Tyson putting Wallula beef facility up for sale    

National meat processor Tyson Foods is downsizing its operations and its plant outside the Tri-Cities is on the block.

The company announced Aug. 13 that it is pursuing the sale of its 273,438-square-foot facility at Wallula just southeast of the Tri-Cities in Walla Walla County. It was not clear if it plans to shut down the facility at 13983 Dodd Road prior to any sale.

Tyson also plans to end operations at facilities in Illinois and Utah as it centralizes its business at plants in the heart of the country in Kansas, Nebraska and Texas due to “the most historic cattle shortages the country has ever experienced.”

“Recent USDA cattle inventory data, which included continued evidence of limited heifer retention, indicates these supply constraints are likely to persist, requiring strategic action,” the company said in a release.

Between 1,400 to 1,600 employees work at the facility, which serves as both a slaughterhouse and processing plant. It originally opened as a family-owned operation in 1966 but has been operated by Tyson since 2001. The company completed a $36 million renovation at the facility less than 10 years ago.

Tyson said it recognizes the impact the moves will have on team members and communities and is committed to supporting employees, including helping them apply for open positions at other facilities.

Site prep begins for Kennewick Dave & Buster’s   

The social media chatter anticipating the opening of the Tri-Cities’ first Dave & Buster’s entertainment center is palpable – and there’s progress to be shared on the project.

Nearly $1 million of work is planned to return the former Joann and Sears store into “cold dark shell condition.” The exterior and mall entrances will remain and new exit door and sidewalks will be added at the front of the building.

The site alteration permit, valued at $990,000, is not seeking a certificate of occupancy as plans for future tenant work will be submitted later.

Plans indicate the entertainment venue would occupy more than 29,000 square feet, with demolition and remodeling anticipated to cost $6.85 million.

The giant arcade-restaurant-bar pairs wall-to-wall sports screens with a full-service menu.

Popular coffee chain looking to come to Richland

A popular Arkansas-based drive-thru coffee shop is considering two potential locations in Richland.  

7 Brew Drive Thru Coffee is looking at a location off of George Washington Way next to Panda Express in Richland as well as off of Duportail Street in the Queensgate area, said Mandy Wallner, economic development manager with the city of Richland.

The site at 3160 Duportail St. is a roughly 1-acre parcel recently purchased by Idaho Central Credit Union, which has a branch location next door. The $1.7 million sale went through Aug. 7.  

The coffee stand would be about 510 square feet and have a double drive-thru lane with 24-vehicle stacking capacity, as well as 10 parking stalls, according to city documents.

No permits have been filed for either location.  

The coffee stand brand was founded in 2017 and has grown to 854 stands in 38 states.

Moses Lake elementary school reopens after repairs

A Moses Lake school that was shut down for over a year to make about $16.5 million in repairs reopened to students in early September.   

Litigation against the school’s Richland-based contractor is pending.   

Moses Lake School District’s Groff Elementary School cost $18 million to build and first welcomed students in the 2021. Soon after, various problems at the school were reported forcing the district to close it in spring 2025.

The district sued Richland-based Fowler General Construction, along with Western Surety Co. The district also sued Design West Architects. The firm recently agreed to pay $1.85 million to the district to help cover the cost of fixing problems with the school as part of a settlement but did not admit fault.

Commerce awards $1.35M for energy efficiency projects

Five Mid-Columbia school districts and the private company renovating a shopping center in the Columbia Center retail district have received hundreds of thousands of state dollars aimed at identifying and implementing energy efficiencies in their buildings. 

The $1.35 million in financial awards are part of $29 million in grants and other funding from the Washington Department of Commerce aimed at helping public and private buildings meet the state’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard. 

“These awards demonstrate Washington’s commitment to reducing pollution from buildings, the state’s second largest source of emissions,” said Commerce Interim Director Sarah Clifthorne, in a statement. “By investing in cleaner, more energy-efficient buildings, we’re advancing our state energy strategy while improving air quality to provide a healthier future for all communities.” 

The Kennewick School District is the largest funding recipient with roughly $748,000 in funding for energy audits which will help public building owners identify opportunities to reduce energy use and lower operating costs while also meeting the state standard.  

Pasco School District received about $232,000 toward audits. Kiona-Benton City School District received just under $44,000 and the Columbia School District in Burbank just under $24,000. 

Pasco schools were the biggest local recipient of the state’s Clean Building Performance Grants, which are to be used to meet the energy standards, such as through operation plans and staff training. The district received $178,000 while the North Franklin School District School District in Connell received just under $78,000.  

BPG Investments IX LLC, the developer currently renovating Tri-Cities Center which will be home to the area’s first Nordstrom Rack beginning this fall, also received about $48,000. 

Columbia Hills becomes WA’s newest appellation

Heads up, wine enthusiasts: there’s a new appellation in Washington’s wine country and there’s already some well-established wineries within it. 

Columbia Hills was recently designated as the state’s 22nd appellation – American Viticultural Area, or AVA – by federal authorities, according to a release from the Washington Wine Commission.  

Fewer than 30,000 acres lie within its boundaries, which cover a thin, 35-mile strip of land between the Columbia River and sheer terraces of the adjacent ridgeline. It stretches between Dallesport just north of The Dalles east nearly to Roosevelt across the river from Arlington, Oregon. 

The appellation is home to four wineries: Maryhill Winery, Cascade Cliffs, Waving Tree Winery and Jacob Willams Winery, according to Northwest Wine Report.  

New tasting room opens for Bledsoe Family Winery

The winery of NFL quarterback and Walla Walla native Drew Bledsoe has opened a new tasting room on the south side of Walla Walla, growing its footprint.  

The location offers indoor and outdoor spaces overlooking the vineyards, as well as the opportunity for events. 

Bledsoe Family Winery broke ground on the new location at 3599 Pepper’s Bridge Road last fall, with representatives telling Northwest Wine Report that the current tasting room in downtown Walla Walla had become too small.  

Bledsoe Family Winery, part of the broader Bledsoe Wine Estates, also operates a tasting room in Bend, Oregon.