New cocktail bar is bringing back the Rat Pack + Bombing Range boba + Walmart mural

Wendy Culverwell
·4 min read

A Prosser tasting room has been reinvented as a Rat Pack-themed cocktail and cigar bar.

Owners Dana and Sam Hobbs transformed Bill’s Tasting Room at the Prosser Wine and Vineyards into Bill’s Speakeasy, with a Dean Martin era decor and intimate spaces to visit.

Bill’s Speakeasy had a soft opening in late July and will hold its grand opening. Aug. 17-19, with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 6 p.m., Aug. 17, at 1205 Meade Ave., Prosser.

Dana Hobbs managed the tasting room at Prosser Wine and Vineyards. When owner Bill Jenkin mulled shutting it down last year, she took it over. Together with her husband, she revamped the space, secured a license to sell spirits and put her own stamp on the spot.

Bill’s Speakeasy serves wines from Prosser Wine and Vineyards alongside cocktails, craft beer and a food menu that includes crab mac & cheese, chicken & cheese wraps, meats and cheeses, pizza, hot dogs and other small plate items.

Cigars are available and can be smoked outside, on a patio.

Business hours are 2-8 pm., Wednesday-Saturday.

Follow Bill’s Speakeasy on Facebook.

West Richland lands boba shop

Jessica and Ric Gonzalez opened The B Spot Tea Bar at 1523 B Bombing Range Road, West Richland, on Aug. 12, near Yoke’s Fresh Market.

Jessica and Ric Gonzalez opened The B Spot Tea Bar at 1523 B Bombing Range Road, West Richland, on Aug. 12, across from the Yoke’s Fresh Market. Bob Brawdy/bbrawdy@tricityherald.com
Jessica and Ric Gonzalez opened The B Spot Tea Bar at 1523 B Bombing Range Road, West Richland, on Aug. 12, across from the Yoke’s Fresh Market. Bob Brawdy/bbrawdy@tricityherald.com

The first-time entrepreneurs spent a year preparing the space for the boba and tea business. Jessica Gonzalez said the couple wanted to create a family-friendly business and legacy for their three young children.

“I wanted to show that you can do what you set out to,” she said, adding that West Richland doesn’t have many treat shops.

Bobarista Grace Porter helps customer with their drink order The B Spot Tea Bar in West Richland. Jessica and Ric Gonzalez opened the new business at 1523 B Bombing Range Road on Aug. 12. Bob Brawdy/bbrawdy@tricityherald.com
Bobarista Grace Porter helps customer with their drink order The B Spot Tea Bar in West Richland. Jessica and Ric Gonzalez opened the new business at 1523 B Bombing Range Road on Aug. 12. Bob Brawdy/bbrawdy@tricityherald.com

The B Spot serves boba, fruit teas, milk teas and smoothies made with real fruit and not jams. Jessica also sells mini pancakes topped with glazes, fruit and other toppings, though supplies are limited to one large batch per day.

Summer hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and noon-6 p.m., Sunday. it closes at 7 p.m. in the fall.

Follow The B Spot on Facebook.

Jessica Gonzalez recently opened The B Spot Tea Bar with boba, fruit teas, milk teas and smoothies made with real fruit and not jams. Bob Brawdy/bbrawdy@tricityherald.com
Jessica Gonzalez recently opened The B Spot Tea Bar with boba, fruit teas, milk teas and smoothies made with real fruit and not jams. Bob Brawdy/bbrawdy@tricityherald.com

Walmart wraps up remodel

Walmart unveiled a Kennewick-themed mural over an entrance to its its updated store at 2720 S. Quillan St. on Aug. 4 following a storewide facelift. The mural program is installing local art at stores across America. Image courtesy Walmart Inc.
Walmart unveiled a Kennewick-themed mural over an entrance to its its updated store at 2720 S. Quillan St. on Aug. 4 following a storewide facelift. The mural program is installing local art at stores across America. Image courtesy Walmart Inc.

Walmart Inc. celebrated the recent remodel of its Kennewick store by unveiling a Columbia River-themed mural during an Aug. 4 ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The mural, which is above one of the store’s entrances, is part of the company’s Community Mural Program, which is bringing art to stores across the country.

The +$1-million remodel updated the grocery area, pharmacy, online and pick up areas and installed new signs and landscaping.

The store, led by manager Carly Rooney, presented grants totaling $14,000 to area nonprofits during the program.

Herald alum honored as wine champion

Andy Perdue, a former Tri-City Herald editor, was honored by the Auction of Washington Wines with a 2023 Toast! award for his work championing the state’s wine industry.

The Toast! award were presented Aug. 10 as part of the 36th annual Auction of Washington Wines program.

Perdue is a third-generation journalist who, together with Eric Degerman, left the Herald in 2013 to launch Great Northwest Wine, a magazine covering the Northwest’s wine industry..

Perdue also served as wine columnist for The Seattle Times from 2013-19 while writing a guidebook to the Northwest wine industry and supplying articles for other publications.

Read Degerman’s touching report on the Wine Industry Champion award at bit.ly/47vpXhY

The other honorees were Ted Baseler, president and CEO emeritus of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Marty Clubb of L’Ecole No. 41, Gary McLean of GMMD Consulting, Hedges Family Estate and Eduardo Zaragoza of Shaw Vineyards.

The 2023 Auction of Washington Wines, held Aug. 11 at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville, raised $4 million to support Seattle Children’s, Washington State University’s wine program and Vital Wines, a nonprofit serving wine industry workers.

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