LIVING AND DINING through the ages

After finding inspiration in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, we returned home from college to open the Great Pacific Wine and Coffee Company in 1980. We started small, opening our doors with quality wine, coffee beans, and bagels — all very new to the region. When we added espresso, there was a learning curve for our patrons. We found ourselves sharing our love for lattes and espresso culture and through the years this would become a favorite pastime: walking around and chatting with guests. Together, we continued to add new facets to our business. Ken loved the front of the house, Carol loved the kitchen. Since the beginning, we have hoped to create a place for people to read, do homework, find community, celebrate moments. Mainly sit for long hours with a cup in hand.

When our son was born, he just fit right in, eventually triangulating our business - the three of us making GP what it is today. We thrive on finding the highest quality ingredients, and giving our customers a place to just be.

In 1887, the Freemasons built this space to hold their club gatherings on the second floor, while renting out the first. A variety of businesses including a dry goods store, athletic gym, appliance store, book store, and even a funeral parlor have all occupied this space.

Located on the corner of Main and Emigrant, we found our *historic building and with the help from several family members, Carol and Ken purchased the building in 1980. With so much potential we would eventually get it back to its original craftsmanship over four decades. Project after project (some might remember a book store on the left, our loft on the right) we were inspired by old photos and original textures. We worked to expose the brick, remove inches of flooring to find the original wood floors, demolished modern walls, and lots more. In 2000 we connected the two sides of the first floor by creating four large arches through the brick wall. Like most of our renovations, it was a family (extended and chosen) affair with good wine, lots of food and an abundance of dedication that runs deep in our veins. You’ll also notice we’ve worked to restore the façade over the years to its original condition (many of the architectural features had been damaged or purposefully removed throughout the decades).

If you find yourself digging around historic photos of downtown Pendleton, you might just see ours. She stands as strong now as when she was first built almost 140 years ago, though now filled with our people, the comers and goers of the GP community.

*Added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1982.

Looking back, we tend to be pretty consistent. We have an innate desire for evolution. We get restless, then we get curious, and all a sudden GP is just a little wilder. Join us on or next adventure - The GP Wine Club…coming soon!