Local feed store Out West Farm and Ranch has transformed part of its parking lot into a food court, welcoming food trucks to set up shop at 2026 Main St.
The venture marks a shift for co-owner Sterling Grant, who initially dismissed suggestions to add food service to the agricultural business.
“We had a number of people tell us that we should do a food truck … and we were like, ‘no, that’s not what we do, that’s not us, we’re a farm store,'” Grant said. “So, we kept poo-pooing the idea.”
The turning point came nearly two years ago when Grant’s sister, who lives outside Prineville, suggested visiting a food truck court. After touring the operation and talking with those involved, Grant warmed to the concept. His son Shane Grant, also a co-owner, followed up by heading to city offices to begin the permitting process.
Timing proved fortuitous. Just as the Grants were moving forward with plans, entrepreneurs looking to launch a food truck in Philomath stopped by City Hall seeking information.
“It was funny because just as we were in the process of maybe doing it, these guys drove by one day because they thought Philomath needs food trucks,” Grant said.
City staff directed them to Out West.
“They said when they drove by to go to City Hall, they had looked over here (at our lot) and thought, ‘oh, that’s a good spot,'” Grant recalled.
That connection resulted in El Puente Taqueria becoming the food court’s anchor tenant. The truck has operated regularly at the site since mid-November, serving Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cash-only operation offers breakfast and lunch menu items.
“I told them since you’re the very first ones, you have the pick of where you want to be when we get it up and going,” Grant said. “It took them a little longer to get their food cart up and going than they hoped.”
Customer response has been positive, Grant said.
“They’re getting some local people coming in and I’ve heard a lot of good reports on their food,” he said. “I mean, every time I get a burrito from them, it’s really good but I can’t eat it all, they’re big.”
Out West solicited additional food trucks this past spring. In those first weeks, 3 Potato More was a visitor and a few others have set up temporarily. The lot has space for five to six more vendors.
“We have a few in the workings right now that are building food carts and they’re wanting to come so we’ve got some interest,” Grant said. “It just takes time to get them up and going.”
The variety would benefit everyone, Grant noted. A number of different food carts would likely draw more customers with diverse food and beverage options available.
The food court area includes covered seating centered around a remarkable piece of ranch history. The communal dining table started as a tree on Grant Creek Ranch, cut down for lumber to build a barn.
Gene Cooper, who operated a mill in Harlan, milled the lumber. At the bottom of the stack sat an enormous plank — a single solid board 4 feet wide and more than 20 feet long.
“This is too cool to not use … it’s one solid piece — it was a big tree,” Grant said.
He reinforced the massive slab with plywood screwed underneath and sanded it multiple times. Dennis Hultberg, who drives for Grant Creek Trucking, built the legs. The finished table features Grant’s father’s brand in the corners and “Grant Creek Ranch, Est. 1871” burned into the wood.
“It takes six guys to pack this thing — it’s heavy,” Grant said, adding that the table was used at his daughter’s wedding. “For the last number of years, it’s been up in the barn covered up with some plastic and a tarp because we get tired of packing it around.”
The table sits under a shelter created by connecting two horse stalls. Work continues on the space.
“We’re not totally done with it,” Grant said. “We’re going to put some plexiglass on the windows to seal it up a little more and our goal is to put a little propane heater in there.”
Out West has promoted the food court primarily through social media and word of mouth.
The Grant family purchased the property and building eight years ago. The location had previously operated as Del’s Feed and Farm Supply and before that, Cherry Tree Farm Supply. Out West Farm and Ranch opened in early 2018.
Correction, December 24, 2025 5:19 am: Dennis Hultberg drives for Grant Creek Trucking, not Out West Farm and Ranch, as had previously been reported.