Azu Home: About Us - About Azu Home, Downtown Bend Oregon

Azu's History and Staff

Located in Downtown Bend, Oregon

History

Azu was born in 1986 in the resort town of Sunriver, Oregon. Known at that time as Soleil Riviere, life started out as a gift shop and quickly morphed into a florist and home accessory store. In 1993 the decision was made to open a second store in the growing city of Bend - just 15 miles to the North. As Bend began to grow (and grow and grow) - so did the Bend store. In 2000 the Sunriver store was closed and the Bend store changed its name to Azu and moved into its current location in Historic Downtown Bend. Often asked by customers what the name Azu means or stands for - we can only say 'absolutely nothing'. We simply like how the three letters look together - plus it is short and sweet, easy to spell and say!

Today

Azu has now become a full-service home accessory store; living up to its motto - 'A Plethora of Neat Stuff'. Always changing, customers can visit often and still find something new and different. Located in a building that was built in the early 1900's with its original brick walls, 15 foot ceilings and hardwood floors - Azu is in the heart of Historic Downtown Bend. Situated on busy Wall Street, we are just across from the magnificently renovated Tower Theater. Bend, Oregon is located on the Eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains on the edge of the High Desert. Bend is an outdoorsman's paradise. Snow sports in the Winter - hiking and mountain biking in Summer as well as rock-climbing and fly-fishing. There is also the bonus of having 300 days of sunshine every year.

As a “bricks and mortar” store, Azu carries a wide range of home accessories… accent furniture, artwork and several gift items. The inventory is constantly changing – the products you see this month will more-than-likely be gone the next month. We try to seek-out local and regional craftsmen to round out our mix of merchandise in the store. Beautiful Raku pottery, furniture, artwork and photography - all done by local artists. The Store Tour page at aZuHome.com will keep you abreast with all that’s going on in the store. We will take new photographs each time our displays are changed or when new merchandise is received. So, if you ever see something not listed on the website, just contact us and we’ll tell you all about it.

The Crew

Joe

Joe opened the Downtown Bend store in February 1993. Originally from Oregon (his family came to the Oregon Territory on a covered wagon along the Oregon Trail in 1846), he was raised in the South – just outside Atlanta, Georgia. Joe went on to study in Europe and then College in Ohio before returning home to Oregon in 1982. After spending 10 years in the ski industry, Joe decided the time was right to explore the more creative side of his brain and opened the store in Downtown Bend in 1993. After several incarnations and a name change - Azu now rests in the thick of the action in Historic Downtown Bend.
Quote - 'Move Forward'
Fun? - Remodeling...Destruction followed by Construction

Dave

Dave joined Azu in the Summer of 2006. Born in Alabama and raised near Atlanta, Georgia, Dave went on to explore New Hampshire then settled in Seattle where he lived for a little over 8 years before moving to Bend in 2005. Happy to be out of the big city and in a smaller town, Dave hasn't looked back since. From managing restaurants to working in the financial world, he is also exploring the creative side of his brain. Dave manages the store in Downtown Bend and has taken on the huge task of managing the website for aZuHome.com. Since Joe is almost completely computer illiterate, Dave has taken control of making the website work and keeping it updated; an enormous job that he does extremely well. He will never be allowed to leave. Mr. Dave - VP of Internet Sales and a maker of extraordinary cakes.
Quote - "Seriously?" ... "Right on"
Fun? - Cake creation, music and Sunday afternoon naps.

Marilyn

Marilyn started at Azu in 1997. She has worked here the longest and keeps coming back for more. Born and raised in Southern California, Marilyn went to college in Oregon and after a stint in Hawaii re-settled back in Oregon. Marilyn is our resident artist. Having dabbled in quite a few different mediums, she has hit her stride working with clay. Marilyn does both High-Fire and Raku pottery - vases, bowls, baskets and the best-selling… platters. Using various formulas including metallic oxides, reds, blues, greens and copper, Marilyn’s pottery has an organic and natural feeling to it that is directly influenced by her connection to nature and affinity to the world around her. Raku is a unique outdoor firing process that uses special porous clays and natural combustible materials. No two Raku pieces are ever alike which makes the art of Raku so interesting and desirable. Marilyn also happens to be the nicest and sweetest person ever. Azu usually has several of Marilyn's pieces in the Downtown Bend store and you should watch for her pottery at aZuHome.com from time to time as well. Because her work can never be duplicated, if you see a piece featured, be quick. It will not be there long.

Quote - 'In the end...all things turn out to have been appropriate'
Fun? - Making pottery

Ava

Ava, sweet Ava. A woman of the kindest heart. Ava was the most recent addition to join our small family in the Fall of 2006. Born and raised in Southern Florida, she and her husband moved to Bend in 2005 in order to live the 'mountain life'. Ava's sweet touch not only applies to the store, but also to her love of baking and cooking. When she hand-delivered her resume, it was accompanied by individual loaves of banana nut bread for everyone. We knew at that moment that she was a “keeper”. Who can resist homemade banana nut bread? Since that day we have been blessed with not only her bubbly personality, but from time to time, fresh baked goods and some good ol’ home cookin'. Ava has that special connection with customers and is always there to help put together the right collection of accessories for your home. Ava is the consummate gourmet chef that insists on cooking everything from scratch with only the finest ingredients. She puts the rest of us to shame. Keep an eye out on aZuHome.com for some of Ava's special recipes.

Quote -'So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you' - The Golden Rule
Fun? - Enjoying the beautiful outdoors of Central Oregon with my Husband and cooking for Family and Friends

Darlene

Darlene is the Matriarch. Although she would probably hate the term matriarch as connoting age. She is the person who started it all. Darlene, Joe's mother, started the business in 1986 in the resort community of Sunriver. Starting out as a gift shop under the name of Soleil Riviere, Darlene quickly expanded with the addition of a full-service florist and then into furniture, home accessories and gallery of original art. Having retired in 2000, Darlene fills in when needed ('Just don't put me on a set schedule!') and most Sundays. She will always be a force to be reckoned with. Oh yeah... Darlene was adamant that she didn't want her photo taken for the website. So, if you would like to see Darlene, you'll have to make a trip to Azu in person!

Fun- Gardening and spoiling her Grandchildren

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