Happy July!

July is always a great month for our Pendleton community. This month I am excited to celebrate Virgil’s at Cimmiyotti’s 10 year anniversary. It’s hard to believe that it’s been a decade since I moved to Pendleton and opened the restaurant for dinner service for my first time and I’m honored to carry on the Cimmiyotti’s legacy into its 60th year of existence. I am proud to call Pendleton home and have found our city a great place to do business and only getting better all the time. We have so many amazing places to eat and shop in our community. I’m grateful that we have leaders that continue to lead and promote our businesses and city as a destination. 

               There’s been a lot of positive growth that I’ve witnessed in the last ten years, and foresee only more to come. Travel Pendleton’s billboard is now up in The Dalles right off of I84, inviting travelers to visit and experience our community. The Chamber’s Visitor Center is now opened 7 days a week to welcome and encourage visitors to frequent all of our shops, restaurants, museums, Center for the Arts and our Underground Tours and more.

               Thanks to Andy McAnally and Doug Corey with Stadium Entertainment we all can look forward to the 4th annual Pendleton Whisky Fest on the 13th and the fabulous downtown party that they put on the Friday night before. This event brings thousands of people to our community and offers us a huge economic boost. Then just three days later thousands more visitors will join us for Pendleton Bike Week. Thank you to Eric Folkestad, the founder of Pendleton Bike Week in collaboration with Pat Beard to bring yet another fabulous event to boost commerce throughout our city.

               Last month we successfully resumed The Chamber’s Monthly Luncheons where our Economic Development Director, Steve Chrisman gave an inspiring and informative talk about all things Pendleton, his passion and vision for our great town is contagious and makes you feel very proud to be a Pendletonian. July’s Luncheon will be on the 16th at the Convention Center featuring the founder of Pendleton Bike Week, Eric Folkestad.  

Sincerely, 

Jennifer Keeton

Chamber Board President