Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen And Mark Pendergrass.
Hi Jen and Mark, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
We began taking care of the building in 2015, long before it was a wedding venue. At the time, it was simply an old North Portland building that needed love, attention, and a lot of restoration work. We didn’t come in with a big business plan or a perfectly laid‑out vision. We just knew the building mattered, and we wanted to revive it and make it once again a useful part of the neighborhood.
Those early years were full of hands‑on projects—fixing what needed fixing, learning the quirks of a 100‑plus‑year‑old space, and slowly bringing the building back to life. Early on we met Sarah and Alea from Solabee Flowers and Botanicals who have been the anchor tenant in the building since 2015. As we worked, people started wandering in, curious about the space and its history. Over and over, people would come up and express how excited they were about the updates to the building and how special it felt. That’s when the idea of turning it into a venue really started to make sense.
From there, it grew pretty naturally. One event led to another and word spread. The building became a place where people wanted to gather, celebrate, and make memories. We hosted our first wedding in the space- our friends’ wedding-on New Year’s Eve 2017.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, no. Renovating and operating a historic venue is definitely not a straightforward path. The Baker Building is over a century old, and old buildings have personalities. There’s always something to address here. There have been moments where we’re juggling client calls while also figuring out why a 110‑year‑old door suddenly decided it doesn’t want to latch anymore.
Being a small, owner‑operated business also means we do everything ourselves—marketing, tours, vendor site visits, repairs, watering our ever-growing plant collection, responding to emails, community relationships, all of it. There’s no big team behind the scenes, it’s just us and our bartending staff, working to keep a beautiful old building thriving while supporting people during some of the biggest moments of their lives.
We’ve had the same ups and downs that most small businesses face such as changing trends, slow seasons, busy seasons, unexpected expenses and the pandemic (which shut us down for almost two years). But every challenge has made us more grounded and more grateful of the people who choose our space.
Though it hasn’t been a perfectly smooth ride, but it’s been a work of passion. We care about this building, we care about the people who walk through it, and we’re proud that we have been able to preserve this old Portland venue and make it available for special moments.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Suite B is the latest addition to The Baker Building, and we’re really excited about it. It’s going to give our wedding couples a whole new option for cocktail hour, late‑night drinks, music, snacks; and the Portland community a spot for soft serve, live performances, and private event experiences. It’s a cozy, flexible space that adds another layer of fun and comfort to the building. We will be hosting regular live music nights, with a focus on jazz. It’s also a way for us to keep expanding what The Baker Building can offer without losing the intimate, historic feel people love.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The easiest way to work with us is to book The Baker Building for your wedding, celebration, or community event. Clients can reach out through our website, Instagram, or email to schedule a tour, check availability, or start planning.
We love collaborating with photographers and videographers who want a beautiful historic backdrop for styled shoots or other marketing purposes; planners and caterers who want to host private intimate dinners; and local non-profits and small businesses who want to host fundraisers, workshops, or community gatherings.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bakerbuilding.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baker_building/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bakerbuilding
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BakerBuilding/videos
- Other: https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/wedding-venues/the-baker-building
