Waterfront restaurant closes, but a new food truck destination opens in Olympia
A reader reached out to The Olympian and asked: What’s the status of the Dockside Bistro?
The bistro and wine bar is a longtime, high-end restaurant overlooking the boardwalk at Percival Landing.
But the business now has closed, according to a check of the property. The restaurant is not occupied and no one answered the phone.
It had recently changed hands, according to Instagram information.
“Chef Zach Caraway and Jade Adams have bought this gem of a restaurant,” the information reads. “We look forward to bringing you new exciting experiences! Come check us out.”
But a phone number for Caraway Fine Foods LLC did not work.
For 17 years, the restaurant was operated by chef Laurie Nguyen until she retired in early 2023, the News Tribune reported.
“Manager and sommelier Will Edwards, a 20-year hospitality veteran who joined Nguyen in 2021, will become its new proprietor as of April, the two parties confirmed this month,” according to the News Tribune report in 2023.
Food trucks find a home in NE Olympia
An area of Olympia that includes the San Francisco Street Bakery and Roosevelt Elementary School now has its own pocket park and food truck at 1400 Bethel St. NE, the property owner and the vice president of the Northeast Neighborhood Association said on Thursday.
The food truck, Taqueria La Bendicion, expects to operate Mondays through Saturdays, from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., although the hours may vary, vice president Peter Guttchen said.
A second food truck is coming to the site as well as a coffee stand, property owner Yu Kim said.
Before it was pocket park, the site was occupied by an old garage that fell into disrepair over the years and became a magnet for graffiti, Guttchen said.
But the longtime goal of the neighborhood was to turn it into a community space, so the garage was ultimately demolished and they took advantage of city of Olympia matching grant funds to create the park and add picnic tables, he said.
The site will be celebrated at a party planned for Sept. 13, Guttchen said.
Tattoo biz celebrates 25 years of business
Spidermonkey Tattoos on Fourth Avenue in downtown Olympia will recognize 25 years of business with a public celebration from 3 to 8 p.m. Aug. 10, the business announced.
“The event will feature a special art show highlighting large-scale backpiece tattoo art created by current Spidermonkey artists and special guests,” a news release reads. “The show offers a rare opportunity to view the artistry and detail of expansive tattoo work in a gallery-style setting.”
The founder and co-owner is Bryan Childs.
“This anniversary isn’t just about celebrating our own achievements, it’s about recognizing how many people helped us get here,” said Childs in a statement. “Everyone who’s ever worked at Spidermonkey, every customer who’s trusted us to put art on their body, the city, and all the businesses that breathe life into downtown — we feel connected to all of it. Olympia is a weird and wonderful place, with more culture and community than most small cities.
“My wife, our artists, and I have felt supported and accepted since the day we opened,” he said. “This is our town, and we want to say thank you. We love tattooing, and we love Olympia.”
Real estate
A developer has submitted plans for a new multifamily project at 8317 Pacific Highway SE in Lacey’s urban growth area, Thurston County officials announced.
“The applicant seeks approval of a master plan amendment and preliminary plat to develop the subject site into a multi-family complex in place of a commercial business center,” the project narrative reads. “This includes the construction of 34 townhomes and eight multi-family residential buildings totaling 203 apartment units. ... The property is approximately 12.74 acres and is zoned village urban center in the Lacey UGA.
Care to comment on the proposal? Send them by 4 p.m. Aug. 13 to Associate Planner Natalie Jacobson at Natalie.Jacobson@co.thurston.wa.us.
Apartment building has new owner
The 72-unit Briggs Village Apartments, which are part of the 137-acre Briggs Village master planned community in Olympia, have been sold, according to Institutional Property Advisors, a division of the commercial real estate company Marcus & Millichap.
Institutional Property Advisors’ Ryan Harmon, Philip Assouad, Giovanni Napoli, Nick Ruggiero and Anthony Palladino represented the buyer, Nearon Enterprises, and facilitated the transaction with the seller, Glencrest Group, according to the announcement.
A check of the Thurston County Assessor’s Office website shows the recent sale has yet to be recorded. However, it does show that Glencrest paid $18.3 million for the property in July 2020.
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.
