New coffee stand in University Place, local pizza chains expand, more biz news
A local drive-thru coffee chain has expanded to University Place.
Rainier Valley Coffee opened its new location late last month at 5915 Hannah Pierce Road, as previously reported by The News Tribune.
The menu includes espressos, teas, energy drinks and smoothies. Some signature drinks include White Pass, with white chocolate white coffee and salted caramel, and the Snoqualmie, with guava, coconut and blue energy drink.
The University Place location is serving drinks and pre-packaged food but is waiting for permits to serve bites like avocado toast and breakfast sandwiches.
Rainier Valley Coffee has locations in Bonney Lake, Maple Valley, Enumclaw and Puyallup.
The University Place drive-thru is open 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
More pizza options coming to the South Sound
Farrelli’s Pizza, a local chain, has started work on a new location in Enumclaw, as previously reported by The News Tribune.
The pizzeria will take over The Claw of Enumclaw, an event venue at 1324 Roosevelt Ave. E.
The menu will include wood-fired pies, pasta, calzones and appetizers like cheesy breadsticks and baked chicken wings.
Farrelli’s in Enumclaw is set to open in late June. Other Farrelli’s locations include Tacoma, Point Ruston, Parkland, Sumner and DuPont.
On the Key Peninsula, Puget Sound Pizza has found a new home, as previously reported by The News Tribune.
The local pizza chain will replace Figaro’s Pizza in Lakebay, 9023 Key Peninsula Highway NW.
Puget Sound Pizza, which has locations in Tacoma and Lakewood, makes pies 10 or 16 inches, with build-your-own pizzas and signature pizzas, including the Big Dill with pickles, bacon, parmesan and alfredo sauce, and the Bandini with salami, red onion, pepperoncini, bell peppers and basil.
Customers can also expect calzones, pasta, salads and appetizers like cheese balls and wings. The Enumclaw location is also planning to serve sandwiches but is waiting for permits.
The opening of the Lakebay Puget Sound Pizza is set for May 8.
LeMay - America’s Car Museum gets new eats
The cafe El Koreano opened April 23 at LeMay - America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, as previously reported by The News Tribune.
El Koreano replaces Full Throttle Cafe, which closed in March. The cafe offers Korean-Mexican fusion cuisine and coffee, with plans to serve beer and wine.
The menu includes the Aye Papi bulgogi torta with marinated beef, melted American cheese, chipotle aioli, cilantro and jalapeño, and the Kimchi Grilled Cheese on a brioche bun. There are also breakfast sandwiches, salads and rice bowls.
El Koreano at LeMay is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Monday.
Popular Tacoma eatery back open after move
Wooden City is officially back open after relocating to its new space on Broadway, as previously reported by The News Tribune.
The restaurant, now at 1102 Broadway, had its grand opening April 28. Wooden City first opened in 2018 at 724 Pacific Ave. but closed in April during the move.
The new space on Broadway is much larger at 7,000 square feet and is able to fit around 160 people, compared to the old location’s capacity of around 65 guests.
The menu is mostly the same, with small plates like blistered Hungarian peppers and beef tartare, wood-fired pizza, burgers and elevated pasta dishes, alongside a solid cocktail list.
Downtown Tacoma cafe now closed
Eather Tea and Cafe, which served tea, coffee and desserts, is now closed, as previously reported by The News Tribune.
The cafe, 1127 Broadway, Suite 101, opened in August but quietly closed in December. Owner Ky Luu told The News Tribune he experienced a death in the family at the time and traveled back home to Vietnam.
The menu included Vietnamese coffee, fruit and milk teas and dessert waffles.
Gym closes after decades in Fircrest
The Exercise Science Center closed April 30 after nearly 40 years in business, as previously reported by The News Tribune.
The gym and fitness research facility, 1101 Regents Blvd., was owned by Blake Surina, a Tacoma native who also served on the Fircrest City Council.
Many gym members stuck with Surina and the Exercise Science Center for decades and commemorated Surina at a recent party thrown at the gym.
Surina told The News Tribune that he was happy to finally get a vacation.
