Tri-Cities openings: JoAnn Fabrics + New bar & grill + International bubble tea shop
JoAnn Fabric and Crafts will celebrate its big new Kennewick location with a grand opening July 14-16 in the former Sears space at Columbia Center mall.
The first 50 shoppers on each day will receive a JoAnn tote with branded products. Door prizes are also planned.
JoAnn, based in Hudson, Ohio, closed its old store south of Columbia Center as it prepared to double in size with its move to the mall. Its 30,000-square-foot store was built within the footprint of the former Sears, which closed in 2019.
JoAnn is a popular source of crafting and sewing supplies. The new store has entrances into the mall and to the parking lot. The location at the northwest corner of Columbia Center puts it at the forefront of changing traffic patterns in the area once the extension of Center Parkway is complete.
The new store includes a floral department and a Cricut shop offering machines, supplies and tools, as well as an expanded lineup of crafting supplies for children, including Lego and Crayola products.
The fine art department and foodcrafting selections also have been expanded.
Go to stores.joann.com/wa/kennewick/2577/
While Sears lingers on the market, the old Joann location, 751 N. Columbia Center Blvd., isn’t staying empty. Natural Grocers Inc., based in Lakewood, Colo., is preparing to open its first Tri-City location there.
Sharetea in Kennewick
Sharetea, a global bubble tea brand, is preparing to open a location at 128 S. Ely St., Kennewick, near Highway 395 and a former Safeway location.
Kennewick will be the 20th Sharetea store in Washington and the first in Eastern Washington. A Puyallup store is pending as well. Sharetea has six Oregon locations, all concentrated in the greater Portland area.
The Taiwanese chain operates more than 400 stores in 13 countries.
The extensive drinks menu features standards such as classic pearl milk tea, mango green milk tea and Thai pearl milk tea.
Fruit-based offerings include strawberry tea, peach kiwi with aiyu jelly, watermelon lemonade. Desert versions, such as Oreo ice blended with pearl, are available as well.
Go to 1992sharetea.com.
Bucketz Bar & Grill
A new bar and grill is coming to a familiar spot in downtown Kennewick.
Bucketz Bar & Grill will open “soon” at 206 N. Benton St., the spot Ice Harbor Brewery vacated in February as it prepared to move to the nearby Public Market @ Columbia River Warehouse.
Shidalowitz LLC, operating as Bucketz, secured a license to serve spirits, beer and wine on May 17, according to the Washington Department of Revenue.
Clearwater North
A 99-home subdivision is proposed for a 15-acre site at 9496 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick.
The city of Kennewick recently determined the project will not significantly impact the environment as part of a review under the State Environmental Policy Act or SEPA.
The SEPA checklist was submitted by Knutzen Engineering. The property is undeveloped and has not been used for agriculture. When built, the neighborhood is expected to be home to nearly 200 people and will generate about 900 vehicle trips per day.
The homes will be considered “low to medium income housing,” according to the application.
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