July 2023 Volume 22 | Issue 7
New veterans clinic coming to the Tri-Cities By Sara Schilling sara@tcjournal.biz
Young Professionals
A specialty publication of the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business Page C1
Technology
New basketball tech-focused skills gym has all the balls and whistles Page A23
Real Estate & Construction
Family-friendly English-style pub coming soon to downtown Kennewick Page B1
NOTEWORTHY “It’s not a stretch to say we inject, conservatively, north of $3 million into the economy.” – Erik Larson, regional spokesman, Jehovah’s Witnesses
Page A19
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs plans to open an expanded outpatient clinic in the Tri-Cities. A specific site hasn’t been selected – in fact, the selection process is in the early stages. But Vista Field in Kennewick is one of the areas that’s drawn interest from potential developers as a possibility. The new clinic will replace the existing one in the Richland Federal Building, and it’ll add an array of specialties for veterans on top of what’s currently offered locally, from dental to pharmacy. The VA is looking to locate the new clinic in a roughly 34-plus-square-mile area of west Kennewick and south Richland bounded by interstates 82 and 182, Highway 395 and State Route 240. The clinic could be a new build, or it could move into an existing facility that fits the VA’s criteria, according to an advertisement from the agency seeking expressions of interest from developers. That’s where Vista Field comes in. Three developers approached the Port of Kennewick – which owns the former municipal airport that’s now envisioned as a regional town center with a mix of commercial and residential development – about listing Vista Field as the clinic location in their submissions. Because the port is a public agency, discussion among port commissioners about whether to give the OK to that initial step happened during a public meeting, where details about other sites being eyed by developers wouldn’t necessarily make it into the public sphere in the same way. A site for the new clinic will be selected by January 2025, said Linda Wondra, public affairs officer for the Walla Walla VA Medical Center, a network that includes the Richland clinic. The new clinic is planned to open in 2028. The need is clear, Wondra said. uVA CLINIC, Page A4
Photo by Ryan Jackman Mike and Dashia Hopp are buying the building that’s home to their Bombing Range Brewing Company and The Dive, opening the door to further expansion.
Brewpub owners buy building as they pour passion into future growth By Sara Schilling sara@tcjournal.biz
Back when Mike and Dashia Hopp opened Bombing Range Brewing Company, they figured they needed to sell $300 worth of beer a day to cover rent and equipment payments. Now seven years later, “we’ve surpassed that,” Dashia said with a chuckle. That’s an understatement. The Hopps have turned the Richland brewery into a Tri-Cities hotspot. Their beers – from the golden Days Pay IPA to the Bavarian-style Awannaweizen Hefeweizen – have a large and loyal fan base, and so do the pizzas they serve up while the taps are flowing. A few years back, the Hopps opened a
second venture: The Dive, serving burgers, drinks and more. Now, they’re taking another major step: they’re buying the building at 2000 Logston Blvd. that’s home to both Bombing Range Brewing and The Dive. The building is owned by the Port of Benton, and port commissioners in June authorized the $1.7 million sale. It’s expected to close this month. The purchase means the Hopps will be able to expand the brewing area at Bombing Range, allowing them to increase beer production significantly. They’re planning to add a 15-barrel system, which they’ll use in addition to the seven-barrel system that’s already in place. They also have plans to add more seatuBOMBING RANGE, Page A8
Letter sheds light on what new Costco could look like By Sara Schilling sara@tcjournal.biz
There’s still no official word on whether a new Costco is coming to the Queensgate area of Richland. But a letter from the retailer to the state Department of Natural Resources, or DNR, expressing interest in a lease sheds some light on what the location could include. DNR owns the 28 acres of land at the northwest corner of Kennedy Road and
Truman Avenue, near Target, where the store would sit. The eight-page document says Costco initially wants to build “a membership warehouse club (including ancillary businesses, and a ‘last-mile’ delivery facility),” plus a gas station and parking. Costco is looking to lease the land for an original term of 25 years, with the option to extend the lease for another 30 years at set increments. The rent would uCOSTCO, Page A4
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