Ashland's 'A' Street Revival

June 10 2009
Posted in Rogue Valley - Find It - Rogue Valley

In Ashland's historic Railroad District, "below the Boulevard" as those who know like to say, a latter day renaissance has quietly taken hold.

The word's getting out as district stalwarts like Bohemia Gallery have found roomier settings and strong sales in the vicinity of Fourth and A Streets. "It's really amazing down here," enthuses co-owner Inger Jorgensen. This after less than a month in business at the new digs.

Jorgensen and partner, Nicole Hurley, are joining other galleries, a brand new coffee shop, a trendy cafe and more in plying their tempting wares in spaces that once bustled with the commerce of a booming post-Civil War economy. When Southern Pacific rerouted their tracks through Klamath Falls in 1926, the district languished for nearly eight decades before merchants rediscovered its charms.

It's quieter now, less frenetic, but no less appealing if you're on a serious shopping safari, or merely seeking a pleasant daytrip diversion. Nort Croft, volunteer facilitator for the Ashland Railroad District Association, thinks the A Street resurgence may be a little overdue, but he's happy it's finally arrived. "Not enough people know about the railroad district. Even locals - if you define 'locals' broadly - really don't yet recognize what a treasure the district is."

They're learning fast though, as chef Helena Darling has discovered. Already a favorite among Ashland gourmands, Darling is sending legions of fans scrambling for their dictionaries to define "charcuterie." It's a big part of the Palace Cafe and her focus on locally grown foods and artisan meats that are naturally aged. Open for lunch Monday - Friday, Darling notes on her website, "The rest of the time we host meetings, private dinners and fun events in our space."

Riding the renaissance wave with perfect timing is the delightfully welcoming Noble Coffee Roasting shop. Fulfilling a mutual dream, partners Jared Rennie, Steve Sack and Caleb Peterson recently opened a neighborhood cafe on Fourth Street that boasts: "the best organic coffees in the world that are grown in an environmentally and socially responsible manner."

Unlike those other franchise operations, at Noble you can actually watch them process and roast your coffee beans on the spot. Sip the brew of the day and watch a handsome red-enameled Probat machine roast the beans in a glass walled enclosure. Can't get any fresher than that.

Across the street, an ideal accompaniment to your java drive awaits your browsing. Proprietor Sharon Davenport found a quirky venue for the eclectic mix of used tomes she offers at Rogue Books. Where once Haskin's Garage dispensed non-renewable fossil fuel products to Model T Fords, Davenport is happily recycling forest products to discriminating readers. There's even a gleaming antique Texaco gasoline pump out front for nostalgia's sake.

With these and plenty more offerings to discover, it's time to visit Ashland's Railroad District. But plan longer than a casual afternoon stroll or you'll barely scratch the surface of the unique culinary and shopping experiences awaiting you.