Just got a fantastic deal on a soft comfy bed! (@ Brenner’s Furniture) [pic]: 4sq.com/sbxwdb
31 Dec Favorite Retweet Reply

The two guys who delivered the mattress were very courteous and accommodating and careful in all that they did. We really appreciated them. They are neat guys. So thank you again for the fine ethics of customer service that you and your company exhibit.

Earlier this spring, my family and I had the most wonderful time in downtown Eugene. Yes, you read that correctly. And this was not only because it was opening day of Saturday Market. In fact, we were not even planning to go there, given the rainy forecast.

Instead we had planned to buy a new dresser at Brenner’s Furniture, a downtown staple since 1938. My mother-in-law from Portland had bought us a sofa from Brenner’s when we moved to Eugene three years ago, and we were impressed by the quality, price and service.

Some may call us crazy for taking three little kids to a furniture store. They had a blast, although by the time we were done (two dressers and a bed later), they were hungry. We headed over to grab lunch at Bagel Sphere, a favorite of ours downtown. As a native New Yorker, I get very particular about bagels, but they do a really good job.

By the time we were all done eating, the sun was shining bright, so we decided to trek through the crowds at Saturday Market. We bought my son a wooden car with a No. 5 on it, because he is five. (Last year it was the No. 4 wooden car.) We purchased two beautiful matching dresses for my two daughters. Even the 10 minutes of rain and hail did not bother me, although my Portland-raised wife gave me a knowing look. Given the weather and the time, we skipped the Farmers’ Market that time, but we’ll be back.

Our experience on that day confirmed in my mind just how important downtown Eugene — as our city center — is, and must be. If we wish to have a vibrant city and region, we need to ensure that this area is a place to spend money.

But it goes beyond Saturday Market. Business folks need restaurants and stores for their Monday-to-Friday needs. We need a night life that attracts all types — couples and groups of friends going to shows at the Hult Center or Actors’ Cabaret, and catching dinner beforehand. A responsible bar scene for those younger adults among us.

But it is more than just shopping and recreating. We need a downtown where people can work and live comfortably. We need full-service retail for those people who live there, a number that only will increase with the Lane Community College dorm coming. We must provide a safe feeling for those using the library or coming into the bus station at all hours of the day and all days of the week.

The current development projects are a wonderful start. In order to attract more businesses to Eugene, which adds jobs and improves our economy, we must continue to build on them. The more available jobs in town, the more people will move here, and the more funding there will be for schools. It’s all tied together.

My family has lived here for only three years, but this town has become home. We are raising our three kids here and are committed to making this the best community possible. It is with this view that I have become so interested in these issues.

Until recently, my mother-in-law lived downtown at the Eugene Hotel retirement community. I have spent a lot of time downtown meeting with people. In my coffees and discussions with numerous stakeholders — folks from all backgrounds, including business, government, arts, education, etc. — I have heard stories about the last 30 to 50 years of downtown Eugene. But some setbacks in the past do not discourage me — in fact, a few people who have worked there for a couple of decades said that they are encouraged by my “fresh eyes” approach.

We had a wonderful time in downtown Eugene. So can you. So should we all. Let’s do what we can as a community and a region to make downtown Eugene a destination. More than just “live, work, shop, and play.” Let’s also think, “safe, clean, and fun.”

It can happen. The possibilities are endless.