Long-awaited restaurant opens downtown, plus 2 new businesses will open in Olympia, Lacey
A downtown Olympia restaurant and bar, previously known as King Solomon’s Reef, has reopened under new ownership as The Reef, the business has announced.
A contact for the business could not be reached. The Reef is at 212 Fourth Ave. E.
The menu shows the business is serving appetizers, including grilled oysters from Perkins Family Farms in Olympia, as well as sandwiches, salads, all-day breakfast, house favorites and cocktails.
The Reef is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Brunch is served 8 a.m. to noon on the weekends, according to an Instagram post.
The Olympian wrote about the business in January.
Other business happenings
Lacey is getting a new Ross Dress For Less store and it’s grand opening is set for July 20, the business has announced on the company website.
The location is at a shopping center at 1240 Marvin Road NE, which is also home to Costco and The Home Depot. The Ross space used to be occupied by electronics retailer Best Buy until it closed in March 2022.
Ross also has two locations in Olympia at Pacific Avenue and Fones Road and on Harrison Avenue on the city’s west side.
Although Best Buy closed its Lacey location, it still has a store at Capital Mall.
Need some Legos? A new business called Bricks & Minifigs is about to have its grand opening this Saturday.
“After several shipping delays, all of our cabinets and fixtures have slowly arrived this week, just in time for the fun to truly begin!” business officials said on Facebook. “We can’t wait to share this amazing space with you all. It’s going to be a bricktastic time for the whole family!”
The grand opening is set for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 29, at 2410 Harrison Ave. NW, Suite 101.
Evergreen Valley Lavender Farm in Olympia just had its grand re-opening for the new season. It is their 15th year of providing “sights and smells to Olympia,” the operators said on social media.
“The weather has had a great effect on the blooms and we hope we get lots of sun,” the post reads. “In addition, we will have plants for sale and lavender lemonade again this year. The Gift Shoppe will be filled with lots of desirable gifts and products made for our lavender flowers.”
The farm’s summer hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
People news
Olympia Federal Savings has hired James Vanderholm, CPA, as its new chief financial officer.
Vanderholm comes to the downtown-based thrift from RiverBank in Spokane where he was a vice president and controller. Before RiverBank, he spent the first part of his career at the accounting firm Moss Adams.
“We look forward to the significant contributions he will make in driving our financial strategy and supporting our mission and community-focused initiatives,” said Olympia Federal President and CEO Josh Deck in a statement.
Vanderholm earned his undergraduate degree in business administration at Eastern Washington University in the Spokane area.
He says he wants to get involved in local community organizations. Previously, he was involved with the Sister Cities Association of Spokane, Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants, Spokane Museum of Arts and Culture, Hispanic Business Professionals Association, Union Gospel Mission and Latino Hope Foundation.
Downtown gets new restaurant and new bakery, but another restaurant is set to close
Downtown vacancy gets new restaurant, yoga studio expands, donut biz asks for help
A Lacey electronics retailer is closing, and a self-storage site is opening
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.
