Bend Brewing and Sisters Meat & Smokehouse team-up to open The Way West
A controversial new Bend, Oregon mixed-use development called ‘Jackstraw’ will feature a new collaboration location of Bend Brewing Co. and Sisters Meat & Smokehouse called ‘The Way West.’
Jackstraw is a 4.7 acre housing and business development adjacent to Bend’s popular Box Factory and just west of Crux Fermentation Project between Industrial Way and Lava Road. Jackstraw will bring 313 units of much needed apartments to Bend, but has been criticized for pricing towards upper-medium income households and developer Killian Pacific’s 10-year, $10.6 million tax break granted by the city. Residential pre-leasing began in July, and move-in availability is October. Once complete, Jackstraw will serve as a new hub for retail, living, and community connection.
The ground floor will feature 18,000 square feet of retail space, providing a vibrant mix of local shops, restaurants, and services – energizing the Southern Crossing neighborhood. The Way West joins two recently secured retail tenants, Sisters Coffee Company and DryBar at Jackstraw.
Jackstraw strives to bring new life to the neighborhood with seven stories of apartment homes and resident amenities, including a fitness center and a rooftop lounge looking toward the Cascade Range, a terrace overlooking Lava Road and the Box Factory, landscaped gardens, a resident lounge, and multiple co-working areas.
In 2023 Jackstraw displaced beloved coffee and motorcycle shop Spoken Moto and the beer garden and food truck pod the Pine Shed, which were forced to close to make way way for the development. The Box Factory building itself has lost a number of craft beverage staples including the great taphouse/restaurant The Brown Owl, Avid Cider’s taproom, and Immersion Brewing which recently transitioned into the new UPP Liquids. The former Immersion Brewing owners were vocal about their opposition to ‘Jackstraw’ when developers asked for the tax break back in 2023 and other tenants have lamented the loss of parking to their businesses.
The Way West will anchor Jackstraw’s retail experience with a new food-and-beverage concept to Bend’s Southern Crossing neighborhood. Located along Jackstraw’s activated ground floor retail corridor, the Way West will sit adjacent to a dedicated pedestrian plaza on the southwest edge of the site, just south of Lava Pass – a flexible multi-modal street designed for low-speed traffic and occasional community events.
The plaza will feature Fossils of the Future, a site-specific sculpture series by artist E. Tyler Brown, offering a space for reflection, art, and neighborhood connection.
The Way West will feature a full bar operation, with beer and cocktails curated by Bend Brewing Company, and a fresh-cut provisions counter operated by Sisters Meat & Smokehouse, two respected central Oregon favorites.
A western-inspired horseshoe bar anchors the interior space, while roll-up garage doors open onto a 1,500-square-foot outdoor patio complete with a fire pit, shade structures, and flexible seating. The result is a seamless, year-round indoor-outdoor gathering place, a true expression of the Central Oregon lifestyle.
“The Way West brings together two standout brands that represent the best of Central Oregon’s quality-focused food and beverage scene. We are looking forward to unveiling this new concept to our future resident community and to the surrounding neighborhood,” said Killian Pacific Director of Development Cassidy Bolger. “Their focus on high-quality, personalized customer service, and creating a quintessential local experience aligns perfectly with our vision for Jackstraw and the dynamic mix of retailers we are bringing to the site.”
A hybrid between Bend Brewing’s award-winning beer culture and Sisters Meat’s fresh butcher offerings, the Way West will bring a brand-new program to Bend’s Southern Crossing neighborhood. It will offer grab-and-go options, marinated and smoked meats, house-made jerky, sausages, as well as a relaxed, family-friendly bar with full-service cocktails and non-alcoholic selections.
“We’re building something that feels like home — a space that celebrates Central Oregon where people can gather, grab a drink, pick up great food, and connect,” said Packy Deenihan, co-founder of the Way West and owner of Bend Brewing and Waypoint BBC. “This is a local story through and through; this is about collaboration, craftsmanship, and pride in where we live.”
“Our motto at Sisters Meat has always been to serve amazing products with exceptional service at a fair price,” said Kay Johnson, co-founder of Sisters Meat & Smokehouse. “We’re excited to bring that same philosophy to Jackstraw, and to work alongside another locally grown brand to create something fun, fresh, and deeply rooted in the community.”
Locally owned and based in Bend, Compass Commercial Real Estate Services provides retail brokerage and property management services for Jackstraw and the Box Factory.
“The Way West is a fantastic addition to Jackstraw. Their presence will not only attract more exceptional tenants, but also strengthen the synergy between Jackstraw, the Box Factory, and the broader district,” said Russell Huntamer, Partner at Compass Commercial Real Estate Services.
“With the Way West, Sisters Coffee, and Drybar now on board, and the Box Factory just steps away, this area is quickly becoming one of the most dynamic destinations in Central Oregon. The energy and gravity created by these projects is building something truly special, a powerhouse of community, creativity, and commerce. Each tenant has been thoughtfully curated with Bend’s unique ethos, charm, and livability in mind, ensuring Jackstraw feels authentically local while offering something new.”
Construction for the Way West is slated to begin in late 2025, and it will open its 3,800-square-foot indoor-outdoor space at Jackstraw in Spring 2026.