Recent business changes in Pierce County

Explore changes in the Pierce County business scene through articles highlighting recent business openings and expansions.

One article describes Hart Family Pharmacy, which opened after major pharmacy chains closed stores. Lightcurve, formerly known as Rainier Connect, relocated its headquarters and opened a retail center in downtown Tacoma.

Darren Hart, left, owner and pharmacist of Hart Family Pharmacy, stands with Lanette Wilkins, a technician at the pharmacy, on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Graham, Wash. By Liesbeth Powers

NO. 1: INDEPENDENT PHARMACY NOW OPEN IN EAST PIERCE COUNTY TOUTS A ‘BETTER WAY’

With the recent news of pharmacy closures as a result of Rite Aid’s bankruptcy, a local independent pharmacist is going against the grain. | Published October 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

Salted Rim Bar & Kitchen opened Oct. 29, 2025 at University Place Town Center near Tacoma, Wash. By Courtesy

NO. 2: NEW BAR OPENS IN UP WITH ASIAN-INSPIRED DISHES, COCKTAILS AND HOMEMADE DESSERTS

The Village at Chambers Bay in University Place welcomed another new business this fall. | Published November 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kristine Sherred

Chantel Jackson, known as The World’s Lunch Lady and The Singing Chef, opened her Thyme Well Spent lunch cafe at 5608 S. Park Ave. in her hometown of Tacoma, Wash., in October 2025. The menu offers three soups daily, sandwiches, salads (here, the chicken-and-waffle with maple vinaigrette), homemade desserts and iced tea coolers. By Kristine Sherred

NO. 3: TACOMA’S ‘LUNCH LADY’ AND SINGING CHEF OPENS CAFE WITH SOUP, SALAD, SANDWICHES

Tacoma native Chantel Jackson has attracted an audience nearly 75,000 strong on TikTok and another 20,000 on Instagram, where her moniker is The Lunch Lady. | Published November 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kristine Sherred

Albert Frank poses for a portrait in the lot he owns at 6th Ave. and Stevens St. that he has been working to turn into a hub for food trucks, on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 4: WHY DOESN’T TACOMA HAVE FOOD PODS? NEW ‘CORRAL’ WANTS TO CHANGE THE GAME

Every few months on local Reddit forums, in the comment sections of Instagram posts, and at kitchen tables around town (or so I imagine), an enterprising Tacoman asks, “Why aren’t there food pods here?” The answer is a frustrating mix of bureaucratic red tape, city-by-city and county-by-county codes, health department regulations and the challenges every small food business faces, from managing volatile and seemingly ever-increasing costs to finding and keeping customers. | Published November 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kristine Sherred

Chef, owner Michael Ruhland poses for a portrait at Valo Wine on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025 in Tacoma, Wash. The winery has other tasting rooms across Washington with the Proctor District location being the newest. By Brian Hayes

NO. 5: WA ‘WINERY TO WATCH’ OPENS NEW TASTING ROOM IN TACOMA’S COVETED PROCTOR DISTRICT

In scouting cities for their third tasting room in Washington, the owners of Valo and Massalto — considered by experts a “winery to watch” in the region and beyond — concentrated on Tacoma. | Published November 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kristine Sherred

Lightcurve’s new retail location, 1135 Broadway in downtown Tacoma, displays its otter mascot on the window. The retail space is next door to the company’s new headquarters at the Tacoma Centre.

NO. 6: LOCAL INTERNET PROVIDER OPENS HEADQUARTERS, RETAIL SHOP IN DOWNTOWN TACOMA

The telecommunications company formerly known as Rainier Connect has a new headquarters and retail site for customers in Tacoma. | Published November 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

The new Pearl Street Family YMCA building will have a grand opening on Jan. 1, 2026.

NO. 7: NEW PEARL STREET YMCA OPENING SOON IN TACOMA. HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW

A newly improved Pearl Street Family YMCA is opening Jan. | Published November 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

A projected interior design for JAX Luxury Salon’s new location at the Peninsula Shopping Center. The hair salon and spa, currently located at 3111 Harborview Dr. Suite 100, aims to relocate to the shopping center on Judson Street in Gig Harbor, Wash., by Thursday, May 1, 2026.

NO. 8: SALON WITH STUDENT DISCOUNTS, FREE BIRTHDAY FACIALS JOINS PIERCE COUNTY PLAZA

Another business will soon move into the Peninsula Shopping Center, following a series of other recent arrivals in the last year that underscore the site’s potential for supporting future redevelopment in Gig Harbor’s downtown. | Published November 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Julia Park

Locus Cafe opened at 4822 Pacific Ave. in Tacoma, serving coffee and desserts including waffles, crêpes and pancakes. Shown here is the Little Mountain signature coffee with Biscoff sauce, caramel and white chocolate with the Mr. Locus waffle drizzled with Biscoff and Bueno sauce. By Kristine Sherred

NO. 9: NEW DESSERT CAFE WITH BISCOFF WAFFLES, CRêPES, COFFEE OPENS IN TACOMA’S SOUTH END

Locus Café, a new dessert and coffee shop in Tacoma’s South End — a neighborhood that could use more such fun — soft-opens today, Nov. | Published November 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kristine Sherred

Spruce Hill Winery co-owners Mark and Jo Bader plan to open a tasting room in Gig Harbor in mid-January 2026.

NO. 10: FAMILY-OWNED WINERY WITH A PACIFIC NORTHWEST FOCUS IS COMING TO PIERCE COUNTY

Spruce Hill Winery, a family-owned operation that specializes in producing small-batch wines sourced from the Pacific Northwest, will open a tasting room in Gig Harbor in mid-January. | Published December 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Julia Park

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The “Gone Grazey” board at Graze Craze in Tacoma. Photographed on 12/18/25. By Minnie Stephenson

NO. 11: NEW CHARCUTERIE BOARD SHOP IN DOWNTOWN TACOMA OFFERS GRAZING BOARDS, BOXES

Inside a small storefront tucked on South 9th Street in Tacoma is a place where endless combinations of cheeses, meats, fruits and vegetables become a reality. | Published December 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Minnie Stephenson

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