated businesses, and appreciate the character and vibrance of OldTown Medford.

For more information check out their website at: OldTownMedford.com.