Restaurant updates in East Pierce County so far in 2025

This list of stories highlights restaurant updates in East Pierce County in early 2025, including Just a Pizza My Mind opening a drive-thru for easy pizza pickup in Milton. Another change is that Puyallup's Taco Time is relocating so a new Starbucks can move in.

One of the big projects in East Pierce County this year involves six new restaurants and a rooftop bar at the Washington State Fair.

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 new location for the “Just a Pizza My Mind” brick-and-mortar drive-thru building at 1102 28th Ave Ct in Milton.

NO. 1: THIS NEW PIERCE COUNTY PIZZA DRIVE-THRU STARTED WITH A CHEESY LOVE STORY

“Pretty much any time we’re eating something, we’re like, ‘How can I make this a pizza?’” one of the owners said. “To us, pizza dough is just bread, so it’s like, ‘Why can’t you do all these unique things on it?’” | Published April 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isabela Lund

This rendering of the 1900 Food Hall includes six new restaurants and a rooftop bar, replacing the International Village. The food hall was named after the fair’s first year in operation. By The Washington State Fair

NO. 2: SIX NEW RESTAURANTS, ROOFTOP BAR COMING TO WASHINGTON STATE FAIR. HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW

A James Beard-nominated chef is overseeing the project in Puyallup. It’s part of $28 million in renovations that the fair is doing this year. The food hall will replace a building that was a fair fixture for 40 years. | Published March 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isabela Lund

Italian Style Meatballs (from left) with house-made tomato sauce, served over a bed of cavatappi pasta and garnished with parmesan, cranberry brie grilled cheese sandwich with gruyere, cranberry reduction, sliced pear served on sourdough, and blackberry cheesecake at the Terrace Cafe inside Watson’s Greenhouse in Puyallup, Washington, on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. By Tony Overman

NO. 3: SOUP, SALAD, MONSTERA? HAVE YOUR NEXT LUNCH DATE INSIDE THIS BREEZY PIERCE COUNTY NURSERY

Most restaurants would kill for this kind of natural light. Enjoy it with a house pastry or a full meal of fresh fish, seasonal soup and salad or a gooey grilled cheese. | Published January 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kristine Sherred

Wily Cycleworks, a combination bike shop, coffee and natural wine bar, opened in December 2024 at 2501 6th Ave. in Tacoma. By Kristine Sherred

NO. 4: 16 NEW RESTAURANTS, BARS AND CAFES TO VISIT AROUND TACOMA AND THE SOUTH SOUND

There’s Indian-Southern BBQ fusion, a bar in a coffee shop, pizza by the slice, lots of fried chicken and cheesesteaks. Here’s what else is new around town. | Published April 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kristine Sherred

A new Taco Time building is under construction in Puyallup, with crews expecting the new building to open this summer. The old Taco Time building will become a Starbucks. The whole project costs $2.4 million. By Isabela Lund

NO. 5: A NEW STARBUCKS IS COMING TO PUYALLUP AND A POPULAR TACO RESTAURANT IS MOVING SOON

The $2.4 million project is underway. The taco drive-thru is open during construction. | Published April 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isabela Lund

The rosemary sea salt bagel with a smear of chili crisp cream cheese from Howdy Bagel paired with a pistachio espresso tonic from Bluebeard Coffee Roasters By Brian Hayes

NO. 6: MULITAS TO MANHATTANS. HERE ARE GOOD EATS AND DRINKS FROM THE STAFF OF THE NEWS TRIBUNE

Our reporters, visual journalists and editors have some short takes on what they’ve consumed in and around Tacoma recently. | Published March 6, 2025 | Read Full Story

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.