Home-garden decor store to open in August

The garage's first tenant was introduced Thursday and a second is likely to be announced within the next few days.

Inside-Out, a home and garden decoration store, plans to open a 900-square-foot store in August along the garage's south side, just off Bartlett Street.

A second tenant for the garage was scheduled to be announced Thursday, but the final lease details were still being worked out, according to Scott Henselman, who is handling leasing for the city-owned garage. A tentative agreement has been reached for Mellelo Coffee Roasters to take a 500-foot-space between the garage's entrance and Inside-Out. It would mark Mellelo's third location downtown.

A potential tenant has also emerged for the space in the privately owned building on the corner of Bartlett and Main streets.

Dan and Lisa Allen have obtained franchise rights to open a Great Harvest Bakery in Southern Oregon, according to the Montana-based national chain. Great Harvest has 136 bakeries, including two in the Portland area, one in Salem and one in Eugene.

The Allens couldn't be reached for comment, but are talking with Henselman next week about moving into that corner space. Chain officials said no location or opening date has been set.

Inside-Out is owned by Danny and Janet Clay and Mary Madsen, Janet Clay's sister. Madsen, a master gardener, is the only one of the threesome who's run a business, having operated a kennel and grooming service in the Sacramento, Calif., area. Danny Clay is a field engineer for Eastman Kodak. His wife and sister-in-law will handle most of the day-to-day operations.

The Clays and Madsen admit that being the first business in the garage makes them a bit nervous, but they say they're confident it will prove a wise move as the renewal of downtown continues.

"This is like getting in on the ground floor," said Janet Clay, who moved from the Bay Area to the Rogue Valley with her husband about a year ago. "Can't you just picture this lined with flower pots?" she added, motioning down the brick alleyway. "It's a perfect little spot."

The initial lack of neighbors could make the already difficult task of launching a new business even tougher, but Danny Clay doesn't expect Inside-Out to be an island for long.