THE LIGHTHOUSE BAKERY & CAFE

Umpqua is a small unincorporated community with a population of 112 people according to the 2000 census.    Most these people live on farms, ranches and vineyards scattered in the valley along the Umpqua River.   The biggest employer is the Norris Blue Berry Farm and packing facility.  Back in the early 1820's fir trappers with the Northwest Company, a Canadian fir trading company established Fort McKay near the river here.   

The center of this community is the Lighthouse Bakery and Café in a building shared with a Post Office.  Before it became the Lighthouse Bakery and Café it was a small country store and deli selling diary products, beer, soda, can goods and the usual items you would find in a rural store.   The deli served burgers and other meat items.    It was a popular place for the locals, farm workers, loggers and others working in the area.   

In 2009 the store was sold to people associated with the Lighthouse Farm, a spiritual retreat center specializing in growing organic vegetables, fruits, nuts and mostly a self sufficient community in the nearby mountains above the Umpqua River.    The menu at the new café was all vegetarian dishes, sandwiches, salads, pastries and an assortment of breads made in brick ovens.    Ordering was done at the counter from a overhead menu posted above, then you paid for what you ordered and a number was given to you to set on your table to direct the waiter with your order.    On one occasion in 2009, Celia and I indulged in a lunch here.  After we sat at a table in comes four or five men, who worked for the county road department as we could see their dump trucks in the parking lot.   They approached the counter and studied the overhead menu and we over heard one say there is no meat on the menu and another said no beer either.   After they placed their orders they sat at a table near us.   Once their meals were served we could hear one of them say," this is not bad stuff".

The popularity of this place grew with time and before the pandemic it was hard to find a parking space between 11 am and 3 pm when they stopped serving.    We had many lunches here with friends and family over the years before the pandemic.