Temple Theatre fire update and plans for ex-Rite Aids among TNT’s top stories

From what likely caused a rooftop fire at a historic Tacoma theater to the closure of a beloved Gig Harbor pub, Wednesday brought a mix of news across Pierce County. Here’s a quick look at what’s happening in the community.

• An electrical failure likely caused Tuesday’s fire on the roof of Tacoma’s historic Temple Theatre at 47 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma Fire spokesperson Chelsea Shepherd said. The Temple Theatre building remains inhabitable, with damage confined to a rooftop deck and ballroom-event structure plus some water damage on the fourth or fifth floor.

• A former Rite Aid at 11220 Canyon Road E. in Puyallup sold for $5.5 million to an LLC affiliated with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and could become a We Care Daily Clinic offering opioid treatment services. Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is assessing a former Rite Aid at 12811 Meridian St. E. as a possible site for a freestanding emergency department, the medical system confirmed.

• The Rainier Dragon Boat Festival returns to the Thea Foss Waterway on May 16, drawing 44 teams and more than a thousand paddlers from as far as Oregon and Canada. The Tacoma Dragon Boat Association practices nearly every week of the year on the Thea Foss Waterway and welcomes anyone to join for free.

• O’Looney’s Irish Pub in Gig Harbor will close May 30 after four and a half years, with owner Joe Brockert citing tax hikes, rising expenses and difficulty turning a profit. O’Looney’s will host a final celebration with live music from That Irish Guy on its last day at 3222 56th St.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by senior editor Adam Lynn. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.