Santiam Market & Deli

10/27/2026

Our hearts have been broken for weeks since we learned of Judy’s passing. The day we found out, I just so happened to be wearing a shirt she gave me too 😭!

Judy was a force to be reckoned with. Supporting any group she felt passionate about.

Veterans especially between flower baskets and going to the veterans homes.

She was someone I’d call just to check on, see what she was up to, we’d sit and chat about history, I’d call for advice on town happenings or just to see how I could help her in whatever she was up to.

Although, personally we only knew her since buying the store in 2019 she immediately welcomed up with open arms and treated us as family.

You’re already so missed Judy ❤️.

10/25/2026

Rainy day blues? If you haven’t noticed we have the viral fruits buckets!

Zyn is still on promo for $3.49 (get them while you can before they go to 20ct)

Cakes in stock with some different kinds including ch*****ne, German etc!

10/22/2026

The mural is finished. The plaques and memorial frogs are the only things to finish at this point!

However, here’s a little more insight about us… before it started I asked if Patricia Young - Art could add a crow somewhere. The final tattoo my dad got included a crow and they meant a lot to him for a variety of reasons. Kate Gurley-Steele and others often feed the crows around the store as they have special meaning for her too (which we didn’t actually know about each other until this 😅).

It’s also another reason why I have these pictures of him/his tattoos after his death. As I knew I didn’t have them all and since he was in Ghana (if you don’t know you can purchase Yakote Women Farmers at the store and all proceeds go to the non profit) and I didn’t have the chance.

Many of you probably didn’t meet him as he’s been gone over 10 years now. Although if in the last 30 years you have been to Bush park in Salem. He was there every summer and made many of the roses in the rose garden. He was a Korean War vet as well and when we first purchased the store I met Delbert (now passed as well) who had met him through that!

This crow is even more significant because Trish knew my dad in life too. She also mentioned a crow visited her every afternoon she was there. I can’t help but feel like it was him.

So, as many know family is important to us and now we feel as though he’s also apart of our store and community ❤️.

10/08/2026

Maybe you’ve seen the gorgeous mural going on the laundromat (Union st) side. A Jefferson mural has been in talks for a few years now (if you didn’t know but want to know come to Jefferson Area Chamber of Commerce and keep in the know!)

What most don’t know if that I’ve actually known Patricia Young - Art most of my life! Which is also why I quietly stayed out of the interviews/voting for muralist 😉. If you didn’t know.. I grew up in Keizer and at OR-OSHA (thanks to my mom 🤣) where Tricia was a graphic designer, when I spent summers rewinding safety vhs tapes (I’m ollld 😭). This was probably.. 30 years ago.

All of this to say… to us it also has more sentimental value, that we’ve joined again all these years later for a different project 💜.

Also, if you haven’t seen you can get memorial frogs, plaques etc!

10/04/2026

We’ve been seeing a lot of ai slop recently. However a story we read reminded me of our very own real life story.

A few years ago I had popped in to drop stuff off. As I usually do daily. When I’m around I help customers or do whatever needs doing.

The employee working asked if I’d watch the register while they went to the bathroom.

A man walked in with a few cans to return. .50 he fished around in his yard pockets and pulled out maybe another .30. He asked what the cheapest thing we had was, while looking at the hot deli case. I responded .99 you could see his face shift, his shoulders drop, he was dirty with a large backpack , tired and worn looking. He stuck his hand back in his pocket.

I asked, what would you get from the case if you could? He looked up and pointed at the largest thing (a beef chimichanga). And said that would be the most filling.

I asked, when did you last eat? He responded honestly nothing hot in quite awhile.

I already had it going quietly through my head. I could see and knew he needed food.

I asked if I could make him something fresh and although we mostly only have deep fried deli food in my heart I just knew this was important.

He looked up, smiled, SHED A FREAKING TEAR, and said he wouldn’t be able to pay.

I said that’s fine, you didn’t even ask for anything. I’m just offering. Give me 8 mins.

I made a fresh batch of chili cheese fries and while it was cooking asked where he was headed.

