On a cold and foggy Monday morning, staff and volunteers from JOE’s Place Ministries got to work cleaning out the former Red Garter saloon at 126 S Redwood Highway. They stacked tables, chairs, a chest freezer, and other furniture on the curbside with “FREE” signs. They loaded a trailer full of trash bags and old equipment to be hauled away.
In the rear of the building, where a bar was installed just a few years earlier, workers were wiping down the dusty countertops until they shined, getting rid of any alcohol that had been left behind, and envisioning how to use the space to serve youth.
The building, which most recently was a Mexican market and taqueria, and before that had experienced a revitalization for a couple years as Bruno’s Cavern, had for decades been a mainstay of Cave Junction culture: Art’s Red Garter Steakhouse & Saloon.
But, there’s no plans to turn the building into a bar or entertainment venue again. The property sold on Jan. 9, and the new owners have given JOE’s Place use of the building. The nonprofit Christian organization, which serves Grants Pass and Cave Junction, offers an after-school space to youth ages 11-18, with free dinner, games and activities.
The organization’s website states that they “offer a safe environment where youth can be encouraged, fed, clothed, and most of all, loved.”
Mason says that this room may serve as a perfect place to serve food to youth as part of JOE’s Place’s after-school program. (Photo by Forrest Roth for the Illinois Valley News)
Jonathan Mason, Cave Junction Outreach Director for JOE’s Place, says that with this new space, the program will finally have a warm indoor space for their after-school program, which serves 25-55 kids in Cave Junction every week. The long bar in particular, installed for Bruno’s Cavern, appears to be an ideal place to serve hot meals efficiently.
“We started in 2019, and for a while we were serving kids with a BBQ trailer,” Mason said, adding that they would often set up the trailer in the parking lot of Redwood Service Center and River Valley Restaurant. “Now, we’ve been at the Community Bible Church. But, there’s no heat in there.”
Mason said that, outside of JOE’s Place hours, which are generally Monday-Thursday afternoons, he would like to offer the space to any community group that was interested in using it. He also mentioned allowing churches to use the space for Bible study groups.
Mason said that JOE’s plans to partner with the CJ Christian Fellowship to manage use of the space.
Records show that the property sold for $365,000 to Bearland LLC, a company based at Rogue Truck Body in Kerby, and managed by Rogue Truck Body owners Keith and Lana Hill.
As far as when the building might begin being used for JOE’s Place programs or other groups, Mason said he wasn’t yet sure.
“We’ve gotta make sure it’s safe,” he said.