West side eatery gets new name and owner, Hawaiian in-home care business expands to Olympia
The El Sarape in west Olympia has changed its name to Charro, and The Olympian reached out to owner Rodrigo Rodriguez to explain the transition.
Rodriguez, the longtime operator of the west side Mexican restaurant site, decided to buy the business from his brother Carlos, who he described as a silent partner in El Sarape, which continues to run locations in Shelton and Lacey, according to its website.
The change technically took place last June, but has been rolled out slowly over the ensuing months, he said. It also represents freedom for Rodriguez, who said he can now run the business as he sees fit rather than having to answer to a larger restaurant operation.
“It’s a weight that has been lifted for me,” he said.
But he wants the dining public to know that the business wasn’t sold to a stranger. The restaurant is largely the same as before, with the same staff and menu, including its popular vegan menu, he said.
“It’s a balance of adding new things and keeping the things that people love,” Rodriguez said.
Charro is at 955 Black Lake Blvd. SW. It’s open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Happy hour is 2 to 5 p.m. daily.
Do you know the Stardust Salon?
The Stardust Salon was founded in September 2023 by hairstylists Jessica Frank and Emily Trujillo at 111 Capitol Way N. in downtown Olympia. The owners have sent out a news release because they are trying to get the word out that Stardust is more than just a place to get your hair styled, it’s a home away from home designed to celebrate individuality and foster inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities.
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“We aim to make Stardust Salon a refuge for everyone, especially during these trying times,” Frank said in a statement. “Our gender-affirming haircuts and inclusive services ensure that all individuals feel safe and valued. We celebrate differences and encourage our clients to embrace their authentic selves.”
Got a record you’d like to listen to while getting your hair styled? You can do that, too, because the owners have introduced “Vinyl Fridays,” which “encourages clients and friends to bring in their favorite records and share the music that moves them,” the release reads.
The salon also hosts “silent appointments” for those who need a quiet space to unwind, and offers free haircuts for queer teens during back-to-school season, breaking barriers to self-expression, according to the business.
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State orders O’Reilly Auto Parts to pay
The state has ordered O’Reilly Auto Parts to pay more than 2,000 mostly former employees for their unused sick leave, the state Department of Labor & Industries announced.
Labor & Industries discovered O’Reilly improperly eliminated unused sick leave for 2,327 employees at nearly 160 locations statewide when the company switched to a new payroll vendor at the end of 2022, a news release reads.
L&I is allowing workers to choose whether to have their leave reinstated or receive a payout for the value of the leave. Because most of the workers in this case no longer work at O’Reilly, the state ordered the retailer to pay all the workers the value of the lost leave, which totaled $163,458.
Workers who feel they may be owed money in the O’Reilly paid sick leave case should contact L&I by calling toll free 1-866-219-7321.
In-home care business expands
Vivia Cares, a Hawaii-based in-home care business, has expanded to Olympia, the business announced. The company has been providing in-home senior care services for nearly 20 years.
Their new office, located at 3425 Ensign Road NE, is led by executive director Racheal Lynch, along with Navigator Kristi Griffey and Team Leader Phoenix Ronin, according to a news release.
Their services to help people remain in their homes include:
▪ Check-in visits a couple of times during the day while family is at work.
▪ Daily in-person medication reminder visits to stay on schedule.
▪ Help with showers a few times a week.
Forestland manager closes recreation area, seeks sale
Shelton-based Green Diamond Resource Co., a family-owned forestland management business, has closed the Mason Lake Recreation Area indefinitely, the company announced.
The recreation area is northwest of Shelton and east of Grapeview.
“We’re excellent at land management, but managing and taking care of a lake and highly used recreation area isn’t part of our expertise. The fact is that the work to manage and maintain the recreation area has become more challenging over time, particularly with our streamlined team. Additionally, this work does not fit with the company’s long-term vision and core business operations. It remains our goal to keep Mason Lake in the hands of a public entity to continue access for families and employees,” said Brian Sayler, vice president and general manager for Green Diamond’s northwest operations, in a statement.
Green Diamond currently is in discussions with a public entity on the purchase of the recreation area. However, should a deal not be reached, the company will likely pursue a traditional real estate sale, a news release reads.
Warehouse plan
International Wood Products in Tumwater has submitted plans to build a 60,000-square-foot warehouse with a 6,000-square-foot office space, according to city information.
The development site measures about 10 acres across three parcels on Kimmie Street Southwest. It will include an exterior product storage yard, on-site parking, landscape and stormwater retention basins, according to the city information.
The 14-day comment period for the plan ends at 5 p.m. Feb. 21. Send your comments to senior planner Alex Baruch at abaruch@ci.tumwater.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.
This story was originally published February 14, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
