Lawnmower biz closes, a new primary care clinic opens and Lacey land sells for $10.5M
Hope’s Lawnmower, a business that operated for 63 years on Henderson Boulevard in Tumwater, has closed.
Al Hope closed the business this month, his life partner Judy Sides announced in a news release.
“I appreciate your loyalty as my customers,” Hope said in a statement. “Thank you for your business, for trusting in me — without you, I couldn’t have made it. I will miss returning from my travels each February to open the season for the wonderful people of this community.”
The business sold and serviced lawnmowers for 45 years, then turned to just repairs. Hope later handed off the repair work and focused on recycling lawnmowers, including those that were dropped off by area residents.
“His daily routine included enjoying his old customers, welcoming new members to the community, meeting with many around his shop pellet stove and sharing coffee drinks from the espresso bar conveniently located in his parking lot,” the news release reads.
Hope currently is in the process of moving 63 years of stuff to a home in Rochester. Meanwhile, his Henderson Boulevard property is on the verge of being sold to a developer that plans to build a 45-lot subdivision. The sale closes Nov. 4.
Other business happenings
Kinwell Medical Group has opened a new primary care clinic at 510 State Ave. NE in downtown Olympia.
Launched in 2021, Kinwell is an exclusive primary care option for those insured by Premera Blue Cross, Premera Blue Cross Medicare plans, LifeWise Health Plan of Washington, and BlueCard holders, according to a new release.
The clinic says its average wait time for a new patient appointment is less than 24 hours.
A Rainier-based business called From The Field is considering creating a warehouse for processing catnip, according to Thurston County pre-submission conference information. A pre-submission conference is held so that business owners or developers can get feedback from the county before they embark on their projects.
“We currently operate in our building at 208 Binghamton Drive in Rainier but we need to expand,” a narrative summary reads. “In a nutshell, we quietly hand pack and fill bags and tubs of catnip, cut fabric to make our hemp cat toys, then pack and staple them.”
The business sells its finished products wholesale to more than 2,000 pet stores in the U.S. and overseas. “Our market is still 90 percent U.S., 10 percent international,” the summary reads.
A liquor store and warehouse has been proposed at 19611 Vision Drive SW in Rochester, according to Thurston County pre-submission conference information. The project proposes to construct a 3,000-square-foot liquor store with an associated 4,800-square-foot warehouse.
Real estate transaction
Lacey-based Britton Lots, a 29-acre site at 6655 Britton Parkway NE, has sold for $10.5 million, the commercial real estate brokerage Marcus & Millichap announced Thursday.
The buyer is a developer and the seller is a real estate management company. Timothy Ufkes and Rich Day of the Ufkes Group in Marcus & Millichap’s Seattle office represented both parties.
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 October 28, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
