Downtown Olympia restaurant expands, more housing pitched on the city’s east side
The downtown restaurant Uptown Grill at 514 Capitol Way S. has expanded into the former coffee shop space next door.
The coffee shop run by Batdorf & Bronson, which later changed its name to Dancing Goats Coffee, moved its coffee business to the corner of Capitol Way and Legion Way, which had been a Starbucks.
With the expanded space, Uptown Grill can now seat up to 200 customers, said co-owner Michelle Nurmi, who runs the business with chef Pedro Gallegos-Martinez.
The added space allows Uptown Grill to host special events and it has what Nurmi calls a speakeasy upstairs, a bar with a nightclub feel.
It’s quite a turnaround for the restaurant which opened its doors in July 2020, in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Nurmi and Gallegos-Martinez, both of whom have Seattle restaurant backgrounds, have made it work.
“Great food, great service and we care about our guests,” she said. She runs the front of the house and he runs the kitchen. And both are regularly on site, she said.
The expanded space on its own can seat up to 110 customers, Nurmi said.
What’s on the menu? Ribeye steaks, salads, salmon, pastas and vegan options, she said.
“We have a huge menu,” Nurmi said.
Uptown Grill is open 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. Sunday brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and features “bottomless Mimosas,” Nurmi said.
Other business happenings
The West Central Park Neighborhood Center, which was developed by Olympia resident Alicia Elliott at Harrison Avenue and Division Street on the city’s west side, is rolling out the fun on Dec. 16.
Here’s what’s happening:
Saturday Market Holiday Edition: The market will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include crafts, food, holiday singing and what Elliott is calling the “merry mascots.”
Kabocha Food Truck: The food truck will have its soft opening. The menu features Japanese fusion with tempura and musubi sandwiches, as well as Asian-inspired soups. They will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Marie Yuletide Event: An open house-style event for the on-site bed and breakfast with live Christmas jazz from Almost Blue. There will be hot drinks and fresh baked treats and tours. This event is from 1 to 3 p.m.
West Central Park: There will be a holiday lighting event and a tree trimming from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The community is invited to make and bring ornaments to add to the tree. Park staff will serve warm cider and cookies. Artists are also invited to come contribute items to a little free art gallery.
Real estate
Representatives of the publicly traded home builder Century Communities met with the city of Olympia’s site plan review committee on Wednesday to get feedback on a proposal to bring a mix of housing to a site on Wiggins Road Southeast at Morse-Merryman Road Southeast.
“Wiggins Road Residential represents a planned subdivision of 18.70 acres into 109 single-family lots,” the narrative description reads. “The planned project will provide a mix of housing types with alley-loaded townhomes and traditional detached front-loaded homes.”
The Site Plan Review Committee provides feedback on potential projects before developers take more official steps with the city.
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 December 1, 2023 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Downtown Olympia restaurant expands, more housing pitched on the city’s east side."