He said he was trying to get down to San Bernardino to find family. He was walking/hitch hiking.

I didn’t get his name. He never once asked for anything but outside of this I sent him with water and some jerky sticks too.

Most of our stuff isn’t really picture, social media worthy imo however, the heart and soul we all share is. So I may get better at sharing some of the real life stuff that happens around here on the regular.

I don’t think that fellow would be on Facebook but, I’ve also honestly wondered from time to time if he made it!

If you didn’t know, we still make and sell chili cheese fries too!

Much love all ❤️

09/12/2026

New The Lovin Oven cakes including mounds and pumpkin spice!

Ice cream case is full with some new ones too like brownie sundae & snickerdoodle cookie dough!

Also witches brew Alani is in!

08/31/2026

Same goes for the store!

☀️ Happy Monday, Happy First Day of School & SOON-TO-BE Happy Parking Lot! 🎉☕️

We’re excited to give our parking lot a much-needed refresh! Over the next couple of days, please slow down and be cautious around the cones and work area.

The good news… WE’RE STILL OPEN!

Come grab your coffee, navigate the cone obstacle course, and start your week with us! 😂☕️

Thanks for your patience while we make things a little prettier around here! 🛠️✨

08/30/2026

This was too cute not to capture. Sharing since you caught me 🤣 in case you’d like it too! Thanks for laugh at/with me!

08/20/2026

Let me take you on a journey of us and why we give chances and help where we’re able.

Some seem to think Gunaji comes from money. He does not but, yet if someone needs food or help he will make sure they are fed. Whether it be some deli food, food we’ve made at home or whatever.

Why?

When he was young his family thought he would have a “better” life if they sent him to a big city (Mumbai). In the village, where they still live and farm (pictured here) they still even wash clothes by hand with a rock, have intermittent electricity, sleep on the ground, even farm without much equipment (this is hand cut, then pulled about a mile by the cousins pictured to feed the cows, goats etc).

Unfortunately, in the big city he was treated poorly and hardly had food. One time he won a bag of rice at school and where he was staying took it from him. Usually he’d even be forced to sleep by the front door outside too. He wasn’t even given shoes, or clothes.

He never said anything because he didn’t want his parents to feel bad because they thought they were giving him a better life with a better education.

He went on to go to a University in China and does hold a degree as a doctor. That’s where we met. When we met he had exactly 1 pair of pants and 2 shirts. He basically lived on potatoes and what could be scraped together. He fixed electronics to earn money while there.

From the moment we met there was no compromising food. I didn’t know why at the time but always thought it was interesting. Even though I was fully capable of fending for myself if I was hungry he’d make sure I got whatever I wanted.

That continued in life and is why we do a lot of what we do quietly. Whether it be taking past date food to homeless camps (which we did A LOT of during the pandemic.. vendors actually brought us stuff they couldn’t return so I could take it to people) or just making sure if someone is hungry, even if they don’t have money, they eat something.

So if sometimes the way we do things, the chances we give etc doesn’t make sense… there is a reason and while the hurt that comes from those chances when they’re taken advantage of sucks. We will continue on and won’t stop caring about people ❤️.

08/17/2026

Over the years we’ve been lucky to only have some petty theft. Usually by employees and not even that much from customers. So thank you all for that.

We’ve always just quietly handled it in house. Yes, we’ve taken some losses. We’ve also never particularly understood theft from us in general as whenever any staff has needed it we’ve done draws, personal loans, etc. which really makes this next bit more disheartening. When theft happens it’s not something insurance covers (we’ve been told it’s because employee theft is so common 😑) you’re literally just taking from our family and honest employees.

If you saw the police activity Friday morning it’s because we had such egregious theft from several employees we absolutely needed to call it in this time. To the point felony charges will be brought as we have enough video footage just from 4 days alone.

Thank you, as usual to our Jefferson PD who showed up, waited, watched and confirmed.

We may be feeling discouraged but, we’re still here and ultimately we know we’ll make it through because WE work hard on the daily for what we have❤️