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Recent Thurston County business updates: openings, closures and expansions

Stories by The Olympian journalists, with AI summarization

Recent business updates in Thurston County include a mix of openings, expansions and closures.

Johnny Coffee reopened on a corner once occupied by Starbucks in downtown Olympia, and the new Trader Joe's in a former Rite Aid in Lacey is hiring.

The Shiplap Shop & Coffee House in Yelm said it would close due to rising costs and declining foot traffic. The downtown restaurant Chicory will close but its owners plan a new venture in the area.

Chicory restaurant 111 Columbia St NW, Olympia Oct 2, 2025 By Steve Bloom

NO. 1: DOWNTOWN EATERY WILL CLOSE, LOCAL BANK MAKES NEWS AND 2 BUSINESSES CHANGE HANDS

The downtown Olympia restaurant Chicory on Columbia Street will close permanently at the end of December 2025, the owners announced on social media. | Published October 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rolf Boone

Red Lantern Asian Fusion is moving into the corner space at Fifth Avenue and Columbia Street in downtown Olympia. By Steve Bloom

NO. 2: ASIAN FUSION EATERY TO OPEN OLYMPIA SITE, AND LOCAL BREWERY PARTNERS FOR EXPANSION

The restaurant Red Lantern Asian Fusion, which has a seven-year track record in Yelm, is expanding to downtown Olympia, the owner said this week. | Published October 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rolf Boone

Working at her west Olympia shop on Oct. 15, Aloha Acai Cafe owner Laura Alden prepares the sweetness that is a chocolate lovers açaí bowl, created with cacao sorbet topped with granola, raspberries, strawberries, Nutella & cacao nibs. By Steve Bloom

NO. 3: CAFE EXPANDS, NEW TRADER JOE’S IS HIRING, AND ANOTHER BIZ, CITING HIGHER COSTS, WILL CLOSE

Aloha Acai Cafe, which opened a location in Lacey two years ago, has expanded to west Olympia, filling a spot on Harrision Avenue that was once Doos Donuts, owner Laura Alden said this week. | Published October 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rolf Boone

The Yard seeks to bring recreational and refreshments options to land that flanks Seventh Avenue Southeast near College Street Southeast. By City of Lacey

NO. 4: WHAT’S THE YARD? PICTURE PICKLEBALL, A TAPROOM, FOOD TRUCKS. HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW

MJR Development, a Kirkland-based real estate business that has redeveloped much of the area near Huntamer Park in Lacey, has a new proposal on tap for the same area, according to city information. | Published October 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rolf Boone

The morning downtown Olympia bustle has returned to the corner of Legion Way and Capitol Way on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, with the opening of Johnny Coffee across from Sylvester Park. By Steve Bloom

NO. 5: COFFEE SHOP OPENS ON DOWNTOWN CORNER, PLUS NFL HALL OF FAMER TO VISIT LOCAL BIZ

Johnny Coffee has opened in downtown Olympia, filling a spot once occupied by Dancing Goat Coffee and Starbucks at Legion Way and Capitol Way, across from Sylvester Park, the co-owner of the business said. | Published November 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rolf Boone

The forthcoming Glowies has filled the former New Moon Cafe space on Fourth Avenue in Olympia. By rboone@theolympian.com

NO. 6: DOWNTOWN EATERY CLOSE TO OPENING, AND STORM-DAMAGED BIZ ASKS FOR HELP

Glowies, a downtown Olympia restaurant that plans to serve breakfast sandwiches, coffee and other baked goods in the former New Moon Cafe space, is getting closer to its opening, according to an update posted to social media this week. | Published November 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rolf Boone

The owners of downtown’s Chicory Restaurant have confirmed a new venture at 302 Capitol Way N. in the Market Flats apartment building. By Steve Bloom

NO. 7: CHICORY OWNERS CONFIRM NEW VENTURE, PET GROOMING BIZ EXPANDS, BEST BOSSES PICKED

The owners of the downtown Olympia restaurant Chicory, who announced in October that the business would close at the end of the year but who also said they had a new venture in mind, confirmed this week they are staying downtown and opening a new business at 302 Capitol Way N. | Published November 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rolf Boone

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.