A coffee shop opens downtown, bike repairs return and Lacey apartments sell for $54M
Shelby Haggard’s longtime dream was to open her own business, and so she will Friday, June 10, at the Olympia Press Building, the big orange building at the corner of Capitol Way North and State Avenue.
“I’m excited to be part of downtown and just excited to be a positive influence,” said Haggard, who is opening a coffee shop called The Owl’s Nest.
She had a soft opening for friends and family on Thursday, June 9, but officially opened to the public at 8 a.m. Friday. Her regular hours will be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.
Although this is Haggard’s first business, she has worked in the coffee industry for 20 years, both as an employee and manager.
“It’s nice to have the creative freedom,” she said.
Haggard grew up in the Portland area, so she is using a number of Oregon-based products in her business, such as Trailhead Coffee, dairy products from Lulubelle’s Creamery, and Metolius Tea.
She also is baking her own scones, muffins and biscuits. All are vegan, but people who are unfamiliar with vegan food will still find them delicious, Haggard said.
She hopes her coffee shop becomes a destination for art nights, writing groups and pop-up events for small businesses who need the space.
“I want to support creativity and other businesses,” she said, adding that her business is one of a number of women-owned businesses in the immediate area. Browsers Bookshop, across Capitol Way, is also a woman-owned business.
For now The Owl’s Nest is a coffee shop, but Haggard is considering serving liquor in the future, she said.
Also on Friday, there will be a ribbon cutting with the Thurston County of Chamber of Commerce at 12:30 p.m. at the shop at 116 Capitol Way N.
Other business happenings
Intercity Transit’s Walk N Roll bike shop at 215 Washington St. in downtown Olympia has reopened.
At the shop, volunteers help refurbish donated bikes. These bikes are then given to Thurston County youth who complete IT’s Earn-A-Bike classes.
The bike shop is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
To become a new volunteer, fill out an application and send it to walknroll@intercitytransit.com. No bike mechanic experience is necessary, according to IT.
Meanwhile, the owner of a Crossfit gym is exploring “relocating gym into building” at 2775 29th Ave SW. in Tumwater, according to city of Tumwater information.
Real estate transactions
Los Angeles-based TruAmerica Multifamily has acquired The Dakota, a 156-unit garden-style apartment community in Lacey for $54 million, the company announced Thursday.
The Dakota, at Pacific Avenue and Carpenter Road Southeast, features a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments with open-concept floor plans and an average unit size of more than 1,000 square feet, according to a news release.
“The Dakota represents an attractive value-add opportunity for TruAmerica as nearly 60 percent of the apartment homes have not been significantly renovated since the property was built in 2006,” TruAmerica officials said in the release.
The Seattle office of commercial real estate company Berkadia marketed the property on behalf of the seller, a Bellevue-based private investment firm.
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 June 10, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
