Tacoma Untapped » Downtown

Puget Sound Pizza Changing Hands

Jake — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:46:31 +0000

One of Tacoma’s most popular pizza joints may be under new ownership soon. Puget Sound Pizza located in the St. Helens Neighborhood at 7th & St. Helens Ave. is now under contract for new ownership. The owner, Jim Higgins, says long time employees Martin and Shannon are the buyers of the business. If all goes as well they should own the business within 60 days.

While rumors of the sale have been swirling around the neighborhood for months, the rumors of current owner, Jim Higgins, opening a new spot have been around for longer.

From his Facebook page:

“I’ve got a few ideas for new concepts that I’ve been kicking around. Tacoma has tons of potential (and available spaces) right now
Straight away I’m just gonna take a couple months and do some fun stuff, but eventually I’ll probably (more likely than not) do something similar.”

PSP has great pizza and an always entertaining atmosphere, what would you like to see change? Or change nothing at all?

Honda Commercial To Be Filmed In Downtown

Jake — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:11:39 +0000

This Sunday the Theater District and the St. Helens Neighborhood in Downtown Tacoma will see the lights, cameras & cars. Lodestar Films will be filming a Honda TV commercial Sunday, July 18th from 7am to 1pm. Streets affected will be South 7th Street, St. Helens Ave., Market Street & Opera Alley. No parking signs will be in place during those times and an off-duty Tacoma Police Officer will control traffic during filming.

Exterior shots will be filmed along St. Helen’s Ave. between S. 7^th Street and Opera Alley, along S. 7^th Street between St. Helen’s Ave & Broadway and along Opera Alley. A Picture car will drive down the streets while a camera car follows filming the action.

I don’t have info if this will be a regional or national TV commercial but it appears Lodestar Films, based in Hollywood, CA has filmed some national TV commercials for Honda & Acura.

What businesses will we see in the commercial? Puget Sound Pizza? The Mix? Over the Moon Cafe? We will have to wait and see.

Big Whisky Off “Whiskey Row”

Jake — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:07:18 +0000

The ever fabulous Steph DeRosa just gave us a sneak peak of the new Surreal Ultra Lounge going into the space Club Kokonut was to occupy, the former On The Rocks. Now just off Whiskey Row (Pac Ave. between 9th & 7th) CANS is transforming to Big Whisky Saloon. They are currently hiring for all positions including Country Rock DJs & Beer Tub Babes. They are planning their grand opening for April 30th. No liquor license changes have been posted which is needed with a change in name of the establishment or ownership changes. CANS was owned by the same folks that own Varsity Grill on Broadway.

It is starting to look like nightlife is taking another try in this neighborhood that at one time use to house Destiny’s, The Drake, Club Detour & 7 Cities.

Now we will have Surreal Ultra Lounge, The Matador, Paddy Coyne’s, Meconi’s, Big Whisky, Hell’s Kitchen & The Firwood (???).

You can apply at Big Whisky by submitting your resume to BigWhiskySaloon@gmail.com

Gyros Coming to the UWT

Jake — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:37:34 +0000

“Retail spaces are empty.” “There are tons of open retail spaces along the UWT strip.” “The retail space in Phillips Hall is available, let’s fill that first then lets talk.”

Ok let’s talk!

University Gyro House is in the process of filling the vacant retail space in UWT’s Phillips Hall at 1914 Pacific Ave. Along with gyros it appears you will also be able to have a nice cold beer, as Nizar LLC has applied for a beer/wine restaurant liquor license.

So will gyros be a good fit for the UWT campus? I think so!

Major Changes To Elks Project

Jake — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:46:58 +0000

It has been confirmed by multiple sources that there will be some major changes in the Elks/McMenamins project. I have been told that McMenamins has decided a hotel in the Elks building is not feasible due to the lack of windows in the structure. They will however build the hotel part of the project in the lower floors of the adjacent mixed-use building being built by Grace Pleasants and Rick Moses. This will add a few more stories to mixed-use building and possibly force the building to be built as a steel-framed structure instead of wood-frame, if it already wasn’t going to be.

I have not heard what McMenamins plans to do with the space that was slated for the hotel in the Elks building or if the cost to construct the city-owned garage will change in the mixed-use building due to it having to support more floors.

In late February the City of Tacoma, Grace Pleasants & Rick Moses announced that GLY Construction Co. of Bellevue and Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects of Seattle will be the design-build team for the mixed-use project.

TNT Article: Tacoma’s Elks Project Takes Big Step

Another Mixed-Use Project for McCarver

Jake — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:29:06 +0000

A new mixed-use building is being proposed in the McCarver Neighborhood at the southeast corner of South 19th Street & Yakima Ave. O’Connor & Associates, developer of McCarver Village & Gaslamp Terrace, purchased the property in November 2008. The property currently has a brick four-plex on it. The new mixed-use building will house 32 market-rate apartments and a private medical office. The project goes before the Tacoma City Council on Dec. 1st 2009 for its 8 year multi-family tax exemption. The building will be across the street from St. Joseph Medical Center and 2 blocks from the UWT campus boundary. The four-plex currently sits vacant which could mean construction may happen soon.

