Cheap, fun, fast. New cereal bar to open in Tri-Cities

Two business partners are banking on a love of quick, cheap and fun to launch a cereal-by-the-bowl shop in Richland.

“We like to keep it exciting,” said co-owner Steve Lee, Kennewick’s mayor pro tem who owns other Tri-Cities area businesses, including Green2Go.

He and Christian Diamond, a strategist with New Edge, a business growth and innovation strategy firm in Richland, signed the lease a few days ago on a space in the Uptown Shopping Center in Richland to open Spoon Cereal Bar.

“It kind of is a perfect storm of the best time to try a weird business,” Lee said.

He said lower rents, less expendable income and stay-at-home orders have Tri-Citians looking for something new and different near home.

“To my knowledge there are no other cereal bars in Washington,” Lee said.

Spoon Cereal Bar will stock the 75 top-selling cereals in the U.S. The other 25 will be rotating seasonal and limited-edition flavors.

For the connoisseur, Lee says they are doing research on international cereals and highly-sought after boxes that may no longer be in production — that might sell for as much as $25 per box.

Customers can mix and match to their tastes, cover with some milk or milk alternative from a menu of at least 10 choices and top with assorted fixings just like popular frozen yogurt bars.

“That’s 1,000 choices without mixing the cereals,” he said.

A menu of “rims” such as chocolate syrup or a crunched up cereal of choice will be available to add a layer of flavor while drinking the sweet-cereal infused milk swirling at the bottom of the bowl.

Cereal-infused milk also will be the base of their soft serve.

And even though “Trix are for Kids” — Spoon will be for everyone.

Lee said he recognizes that coming out of the pandemic, there will be some people who simply aren’t comfortable with spending a great deal of time inside — especially with their children.

He said that this will give people a quick dining experience — but still a fun one.

“There are a limited amount of things that people can go do with a young child,” said Lee, who himself is a new father. “This will be fun and family-friendly.”

Lee also intends to tap into the after-hours party vibe when bars in the Uptown reopen. They plan to have the cereal bar open 24/7 and reroute that foot traffic to their shop for a cheap snack.

“I remember wishing for a date place that (didn’t cost) an arm a leg,” said the Tri-City native.

He emphasized for the parent who wants to get out of the house, to the teenager wanting a hang-out place to the family wanting breakfast before church in the morning, prices will be affordable.

“We are working with Barracuda (Coffee Bar) to create a proprietary cereal flavor coffee menu,” Lee said.

If customers are in a hurry, they can get their morning bowl to go.

“What will make us different than most in this business is that we are developing single serve and full size cereal boxes to go,” he said.

The possibilities are endless — Lee said that they can be used for wedding favors, Valentine’s Day gifts or simply for artisans who want to create their own cereal blend.

Lee said he hopes to open as soon as possible, but a lot of work needs to be done including installing equipment and getting health department approvals. He also said he is working with a branding company on the design of the eatery, which will take some time.

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 Allison Stormo at astormo@tricityherald.com.

This story was originally published September 21, 2020 at 4:26 PM.