Popular Mexican chain opens new Thurston County restaurant. They’re hiring
Fans of Chipotle Mexican Grill will be happy to know that it has opened a location in Tumwater, the business announced.
The location, one of five in Thurston County, opened Thursday at 6208 Littlerock Road SW, according to a news release.
“The restaurant features the brand’s signature Chipotlane, a drive-thru pick-up lane that allows guests to conveniently pick up digital orders without leaving their cars,” a news release reads.
The Tumwater location, which will operate 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, is hiring, according to the business. Job benefits include:
- A crew bonus with the opportunity to earn an extra month’s worth of pay each year.
- A debt-free college degree program.
- Access to mental healthcare for employees and their families.
- For more information, go to: chipotle.com/careers.
Chipotle also has three locations in Lacey and one in Olympia.
Alaffia reintroduces itself to Tumwater
Alaffia, a former longtime Tumwater business known for importing Shea nuts from West Africa and turning them into a line of hair and body care products, is back in its stomping grounds, the vice president of operations told Tumwater City Council on Tuesday night.
Andrew Read spoke because the original founder and current CEO of Alaffia, Olowo-n’djo Tchala, was unavailable Tuesday night, he said.
Read briefed the council on Alaffia’s recent history.
Around 2021-2022, the business took on some equity investors who later gained control of the board and set the business on a new path, he said. That included farming out production to third-party manufacturers, which resulted in the closure of its former Tumwater location, Read said.
They also decided to buy Shea nuts on the open market, rather than work directly with women farmers in the West African countries of Ghana, Togo and Burkina Faso, he said.
Working with those farmers was a key part of Tchala’s original vision for the business.
Tchala finally left Alaffia to start a different business, but in May he was able to regain control of the board and the business he founded, Read said.
Now, Alaffia is back in Tumwater in a 10,000-square-foot space near Olympia Regional Airport, he said. Its former home also was near the airport.
Why Tumwater?
“We’ve done it here before,” Read said. “We know the support. We know the network that is here.”
Area businesses donate to nonprofits
A number of area businesses are donating to area nonprofits.
- Wilcox Family Farms is donating nearly one million eggs to food banks across the region, beginning with a delivery to the Emergency Food Network in Pierce County, according to a news release. The Roy-based business is helping ensure families across Lewis, Thurston and Pierce counties have access to fresh eggs during a time when need is high, the release reads.
- Boeing Employees Credit Union, or BECU, is donating $450,000 to nonprofits, including $15,000 each to the Olympia Free Clinic, and Thurston County Washington Explorer Search and Rescue.
- The Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund has awarded a $4,000 grant to the Grand Mound Boosters, a nonprofit that supports Grand Mound Elementary in south Thurston County. The money will be used to support its Third Annual Read-A-Thon.
People news
Experience Olympia & Beyond, the area’s visitor and convention bureau, has named former CEO Shauna Stewart to be the interim CEO, the organization announced.
Stewart previously served as CEO from 2015 to 2020. She started the interim role on Dec. 1.
The organization needed an interim leader because the former CEO Michael Day was let go in late August — about two months after he was hired, The Olympian reported.
“This decision was made after thoughtful consideration and in recognition that the role was not the right fit for either Michael or Experience Olympia & Beyond,” said Board President Sue Falash in a statement at the time. “We are grateful for Michael’s contributions and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”
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.
