MultiCare clinic will close, a downtown restaurant needs staff, get veggies in a box
MultiCare Family Medicine on Ensign Road in Olympia will close in early February, according to a letter sent to patients that also was shared with The Olympian.
“We are privileged to have been entrusted with your care and we take this responsibility very seriously. We are sad to share with you that MultiCare Family Medicine Olympia is closing effective Feb. 3,” the letter reads.
MultiCare acquired the clinic from UW Medicine prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the pandemic arrived, doctors retired and staff was difficult to retain, spokesman Scott Thompson said.
“The bottom line is we have struggled to maintain staff and physicians at this clinic which has made it financially unsustainable for us to keep open,” he said.
Although the clinic will close, MultiCare is going to keep the space and “look to move other medical services to that location,” Thompson said.
The letter also refers patients to these MultiCare locations: MultiCare Family & Internal Medicine at 1217 Cooper Point Rd SW Unit #2, Olympia, WA 98502, and MultiCare Olympia Family & Internal Medicine at 3920 Capital Mall Dr SW Suite 200, Olympia, WA 98502.
Other business happenings
The Lemon Grass restaurant on Fourth Avenue in downtown Olympia has closed due to a lack of staff, according to a sign attached to a front window.
“We do not currently have a scheduled reopening date,” the sign reads. “You may check back periodically on our website thelemongrassrestaurants.net or on Google for updates on reopening.”
Lemon Grass restaurants in Tumwater and Lacey are open for business, the sign reads. The Tumwater restaurant is at 5801 Capitol Boulevard and the Lacey location is at 8125 Quinault Drive NE.
A farmer-owned cooperative known as the SW WA Growers Association and Food Hub will be selling a multi-farm produce box, beginning Jan. 18 to March 22.
The winter 2023 multi-farm produce box will include winter squash, cabbage, carrots, root vegetables, leeks, Brussels sprouts, onions, garlic, shallots, potatoes, herbs and greens.
Boxes are available for purchase now at www.swwafoodhub.com, or by contacting info@swwafoodhub.com.
Ask about pickup locations. Some of those locations include Whitewood Cider at 728 Fourth Ave E., Olympia, WA 98506, and the microbrewery Headless Mumby at 232 Division St. NW, Olympia, WA 98502.
Speedway Convenience and Gas in Rochester is looking to expand, according to Thurston County information. The business at 19202 Old Hwy 99 SW wants to expand the existing convenience store by 610 square feet and expand from one gas dispenser to two. The applicant also seeks approval to install a new 15,000 gallon underground tank to replace the existing 18,000 gallon tank.
Real Estate
The city of Olympia has received a land-use application for 162 apartments to be spread across seven parcels at 911 Burr Road SE, which is south of Pacific Avenue. The project name is Lansdale Pointe, according to city information.
An information meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 5, the first comment period ends at 5 p.m. Jan. 13 and a design review board meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Feb. 23.
Send comments and questions to Assistant Planner Casey Schaufler at cschaufl@ci.olympia.wa.us.
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.
