Restaurant opens in Lacey, Tenino farm wins award, housing projects emerge and advance
Jinu Choi, who two years ago opened a Korean restaurant in Lacey called Bulgogi Hustle, is at it again by opening a second restaurant in the same area.
This time, though, he has looked to Hawaii for inspiration by opening Pirates Poke and Sip in the Lacey Downs Plaza at 5805 Lacey Boulevard SE, otherwise known as the home of the Lacey post office.
The business opened Sept. 16, Choi said.
So what’s a Poke bowl? It’s a bowl of rice topped with the customer’s choice of ingredients that typically features a certain kind of protein: raw tuna or raw salmon. Pirates Poke has both, but for those who aren’t into raw fish, they also have bowls that feature fried chicken or fried shrimp. Toppings run the gamut, from chickpeas to seaweed salad to Korean kimchi, the spicy cabbage dish.
Choi, who just turned 37 and recently became a U.S. citizen, is originally from a small town near Busan, South Korea. He came to the U.S. 13 years ago to study at Brigham Young University and later relocated to the Northwest. He lives in Tumwater.
Choi studied business in school and gravitated toward the food business, calling it meaningful work that gives him a chance to meet people. He also enjoys raw fish, Hawaiian culture and he’s a fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
When he was young, he wanted to be the captain of a ship, he said.
PIrates Poke and Sip is open 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
Other business happenings
Colvin Ranch in Tenino has received the Slow Food Snail of Approval Award, Experience Olympia and Beyond announced.
Experience Olympia and Beyond is Thurston County’s visitor and convention bureau.
Although Experience Olympia made the announcement, the award is administered by Slow Food USA and was awarded by the Slow Food Greater Olympia chapter
The award recognizes food businesses that embody values that yield food that is “good, clean and safe for all by committing to responsible sourcing, environmental impact, cultural connections, community involvement, staff support, and business values,” according to a news release.
The Colvin family has raised grass-fed beef in Tenino since 1854. The grass-fed and finished beef often takes as much as a year longer to raise and be ready for harvest as compared to beef that is finished on grain, according to the release.
“Our grazing program enables us to work with nature to efficiently utilize native plants while preserving and protecting some of the last remaining native prairies in Southwest Washington,” owner Jennifer Colvin said in a statement.
Chicory Restaurant in downtown Olympia also has received a Slow Food Snail of Approval award.
Real estate projects
A developer proposes to bring townhomes to Lacey’s urban growth area, according to a notice of application announced by Thurston County.
The project is at 2504, 2544 and 2602 Marvin Road SE.
“The applicant proposes to subdivide 6.69 acres into 56 townhome lots and open space tracts for critical area preservation, tree preservation, pedestrian and community access, and natural vegetation retention,” the notice reads. “A public road system will be constructed to provide access to all lots. As part of development, the applicant requests a forest land conversion to harvest 6.3 acres of trees.”
The comment period ends at 4 p.m. Nov. 7. Send your comments to Associate Planner Abbie Adams at abbie.adams@co.thurston.wa.us.
Morel Meadows, a D.R. Horton pitched project that aims to bring 179 single-family lots to the former Ostrom’s mushroom farm in Lacey, is advancing through the land-use process, according to the city.
The Lacey Department of Community Development has issued a mitigated determination of non-significance relative to the environmental impact of the project.
Based on that determination an environmental impact statement is not required.
“The subdivision is designed as a Planned Residential Development, which provides for flexibility in zoning requirements, specifically related to the minimum lot sizes,” the city information reads. “The site is located within the Low Density Residential Zoning District, which requires a density range of 3 to 6 dwelling units per acre. The base density range for the project is 96 to 193 units.”
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.
