A Tri-City real estate firm is looking beyond Eastern Washington to attract customers now that the Mid-Columbia region has established an international reputation.Nearly 500 people packed the Toyota Center Charter Lounge on Nov. 1 as Windermere Real Estate Tri-Cities revealed its new brand and name to the community: Retter &...

Washington State University Tri-Cities in north Richland was originally a commuter campus.But in recent years, it’s become a destination.Of the 1,868 students enrolled at WSU Tri-Cities, many are coming from out of state.“This is not a commuter school anymore,” said Jeffrey Dennison, WSU Tri-Cities director of marketing and communications. “We’re...

When Rich Cummins became president of Columbia Basin College in 2008, one of his goals was to provide student housing on the Pasco campus.It’s taken some time, but the school’s first on-campus student housing unit should be ready by fall 2017.“When I interviewed for this job in 2008, I said...

Lisa Chapman-Rosa has taken her small Richland company from $40,000 a year in jobs to completing nearly $22 million in projects annually. And after landing a $42 million project about a month ago, Total Site Services expects the upward trend to continue.“I have to keep pinching myself,” Chapman-Rosa said. “It...

By Dennis GisiIs it really a seller’s real estate market?Yes!Why?The reason is somewhat lengthy and complicated. Dennis Gisi,John L. Scott Real EstateI am going to start with a 1999 New York Times article written by Steven H. Holmes published in the New York Times, entitled, “Fannie Mae eases credit to...

As Ruby Tuesday enters its 20th year of franchising, the national restaurant chain has renewed its focus to expand into high-value, target markets—including the Tri-Cities.Of the more than 700 restaurants around the globe, Ruby Tuesday can be found in 44 states, the majority of which are in the Southeast, Northeast,...

By Jeff MorrowPreferred Freezer Services opened up a monster facility in July 2015 in the north part of Richland.The $115 million building dominates the landscape, standing 120 feet tall, with 455,000 square feet of space and 313,000 square feet dedicated to automated freezer space.And it’s about to get bigger with...

The 250-acre Pasco Processing Center will welcome a new tenant in spring 2017.Volm Companies Inc. broke ground in August on a 90,000-square-foot, $8.5 million facility in the 5700 block of Industrial Way inside the business park developed by the Port of Pasco.The company makes mesh bags and other packaging as...

When Railex Wine Services opened a Wallula warehouse big enough to fit 11 football fields inside it three years ago, the company didn’t expect Ste. Michelle Wine Estates to dominate the majority of its space.“It’s great to have an existing customer just prompt you to expand your business and open...

The Port of Kennewick Commission recently awarded a $3.4 million contract to Banlin Construction of Kennewick to build three winery buildings near the cable bridge.The 3,900- to 4,200-square-foot buildings will provide production facilities and small tasting rooms at the Columbia Gardens Wine & Artisan Village on Columbia Drive.In addition, the...