Local

8 stories of change in the Tacoma area’s business landscape

Stories by Tacoma News Tribune journalists, with AI summarization

Closures of establishments such as a beloved comic book store and a vegan restaurant highlight mounting challenges that Pierce County businesses face when it comes to rent, wages, and rising costs. Ongoing transitions — like a retired chef handing over a legacy restaurant — showcase efforts to preserve local culture and community ties. Establishments like Macy’s South Hill Mall site shutter while others aim to reinvent in a changing market.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

The former Life Center Thrift Store in Tacoma has closed and will reopen in March as Tacoma Rescue Mission’s second Mission Thrift location, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 1: NEW THRIFT STORE TO OPEN IN TACOMA IN MARCH. HERE’S WHERE AND WHO WILL OPERATE IT

It’s replacing another thrift store. | Published January 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

South Hill Mall in Puyallup is set to lose major retail anchor Macy’s this year, as the retail giant announces its latest wave of store closures.

NO. 2: MACY’S CLOSURE OF ‘UNDERPRODUCTIVE’ STORES INCLUDES SITE AT THIS PIERCE COUNTY MALL

The national retailer previously announced a massive sweep of closures with latest list released Thursday. | Published January 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

New owners Rebekah and Seth Rose pose for a portrait at Primo Grill, on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 3: ONE OF TACOMA’S BEST RESTAURANTS HAS NEW OWNERS. WHAT WILL THAT MEAN FOR PRIMO GRILL?

After 25 years on Sixth Avenue, the restaurant’s owners are ready to retire. | Published February 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kristine Sherred

Co-owners Sarah Oh and Ryan McGowan pose for a portrait at Sunny’s, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in Tacoma, Wash. The plant and home goods store recently opened in downtown. By Brian Hayes

NO. 4: DOWNTOWN TACOMA PLANT STORE, GIFT SHOP THAT SERVED AS LAUNCHPAD FOR CREATIVES TO CLOSE

“This was not an easy choice, but one we know is best for us. To be transparent, we’ve delayed sharing this news for as long as we could,” the owners said on social media this week. | Published January 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

ETHAN H.D., owner and proprietary, Destiny City Comics poses for a portrait, on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 5: BELOVED TACOMA COMIC BOOK SHOP KNOWN FOR ITS QUEER AND BIPOC-FRIENDLY TITLES TO CLOSE

Increasing rent made the business unsustainable, one of its owners said. | Published February 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

Viva Tacoma exclusively served vegan, gluten-free and organic foods, including the popular cauliflower wings. By Facebook/Courtesy

NO. 6: ONE OF TACOMA’S ONLY VEGAN RESTAURANTS IS CLOSING, AND THE BUILDING HAS BEEN SOLD

The health-focused restaurant with raw options had served cauliflower wings, mushroom melts and “walnut meat” enchiladas for a decade. | Published February 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kristine Sherred

The Pine Cone in University Place has served breakfast since 1955. Aelysa Park (center) and her husband Jason Lee (right), shown here with their son Joshua, took over the business February 2025. By Kristine Sherred

NO. 7: NEW OWNERS FOR 70-YEAR-OLD PIERCE COUNTY DINER WITH PLATE-SIZED PANCAKES, ENDLESS COFFEE

The breakfast and brunch restaurant will continue to be cozy, welcoming and filling, seven days a week, the new owners say. | Published March 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kristine Sherred

Rhonda Hamlin makes and sells biscotti and other artisan hand-made treats under the name The Art of Crunch. This is her booth at the Proctor Farmers Market. By Peter Haley

NO. 8: TACOMA’S BISCOTTI MAVEN BIDS FAREWELL AFTER 13 YEARS, SAYS IT’S ‘BEEN AN AWESOME RIDE’

Rhonda Hamlin’s baked treats, which included brownies, bars and crackers, were featured at other local businesses and especially popular for holiday gift boxes. | Published March 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kristine Sherred

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.