Our annual list of the most-read stories on the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business’ website covered a range of topics — from restaurant sales, moves and closures and hotel openings to Trios Health’s financial crisis, float spas and supercars.A story we wrote last year about the opening of Panera Bread...

Lobbying for federal funding, supporting entrepreneurs, adding new flights among its goalsAfter celebrating two major projects boosting the region’s employment in 2017 — the extensive Lamb Weston potato processing plant expansion and the opening of the AutoZone distribution center— the Tri-Cities Development Council is looking ahead to 2018.On the economic...

Path to raise $10 million to build new mission is six years in the makingAndrew Porter recently walked on the cement around the steel beams at what will become the new Tri-City Union Gospel Mission next year, and tried unsuccessfully to contain his excitement.“It’s becoming more real,” said the executive director...

A new design for Chuck E. Cheese’s will roll out in the Tri-Cities next fall when the Richland restaurant reopens in a new location and a new city.Construction is underway at 6340 W. Rio Grande Ave. near North Kellogg Street in Kennewick, about a block south of the McDonald’s that...

The past six months have been a flurry of activity at Columbia Industries with the creation of a new vision and hiring a new CEO to execute it.“We’ve spent the past six months reinventing ourselves,” said interim CEO Bob Rosselli, who has volunteered and served three terms, or 18 years,...

A former Pasco vegetable processing plant will reopen in spring under new ownership and a new name following a shutdown after a listeria outbreak last year.The food processing facility at 1825 N. Commercial Ave. was previously owned by CRF Frozen Foods. An overhaul, expansion and new joint venture to operate...

Uber soon will be able to pick up passengers in Pasco after the city council decided Dec. 4 to eliminate fingerprint requirements for drivers.The city’s new rule goes into effect Dec. 15.Ride-share company Uber launched in the Tri-Cities last year but couldn’t pick up passengers in Pasco because it couldn’t...

A HoneyBaked Ham restaurant and retail store known for its smoked, glazed spiral hams will open in the Tri-Cities this month.HoneyBaked Ham and Café will be at 731 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Suite 122, in the Columbia Summit shopping center in Kennewick, across the parking lot from Planet Fitness, The...

Benton REA is warning its members and residents of the Tri-Cities to be aware of door-to-door scammers attempting to collect payment on Benton REA electric bills.The electric co-operative received reports that the scammers were asking residents who wanted to pay by check to leave the “pay to” area of the...

Fowler General Construction of Richland received the ENR (Engineering News-Record) Regional Best Project award for the Northwest region in the K-12 education category for the construction of Desert Hills Middle School in Kennewick.The annual program is dedicating to honoring the best construction projects and the companies that designed and built them....