Social gaming site opens in Lacey, new mixed-use apartments for lease in Tumwater
A new gaming site has opened in Lacey, but don’t think of it as an arcade because this is about playing popular games on powerful personal computers, either by yourself, as a group or in competition with others.
The franchise business, which had its soft opening last month with a grand opening set for next week, is called 212 Contender Esports. It opened at 1350 Galaxy Drive NE in Lacey, which is near Walmart.
The owner is Mark Cabaltica, who recently retired from the Air Force at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Born in the Philippines and raised in Saipan, Cabaltica came to the U.S. when he was 20 and later enlisted in the military in Seattle. Growing up, though, he watched his parents run a corner grocery store, which spurred his own entrepreneurial interest.
“I’ve always wanted to open a business,” he said. And now he gets to now combine two of his own passions: business and gaming.
Cabaltica said he would like to bring gaming out into the open. It’s a largely solitary pursuit, made even more so by the legacy of the pandemic, so he’d like to see like-minded gamers show up and meet and get to know each other in person.
“Our goal is to bring people together to share a space and be immersed in esports, fostering real-world connections through shared passions,” he said.
He has 17 high-end PCs, plus an additional 10 in a classroom space, which speaks to a secondary goal of wanting to offer STEM classes in computer coding, building robots and other subjects. He said the world of esports welcomes those who aren’t necessarily interested in games, but would like to be project managers and event coordinators.
His business has filled 1,500 square feet of space. It has a three options for customers: a drop-in rate of $10, an all-day pass for $30 or membership for $70 per month, which comes with unlimited play and other perks, such as members-only parties, purchase discounts and discounts on tournament registration fees.
212 Contender Esports is open noon to 10 p.m. daily, he said.
The grand opening is set for 1 p.m. May 22. It will include:
▪ Special promotions, including $99 for a 3-month membership.
▪ Giveaways, activities, prizes and live game demonstrations.
▪ Esports tournaments and activities for all ages.
And then there’s the most important question of all: What kind of games can someone play?
Cabaltica named some of the most popular: Marvel Rivals, Fortnight, Apex Legends and Rocket League.
New mixed-use development for Artisans Group
The Artisans Group, a longtime design business that previously was based in Olympia, is putting the finishing touches on The Rookery, a three-story mixed-use building on Capitol Boulevard in Tumwater.
The Olympian received a tour of the space from Tessa Bradley, Artisans Group co-owner and principal architect.
Once complete, the business will move into 3,000 square feet at 6504 Capitol Blvd SE. The rest of the building will be home to six apartments, including two penthouse apartments with vaulted ceilings, skylights and private rooftop decks.
The structure was designed to be a certified passive building, meaning it is extremely energy efficient, said Bradley, adding that it uses 75 percent less energy than a typical building.
The building has triple-paned windows and thick walls, reducing traffic noise on Capitol Boulevard to an almost imperceptible level.
The building and apartments have also been equipped with heat-recovery ventilators to maintain temperatures and recirculate fresh air, she said.
Artisans Group, which currently works out of two spaces next to the building, including a 1,000-square-foot former residence, expects to move into the new space in July.
The apartments are currently for lease. The Rants Group is handling the leasing.
Lacey receives site plan for Young Child and Family Center
North Thurston Public Schools has submitted its site plan review application for The Young Child and Family Center, according to city of Lacey information.
This project has been a long-term goal of the district to address a shortage of early learning opportunities. It will be built on a 15.8-acre site immediately north of Nisqually Middle School.
“The Early Learning Center will provide 18 classrooms with a maximum capacity of 20 children each to support approximately 360 children per morning and afternoon sessions, and 85 staff members,” the city information reads.
“The building is approximately 50,000 square feet and will include a library that is planned to be operated by Timberline Regional Library. The proposed Early Learning Center campus will resemble an elementary school campus. The project includes construction of a new building, a parking lot, bus loading area, lighting, new ADA accessible sidewalks, soft and hard play playgrounds, and grass playfield. The completed project will include approximately 141 parking spaces.”
Care to comment on this project? Send them by 5 p.m. May 26 to Associate Planner Reace Fant at Reace.fant@cityoflacey.org.
Thurston County businesses receive grant funding
Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council has announced the recipients of the 2025 Business Investment Grant, awarding a total of $66,995 to 13 small businesses across the PacMtn region, which includes Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Grays Harbor, and Pacific counties.
This year’s Business Investment Grant is funded by the state Department of Commerce’s Community Reinvestment Project, according to a news release.
Many of the winners are based in Thurston County. They are 777ish Cookies in Olympia, Brave Blooms Flower Farm in Rochester, Charro Mexican Restaurant in Olympia, Hotbabe-Hotsauce in Olympia, InGenius! Gallery & Boutique in Yelm, Maks Snack Shack in Lacey, Olyphant Art Supply in Olympia, Royal Bean Coffee in Tumwater and Sweet Comforts Bakery in Olympia.
“This year’s recipients reflect the diversity, talent, and resilience of our region’s small business community,” said William Westmoreland, CEO of PacMtn, in a statement. “We’re honored to support their growth journeys and look forward to seeing how their projects spark innovation, create new jobs, and uplift the communities they serve.”
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 May 16, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
