End of an era. China Cafe demolished and new restaurant is in the works

For more than 40 years the China Cafe restaurant was a mainstay at the Highlands Shopping Center in Kennewick. They closed last fall, and now the building is now rubble.

Come spring though, something new will take root.

Graze, a locally owned sandwich shop, is planning to open its fifth location, and third in the Tri-Cities. They had to tear down the aging China Cafe building in order to build something that better fit their needs, namely a drive-through location.

Graze owner John Lastoskie told the Herald they’re hoping for a late spring opening.

“We are filing for permits, we’re working through that process and then it’ll probably be 5 to 6 months of build up,” Lastoskie said. “We’re plugging along, building from the ground up is a new thing for us.”

The new location also will have seating for about 30 diners. It’s at 131 N. Ely, in the shopping center between West Clearwater Ave. and West Kennewick Ave.

It’s just down the block from the Tri-Cities first Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen, which opened this month to long lines of traffic at its drive-through.

Graze has two locations in Walla Walla, one in Kennewick on West Gage Boulevard near Costc and one in Richland at 610 George Washington Way.

The sandwich shop is known for its health conscious, fresh bites that include salads, tortas, paninis and twists on traditional favorites.

Their tagline is “A Place to Eat” and they focus on simple and deliciously fresh food served every day at convenient locations, according to their website.

Ice Harbor

Craft beer enthusiasts will need to wait a bit longer for Ice Harbor’s planned move from their original downtown Kennewick location to the old Welch’s Juice plant a few blocks away.

Ice Harbor co-owner Bill Jacques said they’re still working to renovate the space and prepare it to house all of their brewing and bottling equipment.

While they don’t have a firm date set yet, they’re hoping to have it done later this year.

They’ll be located above the Public Market at Columbia River Warehouse at 10 E. Bruneau. The Ice Harbor entrance will be near Bruneau and NorthWashington Street, while the market entrance is on the other side at Bruneau and North Beech Street.

Ice Harbor is investing about $400,000 in the move, and will double the size of their flagship Benton Street location, which will close once the move is complete. Ice Harbor at the Marina will remain open.

The new kitchen is almost three times larger than their current facility, and the cold storage area will give them double the room to brew. Eventually they plan capitalize on the added room to expand their brewing and distribution operations.

They’re also gaining enough room to comfortably accommodate 120 customers inside, double the occupancy of their current space. They also have big plans for the spacious outdoor area.

The Hub

The Hub of Kennewick is now open.

The food truck park at 6481 W. Skagit Ave. has been in the works for years.

The 7,000 square-foot indoor dining hall is anchored by Brady’s Brats and Burgers.

They have space to grow, with room for up to 28 food trucks and indoor family-style picnic tables for dining and a stage for entertainment, with garage doors that can be rolled open in the summer.

The Hub has launched with six food trucks open daily — Bobablastic, Churros Mia, Delicious Crepes and Waffles, El Punto Del Sabor, Gray’s Wings and Things and Trejos Tacos.

All of the food trucks are open at least five days per week. For a full schedule each week, visit the Hub’s facebook page.

They’re located between Chuck E. Cheese and Sportsman’s Warehouse at the east end of the Colonade Shopping Center on Canal Drive in Kennewick.

▪ The neighboring 7-kitchen 1Derful Food Park also is coming along. They’re hoping for a late fall opening.

That food park will feature seven walk-up order restaurants and a large interconnected patio area, totaling about 30,000 square feet.