Vic’s has plans for 3rd pizzeria, fitness biz closes suddenly, 376 apartments pitched
Vic’s Pizzeria, know for its neighborhood spots in west Olympia and at Wildwood on Olympia’s Capitol Boulevard, has plans to open a third location, the business announced on its Instagram page.
Owner Joe Andreotti told The Olympian Thursday he is aiming to open the new site, which has the working name of Vic’s Eastside, at 2124 Pacific Ave. SE in the fall. That’s the former home of radio station KRXY 94.5 FM, also known as Roxy.
The building won’t be torn down, but it will be gutted and redesigned, he said, emphasizing bike parking and outdoor spaces. The pandemic forced restaurant owners to serve diners outside, but people also like it, he said.
“Everybody really enjoys eating outside,” he said. He envisions two large covered areas on the north and south sides of the new restaurant.
The new space is twice the size of the Wildwood location, so the layout will feel different from the other sites, although the focus will be on pizza and craft beverages. Andreotti, the parent of a 3-year-old, also wants a space for the younger set, he said.
Radio station co-owner and property owner Mike Marohn confirmed the sale of the building to the pizza business. That transaction closed March 14, according to Thurston County Assessor’s Office information.
“The restaurant should be an excellent fit for the neighborhood,” Marohn said.
The radio station is in the process of moving to 1934 Fourth Ave. E., across the street from the new Left Bank Pastry location, he said.
Before the building was home to a radio station, it belonged to a bank for a number of years. Before 1985, it was a gas station, Andreotti said.
Other business happenings
Crunch Fitness, a gym off Pacific Avenue in Olympia near Albertsons, has closed, according to a sign at the business and comments on its Facebook page. A check of the location also shows that the space is vacant.
The business opened a little more than a year ago, according to The Olympian’s previous reporting. Former Crunch customers reached out to The Olympian about the status of the business, so we reached out to them through an email on the Facebook page.
Here’s the reply we received:
“Yes, the club is now closed,” the email reads. “All memberships have been canceled and so has the billing.”
Remember the Skippers location near South Sound Center on Pacific Avenue? It is long gone, but if you find yourself craving their seafood, it can still be found in Thurston County.
A reader writes that Skippers has a takeout location inside the Villa Grove Foodliner store at 9200 Littlerock Road SW. The Olympian confirmed that location, then learned that’s not the only place in the county to find more Skippers.
Bailey’s IGA store in Rochester also offers a limited Skippers menu, Nisqually Markets on Yelm Highway does the same, and there’s one more: Dylan’s Corner Market at 15201 Vail Road SE in Yelm.
For more information about the “Skippers Go Fleet,” check the Skippers website.
Real estate
MJR Development of Kirkland, a commercial real estate company that has acquired and redeveloped a number of buildings around Huntamer Park in Lacey, has submitted plans to the city to create a mixed-use development, including 376 apartments, at a site between the park and College Street on Seventh Avenue.
MJR intends to develop two, 5-story apartment buildings that would house the 300-plus apartments.
“The project includes approximately 18,000 square feet of ground floor commercial and retail space in the north building,” the city information reads.
City officials deemed the application complete on April 26 and there is a comment period on the proposal that ends at 5 p.m. May 10. If you want to comment, send your thoughts in an email to senior project planner Sarah Schelling at sschelli@ci.lacey.wa.us.
Banking
Olympia Federal Savings has released its year-end financial report for the fiscal year that ended in March.
Some highlights:
▪ The thrift reported assets totaling $921.5 million, up 6.9%, or $59.5 million, from the year-ago period that started April 1.
▪ It originated 428 residential and consumer loans totaling $127.4 million.
▪ It originated 43 business and commercial loans totaling $43.7 million.
▪ It contributed more than $461,000 in charitable support and sponsorships to more than 180 health and human service, arts, education, environmental, housing and youth-focused organizations. The donations represent 10 percent of the organization’s net income for the year, according to the thrift.
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.
This story was originally published May 5, 2023 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Vic’s has plans for 3rd pizzeria, fitness biz closes suddenly, 376 apartments pitched."
