Hanford contractor to fill vacant space in Yakima warehouse
May 7, 2013
YAKIMA, Wash. — On Monday, I reported on the increasingly robust commercial real estate market in the Yakima Valley. And here’s yet another sign of …
Shop Talk
Watch for Part Two of “Our Industrious Valley”
April 26, 2013
The weekend’s almost here, but before I head out and enjoy this great weather, I wanted to get caught up on a few things. First …
New restaurant in Sloppy Slaw space
April 25, 2013
YAKIMA, Wash. — Once in a while, I get restaurant news from my colleagues. In this case, I learned from my colleague Pat Muir that …
New restaurant planned for Orchards Shopping Center
April 9, 2013
YAKIMA, Wash. — Several Shop Talk readers have contacted me wondering about all the construction activity at the former Pho Tan space at the Orchards …
CEO switch prompts speculation over J.C. Penney’s future
April 9, 2013
YAKIMA — The buzz of the retail world came late yesterday when J.C. Penney announced it was firing CEO Ron Johnson. The retailer then announced …
Sun worshipers urged to visit the Valley — just not right now
April 5, 2013
Mother Nature has decided to rain on the parade recently launched by the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau. As the Valley enjoyed summer-like weather …
Some design ideas for McDonald’s
April 4, 2013
YAKIMA, Wash. — As the city of Yakima’s planning department continues to look over a land-use application for a proposed McDonald’s in downtown Yakima, here’s …
The mobile phone turns 40
April 3, 2013
YAKIMA, Wash. — The mobile phone’s officially middle-aged. The first mobile phone call was made 40 years ago today. Back then, mobile phones were huge …
U.S. Supreme Court rejects review of new airline fare rule
April 1, 2013
YAKIMA, Wash. — First of all, I don’t do April Fool’s jokes. You will not be seeing any joke posts on this blog. I’m sure …
Mean Girls PR firm to close Yakima office
March 29, 2013
The Mean Girls are leaving town, which means it’s the end of the marketing company’s run in the Yakima Valley. The company was established here …
Yakima caramel company calls blog mention ‘huge honor’
March 27, 2013
YAKIMA, Wash. — Copper Pot Caramels has been popular locally for its tasty sweets, but it seems the buzz for this Yakima-based business reached down …
Yesterday’s Village the antique store is not in bankruptcy
March 25, 2013
YAKIMA, Wash. — With the slew of articles I’ve written about Track 29 lately, some clarification is in order. Track’s 29 owner is Yesterday’s Village …
Track 29 tenant starts online petition to preserve shopping center
March 26, 2013
YAKIMA, Wash.— As I noted in my Reporter’s Notebook column today, the long-term viability of the Track 29 shopping area is up for debate. Now …
Lowe’s to submit revised plan for relocation to Yakima
March 22, 2013
Lowe’s is still trying to make its proposed new store in Yakima work. The Mooresville, N.C., hardware store chain plans to submit a revised site …
Nob Hill property poised for retail development
March 19, 2013
YAKIMA, Wash. — Sometimes when I read the planning updates from the city of Yakima I have to be careful not to blink or I …
Business news roundup for the weekend
March 15, 2013
YAKIMA, Wash. —It’s Friday, which means the weekend is here and you have time to read some interesting stories. Or perhaps catch up on what …
Cabela’s ‘thrilled’ with response to Union Gap store
February 15, 2013
UNION GAP — Cabela’s executives expressed approval with the performance of the company’s first Outpost Store, in Union Gap, when they released fourth quarter earnings …
McDonald’s files plan for downtown restaurant
February 9, 2013
YAKIMA, Wash. — McDonald’s Corp. has filed a land-use application with the city of Yakima for a new location at the former Grand Buffet property …
Free pancake day in Ellensburg this year
February 5, 2013
YAKIMA, Wash. — As in past years, IHOP is giving away free pancakes for its National Pancake Day. But now Yakima Valley diners will need …
Holiday sales below projections
January 16, 2013
YAKIMA, Wash. — OK, I know the holiday shopping season is long over, but I couldn’t move on without posting some hard numbers. So how …
Vickie’s Tieton Cafe isn’t going anywhere
January 16, 2013
TIETON, Wash. — Rumors have been flying around about long-time eatery Vickie’s Tieton Cafe closing for good. That’s news to owner Victoria Ennis. “I did …
Eddie Bauer closing Valley Mall Plaza store
January 3, 2013
UNION GAP — The Eddie Bauer Outlet will close soon after more than five years at the Valley Mall Plaza. The store at 2551 Main …
Union Gap bottlemaker passes 2-year mark of first delivery
December 31, 2012
UNION GAP, Wash. — A Union Gap company is marking the two-year anniversary of its first delivery today. Liberty Bottleworks, which produces aluminum water bottles, …
Holiday shopping season finally nears an end
December 24, 2012
YAKIMA, Wash. — Well, it’s been a busy holiday season. Many of you will start the cycle on Wednesday when you buy discounted gift wrap, …
Shipping and shopping til Christmas
December 17, 2012
YAKIMA, Wash. — For those who are keeping track — there are just eight days left until Christmas. And the rush has begun: • The …
One local restaurant closes; another announces plans to open
December 19, 2012
PROSSER — After nearly three years in business, a Prosser restaurant has closed its doors. Tuscany, an Italian restaurant at 602 Sixth St., shuttered Saturday. …
Shop Talk: Our readers speak up about shopping, toys and scents
December 17, 2012
Shop Talk readers, you are a talkative bunch. I have enjoyed reading your comments and thoughts on the Shop Talk blog, Twitter and Facebook pages; …
How many Starbucks per capita in Yakima? Do the math.
