they head out on whatever the day's adventure might hold," says McGeeney. "I think that's pretty unique to Hood River." Also unique is the growth chal-
lenge coffee companies in town face. In bigger areas, a café or roasting company that's devel- oping a name for itself typically has the option of expanding into a new neighborhood or suburb to reach new customers. In Hood River, it's tough to imagine how much expansion could happen. "As Hood River grows, maybe there will be more possibilities," says DeVol, with doubt in his voice. "But we've never seen enough population growth in eight years of business to see another loca- tion as an option." Still, expansion has proven possible. 10-Speed opened a
unique space in Mosier, an even tinier town to the east, and also has a store in the Heights neighborhood, where out-of-towners are few and far between. Owners also seem to carry a sense of acceptance and positivity that suits a town where the sun always seems to be shining (even when the rest of Oregon is gray and wet). "Sometimes I'm surprised that all these shops are still
HOOD RIVER, ORE.
DOG RIVER COFFEE
here and still making it," says Carin Agren, a Swedish immi- g r a nt who opened Ground after the airline she worked for went bankrupt. "But we all have our niches, and we have the kite boarders, wind surfers, moun- tain bikers, kayakers—they all come for the summer, and that helps a lot."
10-SPEED
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