After spending a few years in San Francisco, Noah Blakely found a pathway back to his hometown and business ownership. He and his wife, Lauren Blakely, own and operate The Riv Cafe in The Dalles, Oregon. With support from a small business loan through Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD), Noah and Lauren were able to purchase the business in 2017. The Riv is located in a historic building that was once a church.
Lauren and Noah are actively managing the business every day to ensure the quality that they strive to maintain. Noah states: “My heart for The Dalles is what drives our little cafe. I graduated high school here and have always thought that it is the best city in the world.” He notes that “We called it The Riv because we wanted connect the identity of this city to the face of our business.”
Check out the Riv at https://www.therivcafeevents.com/. The business is located at 401 East 10th Street, The Dalles, Oregon. With breakfast and lunch menus full of dishes using locally sourced ingredients, Noah and Lauren invite you to “Come for the Food; Stay for the Coffee.”