A new business has taken root in Madras — one with deep ties to the Warm Springs Reservation longhouse and a story of community perseverance behind it.
Theo's Longhouse Strong Coffee held the grand opening of its Madras warehouse last Saturday, drawing community members to celebrate with Native American drummers, music, and an outpouring of support that founder Theo Perez described as years in the making.
"It started so small and so tiny and so many people calling me crazy for so long. And then when we finally opened the doors, it's like, 'we did it,'" Perez said. "It wasn't just me. It was like the entire community coming together and making something big happen."
Purpose-Driven Coffee
Perez created Longhouse Strong Coffee specifically to support the Warm Springs Reservation longhouse, a central institution for the Confederated Tribes. The longhouse serves as a gathering place for ceremony, community events, and cultural practice, and Perez envisioned a business that could provide both economic sustainability and cultural connection.
After years of operating on a small scale and building a loyal following, the new warehouse space represents a significant expansion — and a visible presence in Madras for a business that has been quietly growing its reach.
Visit on the Weekend
The warehouse shop is open for coffee bean purchases on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The location serves as both a retail point and a production hub for the growing coffee brand.
The opening adds another Indigenous-owned and purpose-driven business to Jefferson County's growing entrepreneurial landscape. It also arrives at a moment when the county's overall economic picture is improving — Jefferson County recently moved from the most economically distressed county in Oregon to eighth on the state's rankings.
For those interested in supporting the business or learning more, Theo's Longhouse Strong Coffee can be found through local community channels and at the Madras warehouse on weekends.