I am happy to hear that apartments have been added to this project. About a year ago I saw an ad on Craigslist from O’Connor & Associates advertising lease space in a proposed 2 story medical building at the site. This new building will be another gateway building to the growing McCarver Neighborhood.

Chelsea Heights Starts Leasing.. Finally

Jake — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:09:03 +0000

After 3 years in the construction phase, Prium’s Chelsea Heights project near Wright Park will finally see life. The once condo project is now a 78 unit apartment building and can be seen on numerous rental websites. From photos on Craigslist it does appear that some of the finishes have been downgraded from the original plans. The property management company is currently advertising a 2 bedroom unit for $1,150.

Now does anybody know what is going on with the retail space? It almost looks like it is going to be all storage units. You can see a lot of metal wall forms, very close together in the retail space when you drive by.

Last reported on The Biz Buzz in December 2007 : Second Prium Condo Project Goes Rental

Chelsea Heights Apartments

603 South J Street

Tacoma, WA 98405

253-383-3181

Haub Closes on USPS Parcels

Jake — Mon, 04 May 2009 07:25:08 +0000

The Haub Brother’s holdings in Tacoma’s Central Business District just got a bit larger. On April 28th the Haub Brother Enterprise Trust closed on two parcels owned by the United States Postal Service. The two parcels located on A Street between 13th and 14th measure 32,600 square feet and are county assessed at $2,674,900. The purchase price was not yet available.

Haub now owns the properties highlighted in red:

The two parcels are key in Haub’s plan for a large highrise development on the site and possibly a new headquarters for Russell Investsments. The City of Tacoma and Haub recently started environmental cleanup and monitoring of the Haub properties and the former Sauro drycleaner site across the street.

Russell HQ proposal:

Minoela Coming Soon

Jake — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:17:46 +0000

The details are in on the new wine bistro, Minoela, opening in the St Helens neighborhood. As previously reported on Tacoma Untapped , Minoela will be located in the Merlino Art Center building off 6th Ave. and Fawcett Ave. , next to the Grand Cinema.

Q&A with the owners after the jump:

Here is the juicy Q&A with the owners Danielle and Mike Kartes:

Q: How did you get the name Minoela? What does it mean?

A: Minoela is my variation of the word mineola. It is a type of orange! I wanted something a bit easier for people to say! This very special type of Tangelo orange is bright, juicy, and fresh. When I think of citrus it just makes me happy. It’s exactly the kind of place we aim to be. Bright, welcoming, and fresh.

Q: Has the lease been finalized?

A: Hahaha Yes!

Q: In our last correspondence you said your new establishment will be a Bistro Wine House. Will you sell wine for off-site consumption as well as on-site?

A: On-site and off-site as well. I want our patrons to be able to pick up a few fabulous bottles they have tried at our wine house and perhaps bring them to a party or stop on their way home from work to relax at home for the evening.

Q: What kind of food do you plan to serve and at what price points?

A: We want to support local organic sustainable business, so we aim for fresh season appetizers and meals, and fresh breads. Not to heavy but defiantly not leaving you wanting more. Desserts are bing in my book so we will have THE best in homemade cakes, cookies and ooey gooey goodness. Our price points will be fair. In this economy we want to keep everything on the menu under 11 bucks! With a great Happy Hour!!! Happy hours drive the restaurant biz these days.

Q: Many people are familiar with layout of the former One Heart Cafe, will you make any changes to the interior layout?

A: You will just have to wait and see.. wink wink. It’s going to be just beautiful.

Q: What look are you going for in the interior of the space?

A: Vintage meets comfortable. We want a new fresh approach to the average wine bar. We want people to fee comfy and happy while in Minoela, so you won’t see any super bright colors or depressing artwork.

Q: What hours do you think you will be open?

A: Thursday through Sunday as of right now. Depending on business we will add the other three days of the week as well.

Q: Is this your first venture into the restaurant business?

A: Yes and no. I have been wrapped up in the restaurant biz for a few years and it is definitely not my first business project but it will be the first wine house/bistro.

Q: And lastly, tell me more about your husband and yourself?

A: I like the color green and I love cheese. I’m not a fan of itchy sweaters and I like the ocean. Home grown tomatos taste better than store bought. I like wood paneled jeeps though I don’t own one!

I am a makeup artist and I primarily have worked in LA and Seattle but Tacoma/Puyallup is my home and where I have lived my entire life. We decided it’s time to open this place I have been thinking about for years! My husband is a writer. We are the best of friends. We are very involved in the community and we want a place that gives back. We hope to supprot the local economy by creating jobs and getting as many of our supplies from other locals.

Well there you have it! Look for Minoela to open soon at 604 Fawcett Ave.

Lincoln Gives Tacoma Some Love

Jake — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:51:36 +0000

Is it our beautiful, diverse architecture that brings the car companies to town to film commercials? Well one car company, Lincoln, took it a bit further and features Downtown Tacoma front and center on its website for the Lincoln MKS.

Click the link to check out Tacoma… and the Lincoln MKS
(make sure you move your mouse over the arrows next to the car)