Woody Harrelson’s visit to Oregon raw food restaurant is a ‘blessing,’ owner says

The text came from an employee on Monday morning, as ordinary as any, and it completely surprised Corrine Coxey, owner of Salud Raw Food restaurant in Bend.

“Woody Harrelson is here, and he’s raving about your food,” the text read.

Harrelson, a “Cheers” actor and devoted vegan who ordered “rawkin’ tacos” and other items with his wife, Laura Louie, returned to the restaurant Tuesday and promised to come again. He said they were visiting family in the area. Headlines followed.

“I’m just very honored they came in and raved about it,” Coxey said. “Woody has been a vegan for 30 years and you know he’s eaten at the best places around the world so it was a real compliment.”

Coxey opened her raw food restaurant, which uses no stoves or ovens to prepare healthy, organic, plant-based dishes, in 2013. This year has been the slowest ever, she said, to the point she has often wondered whether she’d have to close. The TV and movie star’s arrival has been a “blessing” for business, she said.

“All of this publicity couldn’t have come at a better time as it’s been pretty bleak lately,” she said by text. “The local news here did a story on the 6 o’clock news tonight. We were twice as busy as we would have been today!”

She hopes he returns, too, not just for the sake of her bottom line: “He and his wife were very sweet and humble.”

— Beth Slovic is an editor on the public safety and breaking news team. Reach her at 503-221-8551 or bslovic@oregonian.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com/subscribe.