The Warm Springs Commissary is getting its first paying customers.

The Warm Springs Community Action Team (WSCAT) has announced that the Food Cart Pod at the Commissary site on Highway 26 will hold its soft opening on July 2, 2026. It will be the first phase of a sweeping effort to transform the reservation's oldest standing building into a hub of tribal entrepreneurship and economic activity.

From Federal Ration Depot to Community Enterprise

The Commissary building dates to 1896, when it was constructed by the federal government as a depot for distributing commodity rations to tribal members. For generations, it stood as a symbol of dependence — a physical reminder of federal control over the lives of the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute peoples.

The redevelopment effort flips that history on its head. In 2022, WSCAT moved the 5,000-square-foot structure from its original location to a new site along Highway 26 — a major travel corridor between Portland and Central Oregon — to position it as a visible destination and economic anchor.

Project manager Starla Green has described the Commissary redevelopment as both an economic development initiative and an act of community healing. "The redevelopment honors tribal history while creating opportunities for tribal entrepreneurs," Green has said of the project.

The Food Cart Pod

The Food Cart Pod is designed as a launching pad for tribal vendors and small food businesses. It will provide a structured space for local entrepreneurs to grow, while also attracting travelers and visitors along the busy highway corridor.

The food cart area will be managed by Thomas Media Food Cart Management, who have said the location offers local vendors a real platform to build and sustain small businesses. Once the Commissary building itself is renovated — a larger phase of the project supported by $3.8 million in state funds secured in 2025 — the site will also include retail spaces and a commercial kitchen.

Public Invited

The July 2 soft opening is open to the public. Organizers are welcoming community members from across the region to come out, meet the vendors, and support the vision the Warm Springs community has spent years building.

The Commissary is located on Highway 26 in Warm Springs. More information is available through WSCAT at wscat.org.