Hairstylists and salon owners around the state got Washington legislators’ attention this session when they turned out in massive numbers to oppose measures that targeted booth rentals, as well as independent contracting. In the Washington state Senate and House, Democratic lawmakers introduced bills to change and tighten the definition of an independent contractor in...
A Kennewick business owner wasn’t toosurprised when 60 Tri-City businesses stepped up to participate in a grassroots“shop local’ initiative prompted by Mother Nature’s snowfall.“I think it’s something that I haveseen so many times here — these instances of camaraderie among smallbusinesses,” said Olivia Berg, owner of BlankSpace, a Kennewick event...
Sale of company changes name to FirstFruit FarmsThequiet sale of one of the state’s largest apple companies means Broetje Orchardshas a new name: FirstFruit Farms. Thesale closed at the end of 2018 and the business now operates under threeentities: FirstFruits Farms LLC, FirstFruits Marketing LLC and FirstFruitsCommunity LLC. Financialterms of...
By Andy PerdueMore than anywinery in Washington, Richland’s Barnard Griffin has a well-earned reputationas a leader in the Northwest’s burgeoning rosé wine market.Now thelongtime winery is testing a new kind of innovative packaging: putting wine inan aluminum can.Along the WestCoast and in the Northwest, more wineries are putting wine in...
A proposed tax break for smallwineries is working its way through the Washington Legislature. The bill by Sen. Judy Warnick, R-MosesLake, addresses wineries producing 50,000 gallons or less a year — exemptingthem from paying the state wine tax on their first 20,000 gallons. Sen. Judy Warnick“I’m for the little guy,” Warnicksaid.Owners of...
By Jennifer L. DreyThe Washington Hospitality Associationis hoping to see more job seekers land work in the hospitality industry thisyear through a proposed bill in the state Legislature.The bill would provide $150,000 for theassociation’s nonprofit educational wing to use to hold career fairs focused onon-the-job-learning opportunities, said David Faro, director...
When he was young, Tim Krantz wantedto be a doctor so he could take care of people.But that dream never came true for theRichland man.Instead, Krantz has spent the last 22years working in the restaurant industry, taking care of his employees andcustomers.As the director of operations foreight Olive Garden restaurants...
By D. Patrick JonesNearly allcommunities want to be popular with visitors. The sentiment has sound economicsbehind it since visitors bring new dollars into the local economy. Their visitscatalyze economic transactions that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. Thereare, of course, other, non-monetary reasons to embrace visitors, such asintroducing the outside world to...
By Robert HarringtonA cohesive and well-researched strategy for a wine andbeverage list is a key component of a successful restaurant, bar or tastingroom. This approach entails defining and assessing competitors,identifying targeted customers and what sort of menu approach is likely to bemost successful. Once these aspects are identified, better decisions...
Brief background about your hotel:The late Tom Drumheller, with Escape Lodging of CannonBeach, Oregon, worked on the Lodge at Columbia Point hotel project for morethan 12 years. He finally broke ground on his dream in September 2015. He grewup in Walla Walla and had the vision for a boutique winery-themed...
