If Sheri Castaneda looks familiar, she should — she’s worked at Bette’s Place, a downtown Hood River staple at Fifth and Oak, for the past 27 years. She does a little bit of everything while on duty, from waitressing to washing dishes, seating customers to working the cash register.
“It’s funny when I go up to a table and the people say, ‘We were here 10 years ago and we think you were here,’ and I’m going, ‘Yes!’” she said.
“I enjoy seeing my customers — after so many years, you get to know these people really well, and you also know what they eat,” she said. “I see people everywhere in town, and they will ask me if they can get a cinnamon roll, or they give me that look and say, ‘Bette’s!’”
There is only one employee who has worked at the restaurant longer than Castaneda — Tana Stanphill, who started a year earlier.
Castaneda was 15 and in high school when she was hired by original owners Jerry and Bette Walters. She knew nothing of waitressing or of Bette’s — “I had never even been there,” she remembered — and her only other work experience was milking cows and selling milk at Jones Boys Dairy, co-owned and operated by her parents Lloyd and Colleen Jones (and closed in 1986).
“My cousin was working (at Bette’s) and was going to be heading off to college, so she got me the job,” she said. “It was in 1987 — I just remember, oh, my, windsurfers everywhere. I was scared to death.”
Though Jerry has since passed, Bette still comes into the restaurant to check in.
“I have so many memories of working with Bette and Jerry — such neat people,” Castaneda said. “Still to this day, I swear I hear Jerry or feel him liking or disliking something. He was a neat man and he taught me a lot, and I miss him. I find myself thinking, ‘Jerry wouldn’t do that or like that.’”
Now owned by the Walters’ daughter, Gay (and husband Gary) Jones, Castaneda said she and Gay are often mistakenly assumed to be related — Castaneda is, after all, also a Jones.
It’s a common misconception.
“We may not be related, but we get asked or people assume daily we are,” she said. “We do have our moments where you would think we are family! Gay and I tend to act like mother and daughter, from having the best of times to some ugly times, but it’s all good … it keeps it exciting.
“I watched Gay’s daughters grow up, and now she is watching my children grow up,” she said. “She was at my wedding, and this coming summer, we will watch their daughter Jillian get married.
“I feel so blessed to have had such great employers who treat me and my family like their family.”
Bette’s turned 40 this year, and, while business used to be more crowded during the summer months, these days it enjoys a steady stream of customers regardless of the season.
“I can remember that it used to be slow in the winter, but these days at Bette’s, we are always busy, it seems,” Castaneda said. “Part of this is due to people discovering our wonderful Hood River community, and the other is Bette’s strives to be the best. We have so many repeat people that just drive to Hood River to eat at our restaurant.
“The kitchen is very consistent and fast, and people love this about Bette’s,” she said. “Another thing people like is we can accommodate groups — it’s fun to see people just hanging out and loving their food and conversing.”
Bette’s recently added Bette’s Korner, which increased the seating capacity by 20 to 30 seats, and is commonly used for parties and meetings. Reservations can be made on the day of an event, but 24 hour notice is preferred.
“Bette’s is a busy little place, which has grown now that we have a party-meeting room,” she said. “If you ever need a space for something, call us up and we will be ready for you.”
The restaurant is known for its homemade pies, cinnamon rolls and maple bars — and many call ahead to preorder the treats. Customers are also able to order food to go, with downtown deliveries available.
“We serve lots of homemade food: muffins, quiche, daily soups and great burritos,” she said. “We have a great kitchen staff, and they are able to meet many special requests.”
Castaneda was born and raised in Hood River, graduating from Hood River Valley High School in 1991. From there, she attended Clackamas Community College, later transferring to Portland State University and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in science general studies — working all the while at Bette’s.
She and husband Ricardo, a Hood River County Sheriff deputy, have three children: Courtney, 16, Emilio, 13, and Marina, 9. “They keep us busy,” Castaneda said. “We have some crazy schedules, but we seem to make it work!”
Bette’s Place is open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 541-386-1880.
Commented
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.