Ice cream biz bounces back, Providence announces acquisition, update on new steakhouse
Sunshine Scoop Ice Cream in Lacey, which opened 20 months ago near Costco, was burglarized in late May, owner Tara Yoder said.
About 4 a.m. May 25, Yoder received a phone call from a security service, and arrived at her business to see multiple Lacey police officers in her parking lot and a smashed front door, she said. The business had been burglarized, Yoder said.
Stealing from an ice cream shop? “Pretty low,” said Yoder.
The business closed on May 25, then reopened the next day. The business has insurance, although it will have to meet a deductible, plus she plans to dip into savings to pay employees who missed a day of work, describing them as “young adults who need the income.”
The business is also going to get a little help via a “cash mob” in which people gather to spend money at the ice cream shop. That gathering is set for 1 p.m. Thursday, June 8.
Meanwhile, the business has expanded to offer ice cream sandwiches and pints to go, and is one of the few ice cream shops to offer black licorice flavor. Other popular flavors include cookies and cream, caramel macchiato and honey lavender.
Sunshine is open 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and 1 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Come summertime those hours will be extended by an hour to 9 p.m. and 10 p.m, respectively.
Sunshine is at 8640 Martin Way E. Lacey, Suite H.
Other business happenings
Providence Swedish South Puget Sound, which operates Providence St. Peter Hospital, has acquired Olympia Obstetrics and Gynecology, the two organizations announced Thursday.
The obstetrics practice will change its name to Providence Swedish Obstetrics and Gynecology Olympia.
“Our mission and vision aligned, leading us to our decision to work in an employed specialty practice model,” said Dr. Laurie Sorenson, a founding partner of Olympia Obstetrics, in a statement. “Together, we will be able to ensure that our community has access to the highest level of specialty services for women for years to come.”
Sorenson also serves as the medical director of Women’s and Children’s Services at Providence St. Peter Hospital. Olympia Obstetrics and Gynecology PLLC formed following the closure of Memorial Clinic in 2001, according to a news release.
“As health care changes in our country, it is becoming more difficult for independent physician practices to recruit and grow their services,” a news release reads. “Providence Swedish Obstetrics and Gynecology Olympia will work to recruit OBGYN physicians and will continue to look at avenues to grow the breadth of services.”
What’s the latest on 1889 Prime Steakhouse? That’s the restaurant that is going to occupy ground floor space at Views on Fifth, the downtown Olympia apartment building that overlooks Capitol Lake and Budd Inlet.
Steakhouse co-owner Drew MacEwen, who is also a 35th District state lawmaker, says they are working with a Northwest farm to provide their beef, they have taste-tested desserts, and staff training begins June 13. The business could open at the end of June or early July, he said.
MacEwen acknowledged the restaurant hasn’t come together as quickly as he would have liked, but that’s the nature of a new build out.
“It doesn’t always go smoothly,” he said.
A group proposing to transform downtown Olympia’s Carnegie Library building into a “whiskey library” met with the city of Olympia’s site plan review committee last week, receiving feedback about what will be expected of the proposal should it move forward.
One requirement is that the business will need to extend water line service from the intersection of Legion Way and Franklin Street to the building. Although the building is connected to sewer, there is no water service along Seventh Avenue Southeast and Franklin Street, a city official said.
The library building is at 620 Franklin St. The water line extension is needed in order to support an underground fire line, the official said.
Ron Thomas, president of Thomas Architecture Studios, which is working with the whiskey library developer, was puzzled by the lack of water service in the area.
“It’s dumbfounding (the site) can be right in the middle of the city and there’s no good water service,” he said.
Downtown Olympia’s first brewpub to close, plus city set to hear ‘whiskey library’ plan
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.
