Is it the end of Scotty B’s? Plus, Planet Fitness’ new site and Olympia Coffee benefit
Scotty B’s, the well-known 50’s-themed diner in Tenino, closed its doors this week, the latest victim of the coronavirus pandemic and Gov. Jay Inslee’s decision to control the spread of the virus by halting in-restaurant dining.
“I can’t make enough money, so I’m closed at this point,” said Scott Hineline, who opened the restaurant in 1995.
However, if the governor’s order is lifted soon and he qualifies for grant funding through the Thurston Economic Development Council, there’s a chance he will reopen, Hineline said.
“Customers and employees are like family to me,” Hineline said. “That’s the hard part. I love this little town.”
Hineline, 62, first took an interest in restaurants when at 13 he landed a dish-washing job at a place called Red Bull at South Sound Center in the early 1970s. He later graduated from North Thurston High School, attended chef’s school and opened his first restaurant — Scotty B’s Wishbone Cafe — at Capital Mall in 1991. It lasted until 1997, but before it closed, he had already opened the diner in Tenino.
The diner was known for mashed potatoes and gravy, chicken fried steak, fish and chips, burgers, all-day breakfast and even, on occasion, liver and onions, he said.
He had to let his 14 employees go, including a restaurant manager who had been with him for 30 years.
Still, Hineline said he’s not ready to retire — and now he can’t afford to, he confessed.
“I mean I would love to try it,” he said about reopening the business.
But he also worries about whether schools will still be closed even after restaurants are allowed to open. They were a big part of his business. After a game or a concert at one of the area schools, parents and their children often came to the restaurant.
Since closing, he’s heard from people in the community and former employees.
“I can’t even begin to count,” he said.
Other business happenings in Thurston County:
▪ Olympia Coffee Roasting Co. is selling a new coffee and all proceeds will be pooled and disbursed to help employees affected economically by the coronavirus outbreak, the business announced. The coffee, Tip Jar, which comes from a farm in Peru, will be sold in 12-ounce bags through the Olympia Coffee website at https://www.olympiacoffee.com/.
▪ Planet Fitness appears to have plans to open a new location in west Olympia, according to a banner draped across the former Toys R Us building on Cooper Point Road. The Planet Fitness website also identifies a new Olympia location. Planet Fitness already has a gym in Market Square at 720 Sleater Kinney Road SE in Lacey. It is temporarily closed by the governor’s stay-at-home order.
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 March 27, 2020 at 5:45 AM.