December 6, 2012
YAKIMA, Wash.— The Starbucks that could have been in downtown Yakima may have been part of a planned U.S. store expansion. The Associated Press reported …
Sorting out the Hahn auto dealerships
December 5, 2012
YAKIMA, Wash. —Chances are you may have come away from my story about Steve Hahn Auto Group selling Mercedes-Benz vehicles out of its dealership at …
Retailer concern over port strikes resolved
December 5, 1912
YAKIMA, Wash. — A day after the retail industry expressed concern about the possible impact of a strike at the ports of Los Angeles and …
Retailers eyeing impact of shipping port strike
December 4, 2012
YAKIMA, Wash. — All the strategy sessions by retailers for this year’s holiday shopping season likely did not include plans for the week-long strikes at …
Steve Hahn dealership acquires Mercedes franchise
December 4, 2012
Mercedes-Benz vehicles are now being sold farther south on South First Street at the newly named Steve Hahn Volkswagen Mercedes Kia dealership at 1730 S. …
New dollar store opens in Yakima
November 26, 2012
YAKIMA — A new family-owned dollar store opened Saturday at a space once partially occupied by Blockbuster Video. The Dollar Stretcher store at 501 W. …
Follow what's happening on social media during Black Friday
November 20, 2012
The holiday shopping season kicks off on Thanksgiving Day when retailers rollout rock-bottom discounts, giveaways and other incentives to get shoppers to their stores and …
Black Friday just keeps getting earlier
November 13, 2012
Yakima, Wash. — Just when I thought I couldn’t start work any earlier on Thanksgiving... Toys R Us plans to open at 8 p.m. on …
It’s official: Famous Dave is on his way
November 5, 2012
YAKIMA, Wash. —The Yakima Valley was among 21 new store locations Famous Dave’s announced today. This is a bit of old news as CenterCal Properties …
Chukar Cherries to sell products in duty-free shops
October 26, 2012
YAKIMA, Wash. — Prosser-based Chukar Cherries will be one of several Washington brands that will be featured in a trio of new duty-free stores scheduled …
Glenwood Square Rec Room Bar & Grill closes
October 11, 2012
YAKIMA, Wash. — The Rec Room Bar & Grill has closed after nearly two years in business. “I regret to inform you that I have …
Observations from Cabela’s sneak peek
September 26, 2012
After several months of construction, Union Gap’s about one week away from getting it’s own Cabela’s store. Earlier this afternoon, I got a sneak peek …
Shop Talk: Owen Roe will add to the Valley’s plethora of wineries
September 17, 2012
David O’Reilly’s winery may be in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, but he is definitely smitten with the Yakima Valley. During harvest, O’Reilly, winemaker and co-owner of …
Shop Talk: One yogurt, two yogurt, three yogurt, four
September 10, 2012
When all these frozen yogurt shops — four, to be precise — opened in the space of a year, many local diners, including those who …
Proposed Lowe’s store may run into land-use difficulties
September 3, 2012
Last week, I reported on the public comments for a commercial development on the corner of South Second Street and East Yakima Avenue. (The rumored …
J.C. Penney set to open Oct. 5
September 1, 2012
UNION GAP — J.C. Penney will open Oct. 5, according to a company spokesman. The opening is a day after Cabela’s, the Sidney, Neb.-based outdoor …
Reporter’s Notebook: Q&A: Emptying the inbox and deleting the voice mail
August 27, 2012
I know that sometimes, Shop Talk readers, you just have a lot of questions. So for this week’s column, I’m going to respond to some …
Restaurant bites: the mystery eatery and double Greek
August 20, 2012
Last week, I wrote about a national chain restaurant coming to downtown Yakima in the space formerly occupied by the Grand Buffet at 19 E. …
Shop Talk | A sobering statistic: 70 percent of wines sold in Washington state come from elsewhere
July 16, 2012
Many of you read my July 8 story on Gallo’s arrival in Washington state with its purchase of Columbia and Covey Run wineries. As the …