Rite Aid closing area store, plus a cidery taproom opens in Tumwater craft district
Rite Aid is closing its store on Martin Way near Marvin Road in Lacey, the business announced.
The store at 8230 Martin Way E. will close Sept. 27. The following day all prescription files will be transferred to the Walgreens at 8333 Martin Way E.
The Olympian reached out to Rite Aid media relations about why the store was closing. Here’s their response:
“Like all retail businesses, we regularly review each of our locations to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers, communities and overall business. A decision to close a store is one we take very seriously and is based on a variety of factors including business strategy, lease and rent considerations, local business conditions and viability, and store performance.”
Other business happenings
Finnriver Farm & Cidery, which operates on a 50-acre organic farm in Chimacum near Port Townsend, is opening a Tumwater taproom in the Tumwater Craft District Building at 4200 Capitol Blvd. S.
As part of the opening, the 16-tap taproom is having a Fall Equinox opening celebration at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22.
“While our roots are rural, the idea of creating an urban community space that is neighborhood oriented and extends our mission to grow connections has been an exciting endeavor,” said co-founder Crystie Kisler in a statement. “After receiving an invitation to participate in the new Tumwater Craft District building, we knew this would be the right opportunity for us to take this leap.”
“As an organic farm we are deeply tied to the seasons, with fall representing harvest and pressing season. The Fall Equinox feels like the perfect time to celebrate opening this new taproom,” Finnriver co-founder Eric Jorgenson added.
Finnriver’s head cider maker is also teaching cider-making at South Puget Sound Community College’s Craft Brewing and Distilling program, Kisler said.
The Tumwater Craft District site is so far made up of two buildings: the SPSCC building, which also includes Heritage Distilling, and the building that houses Finnriver Taproom and other businesses.
Interstate Honda of Chehalis had its official grand opening and ribbon cutting Thursday at 1820 NW Louisiana Ave. at I-5 and exit 72. The dealership is open daily and offers EV charging stations, the business announced.
This is the second Honda dealership John Csernotta has opened in Washington state since purchasing his first in Aberdeen six years ago.
Csernotta has spent 38 years in the auto industry, including 20 years with Ford Motor Company. He also was a vice president at J.D. Power and Associates for 10 years, according to a news release.
The Port of Chehalis will receive $3.14 million to build a new grain storage and rail facility to store, load and unload grain, the office of U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced.
The funding comes from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.
“The new grain storage and loading facility at the Port of Chehalis will support 50 local jobs, develop Southwest Washington’s grain industry, and help more farmers grow barley by increasing access to new and existing markets around the country and the world,” Cantwell said in a statement.
The EDA award will be matched with $1.8 million in state and local funds. Once completed, the grain storage and rail transport facility is estimated to generate up to $3 million in annual economic activity and attract $3.4 million in private investments for the region.
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.
