Panda Express on Gway + New Boba shop for south Richland + Vinny’s bakery fundraiser
Taestea Boba, the latest shop catering to the Tri-Cities’ appetite for bubble tea, is expected to open by next week in south Richland.
Owner Brandi Dunlap converted a portion of the former Ethos Bakery & Cafe on Keene Road into a boba shop, building on her years of experience running boba outlets in Boise and in Walla Walla.
She brings a banking and small business background to the new venture.
The remaining Ethos space is occupied by Roselilly Bridal & Tuxedo.
Dunlap got into the boba business when she was dating her now-former fiance.
He lived in Boise and operated a boba shop. She lived in Walla Walla and managed a bank branch. The couple decided to build the boba business as a way of spending more time together.
It eventually grew to three spots in Boise and a fourth in Walla Walla, where she noted a large number of customers were from Tri-Cities. When the pair went their separate ways, Dunlap retained her interest in boba, and in the Tri-Cities.
She began working with a real estate broker. Last August, her agent told her about the spot being vacated by Ethos, at Queensgate and Keene. She fell in love with the walkable, heavily-trafficked space. She submitted a winning offer to lease the space.
“It is perfect for me,” she said.
Her boba recipes are all based on popular customer confections developed in her prior businesses. She also created a line of what she calls frappateanos and invites customers to come up with their own blends.
Taestea will focus on boba to begin and then add espresso drinks later. She hopes to add some food items in the future, though from past experience she said boba demand is more than enough to keep staff busy.
Follow Taestea Boba on Facebook.
Ethos Bakery & Cafe, closed the south Richland location in November and is operating from its spot at The Parkway.
Ethos is building a new bakery on Keene, about 500 feet west of its old site. This week, it said it currently expects to open the new spot later this year.
Panda Express Richland
The city of Richland is reviewing a permit application to build a 2,600-square-foot restaurant with drive-thru for Panda Express at 924 George Washington Way.
The spot was cleared in January when crews demolished the old restaurant that once housed Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and later a buffet restaurant.
A second building is anticipated in the future, though it is not part of the pending permit, which is valued at $750,000.
GoFundMe for Vinny’s tax bill
Supporters of Vinny’s Bakerty & Cafe in Pasco have set up a GoFundMe to raise money to repay a tax bill and help the popular restaurant reopen.
The Washingotn Department of Revenue closed Vinny’s over a $69,000 unpaid tax bill on April 25.
Owner Vinicio “Vinny” Marin Gomez told the Tri-City Herald he fell behind through a series of troubles, including a big slowdown during the pandemic. The campaign has raised about $2,0750 of $69,000 sought.
The account was set up by Felix Vargas and Jean Ryckman, a Port of Pasco commissioner acting in her own capacity.
Pasco Burger Company opens
Susanne and Jessie Ayala, the couple behind Ciao Trattoria in downtown Pasco, has opened their newest venture, a hamburger restaurant, at Pasco Specialty Kitchen, 110 N. Fourth Ave., Pasco.
The gourmet burger company dishes up a series of gourmet offerings and one mushroom-based “burger” and chef’s specials such as the Pasco PoPo, made with ham and bacon, American cheese and their own house burger sauce.
The menu includes sides such as garlic fries and onion rings.
Hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday.
Follow Pasco Burger Co. on Facebook for daily specials and updates.
Chukar Cherries award
Chukar Cherries in Prosser brought home a 2023 Good Food Award for its Organic Rainier Cherries. Chukar won in the snacks category.
The awards are presented by the Good Food Foundation during an event in Portland. Judges evaluated more than 2,000 entries in a blind tasting and selected 15 winners in each specialty food category.
The program honors sustainably-produced foods produced in the U.S.
Chukar’s Organic Rainiers are organically grown by Northwest farmers and dried at the company’s Prosser plant. Go to chukar.com.
Hat tip to the Port of Benton for sharing the news.
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