Articles by Laura Kostad
Tri-Cities’ own pawn stars find niche in musical equipment
In the market for music equipment? Ed and Moe’s Pawn Shop & Guitar Bar is a store you’ll want to put on your list. It has typical pawn shop items – electronics, power tools, jewelry, collectibles – but Ed and Moe’s puts special focus on providing a replete inventory of secondhand musical instruments, audio equipment…
Longtime Kennewick company begins transition to third generation
A third generation is poised to take over KIE Supply Corp., the iconic 67-year-old Kennewick business. KIE, established in 1955 by Augustan Kittson Sr., is a longtime supplier of irrigation, plumbing, electrical, lighting, appliance and bathroom fixtures for contractors and DIYers through stores in Kennewick, Hermiston, Sunnyside and elsewhere. Its gleaming fixtures sparkle on East…
The pandemic couldn’t close book on Novel Coffee + Teas
It’s not the typical narrative for small business owners. When statewide shutdowns in the wake of Covid-19 closed the Richland Public Library’s doors, its café, Novel Coffee + Teas, shut down with it. Though many businesses took advantage of the lull to re-imagine their brands, spaces and business models, few were faced with the unusual…
City of Kennewick: Forging forward to ‘normal’ despite pandemic
As the Tri-Cities negotiates its second year of the Covid-19 pandemic, cities and private developers alike continue to forge ahead with projects, bringing new services to the community. Despite state and federal level mandates limiting in-person business, tightened budgets and ballooning construction costs, Kennewick – the largest and most densely populated of the four cities…
Columbia Quail supplies bite-size alternative to chicken eggs
Fancy a fancy quail egg? A Pasco farm’s flock supplies them by the dozen to several Tri-City retailers. These quail eggs don’t come from the kind of wild quail commonly seen around the Tri-Cities. The small, speckled eggs are produced by their larger cousin, the Japanese coturnix. These quail look like a small female grouse…
Fresh Leaf Co. puts down new roots in Richland
A forced move amid a pandemic may have been a blessing in disguise for one Kennewick restaurant. Fresh Leaf Co. is moving to Richland with plans to open in March and expand its menu and hours. The restaurant closed the doors of its bright green building after more than five years at 2617 W. Kennewick…
Custom-made metal gallery find niche in Kennewick
Amid pandemic shutdowns and canceled art expos, Knights Welding retooled its business model and opened a Kennewick storefront. The custom-made metal art shop was grateful for a solid holiday shopping season. “Christmas was good for business,” said owner Pat Knight, adding that it’s the shop’s busiest time of the year, punctuated by an uptick in…
Polliwogs Children’s Boutique’s niche is ethical, sustainable apparel
Polliwogs Children’s Boutique prides itself on offering an assortment of ethically and sustainably-sourced baby and children’s apparel, shoes and accessories. “I was actually really surprised that there were as many people who wanted that here,” said owner Alexa Orozco. Part of what motivated her to open the Richland store six years ago was her own…
Epic Trust unites financial services under one roof
Three local financial professionals have launched a new business after merging their separate financial planning, investment management, insurance, tax accounting and bookkeeping companies. “We’re the only firm in town that has all of our disciplines together under one roof. There’s no competitor that we are aware of that can do everything we do, all with…
Port of Benton: Critical foundation in place for 2021 projects
The first months of 2020 welcomed new members to the Port of Benton “We were in the middle of a transition,” said Diahann Howard, executive director for the port, whose jurisdiction includes a population of about 56,050 and a budget totaling $14 million in 2020. Howard, who became executive director in December 2019, hired a…
