7 months after devastating fire closed Foodies restaurant, they’re reopening in a new home
Smoke and water damage from a blaze at a neighboring building forced Foodies Brick and Mortar to close its downtown Kennewick location earlier this year. Now they’re reopening in a new home.
After the fire, their Richland location Foodies, Too remained open and they posted regular progress toward launching a food truck, Foodies On The Go.
The food truck began making appearances at local events over the summer.
When Bite at the Landing announced it would be closing on Sept. 10, it wasn’t immediately clear who would be taking it over.
At the same time Foodies was hinting at a big announcement on social media, and looking to hire multiple new positions. Bite was operated by CG Public House and Catering. Bite opened in late 2019 just a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in the newly built facility, which replaced an aging 1961 clubhouse, according to the city of Kennewick.
Foodies is planning to take over Bite’s space at the Columbia Park Golf Triplex. The space is managed in partnership with the city of Kennewick.
Foodies has applied for a liquor license at the location under the name Foodies on the River, with a planned announcement teased throughout the week for Friday, Sept. 16, in celebration of their seventh anniversary.
It’s a move that is reminiscent of their roots as Floatin’ Foodies, which was essentially a boat version of a food truck serving customers on the Columbia River.
Foodies On The River will be at 2701 Paul Parish Dr., which also comes up as 2701 Columbia Park Trail on GPS.
While they haven’t announced an opening date just yet, owner Joanna Wilson said in a news release Friday that they would have more details once renovation work is complete.
They hinted at a fall opening with staff preparing to welcome diners “as scorching summer temperatures subside and colorful fall leaves make patio dining comfortable and scenic.”
“It’s the best time of year in the Tri-Cities to open our doors and welcome old and new friends to enjoy Foodies on the River,” Wilson said.
The Columbia Park Golf Triplex has 18-holes of traditional golf on a 3-par course, foot golf and disc golf.
Cascade Building fire
Before dawn on Feb. 4 a fire started in an upstairs apartment of the historic Cascade Building, at the corner of West Kennewick and North Cascade Street.
The fire spread rapidly, gutting the building and leaving neighbors with smoke damage, and at risk of a second story wall collapsing onto their businesses.
More than six months later the wall has been reinforced and renovation work has begun.
Many of the impacted businesses have relocated, with Lady Bug Shoppe recently reopening just down the street. And Desert Gem and Appraisal also reopened this summer, but there was no word on when local favorite Foodies would reopen.
Then, in August, Foodies announced food truck Hot Mess Burgers and Fries would be taking over it’s old location at 308 W. Kennewick Ave.
Hot Mess doesn’t have an opening date just yet, but diners hankering for a preview can find them parked just down the block from their future home, outside the Red Mountain Kitchen at the Flag Plaza.
This story was originally published September 16, 2022 at 5:30 AM.
