In 2000, a family legacy was born, evolving into a beloved Sisters restaurant and gallery rooted in a passion for food and art. “I started off wanting to be an architect,” says artist Dan Rickards. “I always enjoyed the design aspect, and I could draw. I hadn't painted before, but I knew that I could do some form of art.”
The Art
It wasn’t until he met his wife, Julia, 38 years ago, that he decided to take his talent to the next level. “For us, it was always a pass/fail thing, meaning we were either going to make this work to feed our family, or not,” he says.
He went all in, attending shows in San Francisco, Sacramento, Seattle, Denver, and Salt Lake City. His third painting, Bear Camp, was his entry into success.
“We lived in this very old house in downtown Bend,” says Julia. “There was this huge picture window, and he would paint with the painting facing the window, so people could walk by and watch his painting progress.”
Bear Camp was a huge, very detailed painting that took about six weeks to finish. One passerby who had watched the progression told a local gallery owner about it. Soon after, the owner knocked on the family’s front door and asked Dan if he would be open to bringing it down for Fourth Friday. It sold soon after.”
The Gallery
In 2000, the couple founded an art gallery. “Over the years, the Rickards Gallery, [formerly the Clearwater Gallery], became a place where artists and collectors could know one another, where stories could be told, and where art could become part of people’s homes and lives,” says Julia.
She, on the other hand, performed her art in the kitchen, developing recipes and creating delicious dishes for family and friends. “She will always humble herself and say, ‘I don't know why anyone would say I'm a chef. I'm just a mom in the kitchen,’” says daughter Emily Luz. “But she is an amazing researcher and dives deep into books. She loves getting inspired. It’s a different art form than my dad's, but in the same vein.”
An Artistic Synthesis
In 2000, The Rickards Gallery was first opened in Sisters. Twelve years later, art and food would be paired with superb wines when The Open Door, a gathering space for great food, art, lively conversation, friendship, celebration, and community, came to fruition.
Today, diners enjoy feasting on curated dishes while viewing ever-changing art displays. “It began with art—with a belief that beauty matters, that creativity has the power to move people, and that the work of an artist becomes even more meaningful when it is shared,” says Julia.
While some of Dan’s paintings hang on the restaurant's walls, many other artists, mostly from Central Oregon, are represented as well. These include well-known and a few up-and-coming artists, and just like a regular gallery, all the art is for sale.
It's a unique experience for guests who might not even be in the market for art or who may feel a little intimidated walking into an art gallery. At The Open Door, they can eat and just enjoy it. While each artist has their own style, the works come together to create a pleasing, homey, and cohesive feel.
“We’ve had couples come in for an anniversary dinner, and then the husband will come back and say, ‘My wife and I were sitting at this table, and she couldn't take her eyes off of this, so I wanted to come back and get it for her,’" Julia remarks.
The Food
In the kitchen, the chefs are as creative as the artists. Seth Likens, who is also the kitchen manager, partners with lead chef, Pherry Luz, to develop an ever-changing menu of culinary delights.
“We do weekly specials of our soups, fish sauces, and pasta sauces,” says Seth. “We collaborate, so I’ll base my polenta on his scallop sauce, for example.”
Adds Pherry, who joined the restaurant in 2020, “It's a whole lot of creative freedom, and one thing that Emily, Julia, and Dan have always been great about is that they never tell us exactly how to make something. They'll give us the freedom to put our own personal twist or spin on it.”
The family deeply respects the chefs’ respectful approach in the kitchen, their mentorship of younger workers, and their strong ties to the community. The kitchen is a happy place that reflects the family’s business philosophy.
“We have had the privilege of supporting artists, mentoring young people, employing generations of families, giving back to our community, and sharing countless meals around the same tables,” says Julia.
She also loves to share family recipes. “Everything that Julia has taught me has been in all of our event dinners, such as Meet the Makers and Paint the Palate,” notes Seth. “For those, we come up with a new menu, and we’ll make the beef ragu how her Nonna used to make it.”
The Wine
For Emily, pairing the chefs’ creations with wine is a fun part of her job. “It's a beautiful thing to be able to see the menus that are created and then think of what wines to put with them and what people would like. I spent some time in France, and I really developed a love for wine, food, and agriculture.”
While the wine list isn't huge, she built it to have tasting notes. “The reason I felt that was such an important part was to engage people in the experience and not make them feel belittled if they didn't understand something. They should drink what they like.”
Family Ties
For Emily, joining the family business meant carrying on a legacy. “At the time when The Open Door started, I was in college in Seattle. I needed that big city experience, but I always felt this pull to come back.”
After earning a degree in international business and French, she returned to the restaurant and worked as a server. Today, she is the general manager and a partner in the business.
“For me, carrying on something that has so much beauty has honestly been the biggest part of my heartstrings,” says Emily. “I’m able to build relationships every day, create connections and community, and now raise my kids to do the same. I’m continuing a legacy that feels rich and viable.”
Adds Julia, “For our family, these years have never simply been about selling paintings or serving meals. They have been about creating a place of belonging. We have watched children grow up here. We have celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, friendships and milestones. We have welcomed visitors who became regulars, regulars who became friends, and employees who became part of our extended family.”
After 26 years of art and 14 years around the table, the family hopes its legacy is one of creativity, hospitality, generosity and connection. “We are deeply grateful for what our family has been allowed to create—and even more grateful for every person who has helped make it what it is,” says Julia. “The door has always been open. There has always been another place at the table. And we hope that spirit will remain long after us.”
OpenDoorWineBar.com
“We have had the privilege of supporting artists, mentoring young people, employing generations of families, giving back to our community, and sharing countless meals around the same tables,”
— Julia says Julia Rickards, co-owner of The Open Door