Today we’d like to introduce you to Eryn Ross.
Hi Eryn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
How did I get to where I am today…that’s a loaded question. I’m going to do this in bullet form. I moved from Vancouver Canada at 28ish to Sherwood Oregon with my husband (his job) and daughter. I had my own bookkeeping business there. I was on multiple visas and couldn’t work for the 1st 7 years. Interesting based on current events. Anyway, green card thereafter and citizenship in 2019. I volunteered a LOT and continued my bookkeeping skills and then employment after. Helped my best friend set up her wine shop business (POS and accounting) in 2014. In 2017 ish I think I was asked to come help with the bookkeeping, then cooking, menu engineering, costing. I was a food, my dad and my stepmother was a foodie and big hospitality guy (Greg Franklin – hence Frankies). Like so much so, he kept a file for everyone who came for dinner and tracked what they ate, drank, liked etc.
In 2019, started looking for another venue, then COVID where we worked even harder. Found The Depot in July 2020, her family lived in CO. Bought the building in Sept 2020, opened in Dec 2020, I traveled over every other week, then for 2 weeks, then permanently in Jan of 2022. My partner (also my best friend of 23 years) sent an email to bail on me, citing I’m a bully, etc etc. It was worse than the divorce of my marriage. So sad, depressed for 6 months, got my french Bulldog named Frankie. Changed the name in August of 2025. I also attended The Blox in August of 2025 and it helped me gain the confidence to trust my decisions. I’ve been strugglying and pivoting ever since. I’m a big fan of pivot and also of suicide awareness as my dad and stepmother commit suicide in 2014.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The restaurant business, the economy, saturated market, cash flow, merchant fees, seasonality of the town, overcoming history of the location
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I didn’t quite understand the request of this. What do I do, I own a building in Sisters where I run a restaurant and speakeasy. It is also a live music venue and event venue. We host welcome parties, brunches, corporate events, cooking classes, etc. I also rent a portion of the building to help offset overhead.
What are we known for? Well, I should know this but I am going to guess. I think we are known for our awesome courtyard, live music, great gluten free food, great cocktails and homemade food.
What am I most proud of? I think I’m most proud of actually still being here. This is the hardest, least profitable financially job I’ve ever had. Being a parent was also one of the hardest job but it was exceptionally rewarding as I have the best 2 kids ever..I’m biased. I think I’m also most proud of becoming vulnerable to my community and guests. Connecting who I am to community and becoming a third space. I’m very proud of overcoming almost losing the building in 2022, (massive balloon payment – who thought covid was going to still be a thing), losing my best friend but still getting out of bed when I didn’t want to.
I feel what sets me apart from others could be, my connection personally to my community and I’ve been told I’m the best boss ever…I’m sure there are a few who would absolutely reject that..lol…but I love my staff and I want to see them succeed and enjoy coming to work. It’s a give and take relationship so that works for some and not for others.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Co-founding the Sisters Business Assocation has been an amazing way of finding mentors and networking with other business owners for me. Connecting with other restaurant owners make me feel seen and I know I’m not the only one. I think my advice is to find local groups that you share interests with and see if they fit for you. Not all organizations are a good fit. Keep trying. Ask questions, a lot. Be vulnerable. I believe the smartest person in the room is the person open to learning and knowing they aren’t the smartest person in the room. There are so many organizations able to help but I never would have found them without connecting with the SBA. EDCO, SBDC, Foundry Collective, Kiva Loans, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.frankiesinsisters.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frankiesinsisters
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SistersDepot
