Get chicken wings to go in Olympia, cat cafe coming soon and an opioid clinic is proposed
Buffalo Wild Wings Go, a new takeout and delivery-focused Wild Wings location, opened Thursday at 4131 Martin Way E., Suite 102, the business announced.
It is the chain’s second “go” store in the state, according to the business. The other site is in Lakewood.
“The Olympia Go location will feature a walk-up counter, digital menu boards, and limited seating,” a news release reads. “This location will offer traditional and boneless wings, hand-breaded tenders, chicken sandwiches, burgers, sides, and all 26 Buffalo Wild Wings sauces and seasonings.”
The new site will employ 25 people, according to the business.
Those who order ahead also can pick up their food from individual takeout lockers, providing a “contactless and hassle-free” experience, according to the release.
The new location is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays.
For more information, go to: www.buffalowildwings.com/en/bww-go.
Buffalo Wild Wings also has a dine-in restaurant in west Olympia at Black Lake Boulevard and U.S. Highway 101.
Other business happenings
Wish you could enjoy an espresso-based beverage and gaze at an adorable cat? Well, that wish is about to come true because owner Tiffany Weitzel is planning to open Pawsific Northwest Cat Cafe in Olympia in April.
The original goal was to open in January, but she is still waiting to get a tenant improvement permit from the city and is set to meet with the county health department soon, said Weitzel, who also works as an emergency room nurse and is on the board at Red Rose Animal Rescue in Rochester.
Once ready, Pawsific intends to open in 2,400 square feet of space next to the Ross Dress For Less store on Pacific Avenue near Fones Road.
Although rent is sightly higher at her chosen location, it offers plenty of parking, making it accessible for future customers, she said.
The health department, she said, does not allow the cats to be in the cafe because the business will be serving food. However, the plan is to build a 400-square-foot room within the space where customers will be able to see the cats or visit them separately from the cafe.
Reservations will be required to enter the room, with a maximum of 12 people visiting at any one time, she said. A 50-minute visit with the cafe’s feline friends will cost $15, Weitzel said. Reservations will be available online and in person. The room also will have glass windows so that those in the cafe can watch the cats at play.
And the cats will be available for adoption through the animal rescue she works for in Rochester, she said.
Weitzel used to think of herself as a dog person — she has a dog at home — but one dog is plenty, whereas with cats, she has no problem being around several.
“I like their independence, the different personalities and they are so fun and playful,” Weitzel said.
As for the cafe, it will serve espresso-based drinks, drip coffee, smoothies, energy drinks and other beverages, as well as wine and beer so that the cafe can have a “happy meow-er.”
Other ideas for the space: Weitzel wants to sell the work of local artists by consignment, have “sip and paint” events for customers and do “cocoa and crafts” for children. The cafe, too, will have a child-friendly seating area where they will be able to see into the room of cats.
The cafe hours will start at 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, while the cat room will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Once the business gets a sense of customer demand, the hours are likely to be adjusted, she said.
The Chehalis Tribe proposes to open the Hope and Healing opioid treatment program in Tumwater at 9474 Lathrop Industrial Drive SW, the state Department of Health announced.
“OTPs provide medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder along with counseling and other medical services,” the announcement reads.
The state Department of Health does not own, operate, or provide funding to OTP clinics, according to the announcement.
“The location of an OTP is selected by the proposed program and must be approved by the city and/or county authorities,” the announcement reads.
For more information, go to: www.doh.wa.gov/proposedOTP.
Real estate
Timberland Regional Library’s board of trustees has awarded a contract to Schweisow Contruction of Centralia to build a 3,400-square-foot library on a 1-acre site in Randle, Lewis County.
“The east Lewis County library building is a testament to TRL’s commitment to provide modern, accessible, and innovative library services to the communities within their district and marks a historic moment as it is the first brand new library building to be erected in the region in two decades,” library officials said in a news release.
People news
The Olympia Downtown Alliance, an organization that stages downtown events and advocates on behalf of the area and its businesses, announced its annual awards for 2023 and welcomed three new faces to the board.
The winners:
▪ Person of the Year: Dean Jones, owner of Encore Chocolates and Teas.
▪ Business of the Year: The Popinjay.
▪ Nonprofit of the Year: Hands On Children’s Museum.
▪ Design award: Austin Davis, for his work at 222 Market and mural restoration.
▪ Golden paintbrush: John Tafejian, for helping with geometric murals and LoveOly Painters.
The new board members:
▪ Krista Bentow, western retail operations manager at Dancing Goats Coffee.
▪ Mindy Roberts, associate executive director at Olympia Union Gospel Mission.
▪ Angela Maki, director of communications at Providence Swedish South Puget Sound.
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If you know of a retailer, restaurant, coffee shop or other business that is opening, closing, expanding, remodeling, or changing its focus, send an email to reporter Rolf Boone at rboone@theolympian.com.
