Bend, Oregon – Longboard Louie’s, a distinctive local eatery known for its unique fusion of Mexi-food with a Mayan Hawaiian twist, is preparing to permanently close the doors of its eastside location.
The restaurant situated at 62080 Dean Swift Rd will cease operations on Saturday, July 26, 2025. This location has served the Bend community since it first opened in 2007, becoming a familiar spot for those seeking its particular blend of flavors and casual atmosphere, often enhanced by the ambient showing of boarding and surfing videos.
Navigating a Challenging Economic Landscape
Owner Jeff Parshall confirmed the impending closure, citing a confluence of factors that have made continued operation of the restaurant challenging in the prevailing economic climate. Parshall pointed to recurring challenges inherent in the restaurant industry, specifically mentioning the burden of expensive commercial real estate, a noticeable decrease in customers, and significant competition within the local dining market as primary drivers behind the decision.
“The costs associated with running a restaurant, particularly the lease and overheads, coupled with the struggle to maintain consistent customer traffic in this competitive environment, have made it unviable to continue,” Parshall stated, reflecting on the difficult decision. The lease for the 62080 Dean Swift Rd location was reportedly set to expire at the end of June, contributing to the timing of the closure announcement.
Contrasting Business Performance
While the restaurant segment has faced mounting pressure, Parshall noted that the catering part of the Longboard Louie’s business continues to perform well. This divergence in performance highlights the specific difficulties impacting the brick-and-mortar dining experience versus off-site service demands.
Despite the success of the catering division, the financial requirements and operational demands of sustaining the physical restaurant location proved insurmountable against the backdrop of decreased patronage and high operating costs. Parshall indicated that the current economic conditions exacerbated these long-standing industry challenges.
A Look Back at Longboard Louie’s Legacy
Longboard Louie’s carved out a niche in Bend’s diverse culinary scene with its creative menu. It offered a distinctive approach to classic dishes like tacos, burritos, and enchiladas, incorporating a range of protein options that went beyond the conventional. Patrons could find unique choices such as buffalo, salmon, and carne asada, blending traditional Mexican preparation with unexpected, tropical, or regional influences.
The ambiance, often featuring continuous loops of boarding and surfing videos, contributed significantly to the restaurant’s laid-back, yet vibrant, identity, appealing to Bend’s active lifestyle culture.
This upcoming closure marks the end of an era for this specific location, but it also evokes memories of the business’s earlier presence in the city. The original Longboard Louie’s opened on the westside in 1996. While that initial location closed previously, the eastside establishment carried forward the brand’s unique culinary concept for over 18 years.
Owner’s Future Plans
With the decision made to close the eastside restaurant, Jeff Parshall also shared his personal plans. He intends to transition into retirement, looking forward to this next phase of life with his wife.
“It’s time,” Parshall commented, expressing gratitude for the years of support the community has shown the eastside location since 2007, while acknowledging the economic realities necessitating the closure of the restaurant operations.
Impact on the Local Dining Scene
The closure of Longboard Louie’s eastside location represents a minor, but notable, shift in Bend’s dynamic restaurant landscape. It underscores the persistent volatility within the hospitality sector, where even established businesses with unique concepts can fall victim to macroeconomic pressures and intense local competition.
As Saturday, July 26, 2025, approaches, loyal customers and community members will have a final opportunity to visit the 62080 Dean Swift Rd location and experience the distinct Mexi-food with a Mayan Hawaiian twist that Longboard Louie’s offered before its permanent departure from the eastside.
The future of the Longboard Louie’s brand, outside of the continuing catering services and Jeff Parshall’s retirement, remains to be fully defined following the cessation of restaurant operations.
