Just about 15 years ago, on a crisp fall day in Jacksonville, Erika Bishop pushed her 2-year-old son downtown for a cup of coffee at the GoodBean and then over to her favorite kitchenware store, the Pot Rack. She poked around as usual and then went up to owner, Steve Abandonato, and said, “I want to buy your store.” Steve smiled and chided, “Get in line!”

In the meantime, Erika was patient and went about life raising her three children and working as a marketing consultant around the Rogue Valley. This past March, Erika saw a post on the Jacksonville Review Facebook page that would change her life. The news: longtime Pot Rack owners were retiring and were looking to sell their beloved store. BINGO! The time had come. The only obstacle: how does one buy a business during a pandemic?

No strangers to working in chaotic times, the Bishop family moved to Jacksonville from New York City in 2002 following the devastation of 9/11. Erika had lived in New York for a collective 25 years. She’d worked her way up the broadcasting/entertainment ladder to become one of the pioneers responsible for the meteoric rise of the Food Network. As an Executive Producer, Erika helped create multiple famous Chef brands, like Emeril Lagasse and Bobby Flay. And while it was painful to walk away from family, friends, and her career in food television, it was time for the Bishop’s to move to a peaceful environment where they could grow and thrive.

Jacksonville was that place. And indeed, the Bishop children enjoyed a bucolic childhood attending Jacksonville Elementary and riding their bikes to the market for ice cream. Despite this, Erika’s foodie passions were not being nurtured to the extent that she needed.

The Pot Rack, located on historic California Street, is the creation of Steve Abandonato and Joann Freeland, who opened the kitchen store and turned it into one of Jacksonville’s most successful businesses. Before the Pot Rack, the couple owned and operated a kitchen store in Florence, Oregon. They credit Jacksonville’s charm and quality of life as reasons for relocating here and opening the store. Above all, the Pot Rack product line is the key factor in its success—you’ll find everything from $10 gadgets to high-end cookware. According to Steve, “On average, our business is made up of 40% local shoppers and 60% visitor sales. And we are really proud that 90% of our local business is from repeat customers.” After 28 amazing years, Steve and Joann were ready to start traveling and kick-back a bit.

“As soon as I saw the post that the Pot Rack owners were retiring, I picked up the phone and called them. The very next day I stopped in the store and made my intentions known—that I wanted to take their lovely store into the future and run it the way they have; with kindness, love and a sense of community.” Joann and Erika made a deal on a handshake and then they waited. And waited. And waited. Turns out the banks are busy during a pandemic and small business loans don’t take precedence over Payroll Protection Loans. “By the end of July, I was afraid Steve and Joann would be forced to move on to another potential buyer. Then I got sage advice from a friend who told me to bypass the banks and call the folks at SOREDI,” said Erika.

Among many things, Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. helps people like Erika launch businesses throughout Jackson and Josephine County. “It was one phone call to SOREDI that got everything on the right track!”

During the application process, it was evident that Erika fit into several categories that helped her qualify for a loan. For one, she had lost her job due to COVID-19. She was a single parent. And she was buying a business that would continue to employ a dedicated staff of older workers. It took just a few weeks and the deal was done.

As you might imagine, the passing of the torch at the Pot Rack was done with great care and respect for all. Erika took over the reins on September 17 and Steve and Joann stayed on for a month working side-by-side with Erika to make sure they were setting her up for success. They continue to mentor Erika on speed dial and can be seen stopping by the store often. For Erika, the 15-year wait was worth it—she found the food-centric niche to soothe her soul. She plans to carry the same great product lines and will be adding some new gems in the future. And look for a Pot Rack website with an online e-commerce store to arrive by spring. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram to find out about new arrivals and specials @JvillePotRack.