Longtime Lacey business closes, chocolatier moves and food distributor mulls merger
Howard’s Cleaners, long a Lacey fixture on Pacific Avenue near Fred Meyer, closed at the end of 2020 after 50 years in business, it announced on social media and in a note on the front door.
“We regret to inform you that after five decades of serving the Thurston County area, we can no longer continue to do business,” the Facebook post reads. “Our hopes were to continue to struggle through to the end of the pandemic, but we cannot make it through another mandated shutdown.
“We want to thank you for all your past patronage. We are very thankful and grateful to have you as our customer (and friend).”
Other business happenings
Downtown Olympia business Bittersweet Chocolates, which got its start on Washington Street across from the performing arts center, has moved to The Lurana at 203 Columbia St. NW, according to its website.
“However, we are currently closed for walk-in retail sales, but you can still order chocolates online through our website for curbside pickup, free local delivery, and U.S. Postal Service shipping, weather permitting,” the website reads.
Two independent convenience store distributors — Lacey-based Harbor Wholesale and Portland, Oregon-based Rich and Rhine Wholesale — are exploring a merger of the family-owned companies, they announced in a joint statement.
Harbor Wholesale operates distribution centers in Lacey and Roseburg, Oregon. The partnership with Rich and Rhine would provide Harbor with an opportunity to establish a Portland hub and serve markets in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. The combined companies would serve nearly 4,000 independent retailers throughout the Northwest.
Splash Gallery’s store on Percival Landing might be closed, but the business is very much open for business online, gallery director Laurel Henn said.
“Over the past 10 months we have re-imagined our gallery experience,” Henn said in a news release. “We limited our hours for several months and now we are taking the opportunity to enhance our online shopping experience while we refresh our interior space. When we reopen our doors, we will provide art lovers with an even better in-store experience and we are making plans to resume our regular receptions and participation in local events.”
The gallery can be found online at https://www.splashgalleryolympia.com/. Artwork ordered from the Splash online store is available for contact-free curbside pickup 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays.
Tumwater-based Triceratops Brewing is kicking off the month of February with a limited release called barrel-aged Breakfast Brown, the business announced. It’s the third beer from Triceratops to have spent time in whiskey barrels.
Breakfast Brown is available at select retailers throughout western Washington, both on draft and in 500-milliliter bottles. It’s also available in to-go bottles, 32-ounce growlers, and 64-ounce growlers at the Triceratops tasting room, 8036 River Drive SE #203, Tumwater.
