Rural lifestyle retailer takes over former Rite Aid location in Bend
Published 11:05 am Friday, August 7, 2026
The new Tractor Supply Co. is being transformed from the former Rite Aid on southeast 3rd Street in Bend on Thursday.
(Dean Guernsey/The Bulletin)
Bend residents won’t need to own a tractor to shop at Tractor Supply Co
The rural lifestyle retailer plans to open its first Bend location with a soft opening targeted for Oct. 17, followed by a grand opening Oct. 24 The dates could shift slightly as construction continues
The Bend store — located close to Grocery Outlet on Third Street — will become Tractor Supply’s second location in Central Oregon, joining the company’s Redmond store that opened early this <a href="https://healthylife7.com/bank-of-america-spending-250m-a-year-on-glp/” title=”Bank of America spending $250M a year on GLP”>year. The Bend location had been previously occupied by Rite Aid
Despite its name, Tractor Supply sells far more than equipment for farmers. The stores carry livestock and pet feed, animal health products, workwear, hardware, lawn and garden supplies, outdoor equipment and country-style home décor. The Bend location also will include the company’s popular self-service dog wash stations
“It’s funny. You think ‘Tractor Supply’ and assume it’s all about tractors,” Lockard said. “It’s really more about the animals, the feed, the lifestyle.”
The store also sells live chicks. But Lockard says some of the most popular items are actually the steel chicken yard ornaments
“They sell like crazy, the six-foot steel chickens. We can’t keep them in the store. They are just gone as soon as we get them,” Lockard said
Lockard said the company believes Bend is a good fit because of its mix of hobby farmers, back yard chicken owners, and residents looking after animals on small acreages
“You see a lot of people raising chicks, alpacas, goats and doing a lot of that type of stuff,” he said. “Bend is definitely needing one.”
The new store is expected to create 16 or 17 jobs initially. Hiring for assistant managers is underway, with recruiting for additional supervisors and store employees expected to ramp up in the coming weeks
The Bend location is part of Tractor Supply’s broader expansion across Oregon. Lockard said the company expects to grow from roughly six Oregon stores to about 16 statewide by the end of 2026, although he noted those plans are determined by company leadership
Based in Tennessee, Tractor Supply operates more than 2,000 stores nationwide, with its largest presence in the eastern and Midwestern United States. In recent years, the retailer has been steadily expanding its footprint on the West Coast
About Michael Kohn
Michael Kohn has been public lands and environment reporter with The Bulletin since 2019. He enjoys hiking in the hills and forests near Bend with his family and exploring the state of Oregon
He can be reached at: 541-617-7818, michael.kohn@bendbulletin.com
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