Openings: Walk-up waffle window, Vietnamese eatery + Richland food co-op storefront

The Tri-Cities Food Co-Op makes its long-waited debut today in Richland.

The co-op is opening in phases, starting with fresh produce and expanding its mission to be a full-service grocery in the following months.

Local and mostly organic produce began arriving from area farms Tuesday in advance of Wednesday’s opening. The co-op will add shelf-stable grocery items in about a month.

Alan Schreiber, an organic farmer from Eltopia and head of the state’s asparagus commission, established the nonprofit in 2023 to create the community’s first true grocery co-op in Richland.

About 400 Tri-Citians have signed up for memberships. He hopes to expand that to 1,000 by the end of the year.

The co-op is open to the public, but members are eligible for 5% discounts and have access to special events, such as its popular Solstice festival.

A Thanksgiving Market is set for 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Nov. 23.

The co-op is opening on a shoestring budget after it couldn’t secure traditional financing to support its mission.

“It’s a labor of love,” Schreiber said.

In future phases, it will add beer and wine sales, a coffee shop and traditional grocery departments, including a deli, meat department, seafood, frozen items, dairy, eggs and ready-to-eat foods.

The co-op leased abut 8,000-square-feet of space for the market more than a year ago. The 1960s-era building was originally a grocery and the co-op has worked to peel back renovations to restore its original purpose.

The store is using about a quarter of the available space to start.

Schreiber said the goal is carry mostly local, mostly organic produce at a price that is fair for both customers and farmers. It will offer some non-organic local produce.

He estimated 95% of the produce arriving for the opening was organic.

As workers readied the store for customers, crates of onions, potatoes, peppers, Italian parsley, strawberries, pumpkins, grapes, portabello mushrooms and more were on standby to be stocked on grocery shelves.

“I just want to eat it,” Schreiber said.

The Tri-Cities Food Co-Op is at 1420 Jadwin Ave., north of the Uptown Shopping Center in Richland. Hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Go to tcfcoop.org for information and to sign up for a lifetime membership. The fee is $50 for students and seniors or $100 for households.

Vava’s Waffles LLC

1derful Food Park

6494 W. Skagit Ave., Ste 120, Kennewick

1derful Food Park, a startup kitchen complex near Summer’s Hub in Kennewick, is getting a new tenant, Vava’s Waffles.

Owners Samantha and Lance Ji of Kennewick have filed documents to open Vava’s in September. Building permits show Vava’s is investing about $50,000 to create a restaurant space in the 348-square-foot space.

Thorn Construction Group is the contractor.

Joo Seok Baek developed 1derful to provide brick-and-mortar kitchen space to restaurant startups. 1derful is home to a Korean BBQ business and Tropical Express, a coffee and juice bar.

Amon Eatz

702 George Washington Way

Amon Eatz, specializing in Vietnamese cuisine, has opened in the Amon Building next to Amethyst Creamery, near the entrance to Howard Amon Park in Richland.

The menu features banh mi sandwiches, chop salad, rice bowls, noodle bowls, and fresh rolls. Hours are 11 a.m.-3 pm., daily.

The new eatery was incorporated by Joseph Seet and Thitiporn Johnson.

Go to amoneatz.com/