There came a time during the pandemic when Jubert and Theresa Javonillo knew they had to save their restaurant, Dagupan Grill, in Kennewick.“At the beginning of the pandemic, it was really scary,” Theresa said. “We had to shut down. It was like a nightmare. So we were really scared in...

Tim Bush, a prominent Tri-Cities developer, is shifting gears again but not too far away from cars.Bush, president of Bush Development, began in the car business and shifted into the car wash business. With the sale of the former Bush Car Washes to Arizona-based Mister Car Wash in 2020, he’s...

For 28 years, Paleteria La Jalpita has been handcrafting icy Mexican treats on a stick in downtown Pasco.“We have six pots a day, with each pot producing 800 paletas, for 4,800 total paletas a day,” said Rom Romero, whose dad, Jesus Romero, owns the shop.Paletas are Mexican ice pops that...

Cathy and John Franklin were vacationing with family in Arizona one year ago and watching television when former President Donald Trump advised citizens to avoid groups of more than 10.As the couple watched the president and Dr. Anthony Fauci address the Covid-19 threat, they felt the weight of the coming...

When anyone asks the owner of Tumbleweeds Mexican Flair about his plans, he likes to quip: “I am just honored that you think I have a plan.”The past year has been a lesson in flying by the seat your pants at the family-owned restaurant at 894 Stevens Drive in Richland.But...

Visit Tri-Cities offering free wine passportVisit Tri-Cities is offering a free wine passport filled with deals to encourage visitors to check out the region’s wineries.Deals include being a wine club member for a day and discounts on wine purchases, wine tastings and food at 20 different wineries from Pasco to...

Viticulturist Matt Halldorson came from Arizona to make the vineyards of the Yakima Valley his professional home, working most recently for the biggest of the big, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates.In February, he made another big move when he left the mega producer to join Kiona Vineyards and Winery, the family-owned...

In a little more than two years, Pasco’s Grocery Outlet validated the decision to open on Road 68.Of the 150 or so Grocery Outlets dotting the Northwest, Pasco recorded the biggest growth in sales in 2020, said Charles Grimm, who operates the store with his wife, Janice.The Grimms opened the...

A state grant is helping a West Richland custom slaughter business grow to meet rising demand from small farmers and ranchers.Gene’s Custom Slaughter, owned since 1993 by Stacy McCorkle, used the grant to buy and equip two trucks to travel to customers through the Mid-Columbia. McCorkle is training his son...

Of all the shocks that buffeted the Tri-Cities last year, here’s one that few people know about: the economy grew in late summer and early fall.In data just out from Washington State’s Department of Revenue, taxable retail sales went up by 4% from the third quarter of 2019. Even more...