Mio Sushi Closes Bend Old Mill District Location

The restaurant ends a 20-year run in Bend after its lease agreement was not renewed by property management.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Openings & Closings

A vacant, empty restaurant storefront with timber and stone architecture in the Old Mill District, Bend. — Mio Sushi has closed its location in Bend's Old Mill District after two decades, following the property owner's decision not to renew the lease. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Mio Sushi has shuttered its location in the Old Mill District after nearly two decades of operation in Bend. The space is currently being repurposed to host SantaLand for the upcoming holiday season.

Why it matters

The closure follows a multi-year trend of low health inspection scores for the restaurant. Property management ultimately decided against renewing the lease for the site.

Mio Sushi operated in the Bend area for a total of 20 years. Records show inspectors repeatedly cited the business for sanitation issues and improper food storage temperatures.

The players

Mio Sushi

A long-standing local restaurant that operated in Bend for nearly two decades.

Old Mill District

A major mixed-use development in Bend that manages the retail space formerly occupied by the restaurant.

The details

Following the lease non-renewal, the restaurant removed its exterior signage and covered the storefront windows. The property is currently undergoing a transition to prepare for the arrival of SantaLand.

Mio Sushi began operations in Bend during 2008.
The restaurant moved into the Old Mill District in 2011.
Low health inspection scores were recorded in 2017 and 2019.
SantaLand is expected to open in the space the day after Thanksgiving 2026.

Market Landscape

The transition of this retail space for the Old Mill District's annual holiday programming reflects a broader trend of property owners optimizing high-traffic areas for seasonal revenue. This shift prioritizes short-term, high-demand attractions over long-term commercial tenants.

Local diners will no longer have access to this long-standing sushi option in the Old Mill District. Visitors to the shopping center can expect the site to be fully converted for holiday festivities by late November.

The takeaway

Property management decisions often prioritize high-demand seasonal utility when faced with long-term performance issues at a retail site. Residents should check local listings for updated holiday event schedules as the space transitions to SantaLand.