Olympia Pinball Museum and Lacey Planet Fitness reopen, Browser’s again OK for browsing
The Olympia Pinball Museum, a new pinball destination on Capitol Way in downtown Olympia, opened with great fanfare on March 1. Two weeks later, the business had to close because of COVID-19.
Now, the pinball business is set to reopen Friday, co-owner Tonya Bergum said this week, and it will operate only Fridays and Saturdays as the area works its way through the pandemic.
Staff will be wearing masks and gloves, and customers will be asked to bring their own masks, she said. The business also will have gloves available for customers, plus laminated placement cards to remind patrons about social distancing. Under Phase 3 of the governor’s reopening plan for the economy, the business can only have a limited number of customers, Bergum said.
The pinball business will be open 3-7 p.m. Fridays and 1-7 p.m. Saturdays, she said. Because of the limited capacity, the business is charging adults $20 for an all-day pass and $15 for children.
During the museum’s forced closure, the business, as so many did, turned to GoFundMe to raise a few extra bucks. They raised around $2,000, Bergum said.
“It was enough to help,” she said.
Other business happenings
The Planet Fitness location in Lacey, across from Fred Meyer, has reopened. Expect more cleaning and social distancing because of COVID-19. Employee temperatures also will be checked daily, according to the business.
The west Olympia location, which is expected to fill a portion of the former Toys ‘R’ Us on Cooper Point Road Southwest, could open in the fourth quarter of this year, barring any further delays caused by the pandemic.
Browsers Bookshop in downtown Olympia is now open for browsing, the business announced. The store is asking customers to wear masks and to engage in “purposeful browsing.”
“We are asking for your patience as we prioritize a sanitized and socially distanced space,” the owner said in a June newsletter.
Browsers is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
Gravity Coffee has received land-use approval from the city of Olympia for a new, 573-square-foot espresso stand at 3500 Pacific Ave. SE.
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.
