Children's museum loses lease at Broadmoor mall

PASCO -- A group of 3-year-olds screamed and played on top of the U.S.S. Friend-Ship in the Children's Museum of the Three Rivers on Wednesday while two others enjoyed plastic burgers in the Burger Galley below deck.

But by next month, children in the Tri-Cities might lose this place where their imagination can set sail.

The museum, in the Broadmoor Outlet Mall in Pasco, is about to be ousted from its home of four years because of the expansion of its neighbor, Charter College.

"This takes away options for (the kids and their parents)," said Cindy Morris, president of the museum's board of directors. "Some look forward to coming and dressing up and pretending they're doctors."

"(Parents) have said, 'Oh no, I hope this won't close, it's my child's favorite place.' "

Museum Director Jolene Hatkey said she received a letter May 29 saying the museum's lease would not be renewed in July.

"Basically it said that because we have a month-to-month lease they had to ask us to vacate at the end of the month," she said.

According to Hatkey, the letter outlined the college's expansion into the museum's area and the empty space west of the museum.

The museum is no stranger to relocation. It opened its doors in 1991 in Kennewick near the Columbia Center mall where the Old Country Buffet now is located. When the mall expanded in 1996, the museum had to look for a new venue.

"We had to ask, 'Does someone have a place for us?' " Morris said.

The plea for help was answered by the Richland Community House, and the museum remained there for eight years before coming to the outlet mall in 2004.

Now, the museum is searching for another home again.

"We are looking rigorously for a new location," Morris said.

And that is no easy feat for the nonprofit foundation.

"How do you say, 'We need cheap rent?' " Hatkey said.

No replacement location has been found and the museum is asking for assistance in looking for a new home. Hatkey said an empty store lot in the outlet mall would be ideal, but no deal has been made with property managers.

"The hope is to only be closed in July if we find something soon, but it's all in the timing," Hatkey said.

The museum occupies a 3,500 square-foot area, including 12 exhibits and a back room reserved for birthday parties and indoor picnics.

Parties and events scheduled before June 28 will be honored because, "I don't want to ruin any child's party if at all possible," Hatkey said.

If a new space isn't found by the end of the month, Hatkey said the exhibits will be stored until a comparable replacement can be leased.

"We will lose revenue, but if this was going to happen, I'm grateful it's now," she said, noting summer months tend to be slower.

The museum also is looking for volunteers to help move them out on June 28.

For more information, to go www.childrensmuseumtr.org or call 509-543-7866.