New Kennewick restaurant and food truck ‘mecca’ is Tri-Cities native’s dream

For six years, Chris Corbin has envisioned building a food truck hub in the Tri-Cities where customers have an extensive and diverse selection to choose from and indoor tables for eating.

The Richland native has been met with one delay after another, including the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

But earlier this month, Corbin’s dream and efforts finally came to fruition when he inked a deal for property near his family’s pizza restaurant.

Corbin didn’t waste time breaking ground on the 3-acre lot — formerly owned by Kennewick Irrigation District, or KID — and says if everything goes according to plan moving forward, that Summer’s Hub of Kennewick should be ready to open by March or April.

The Hub will feature space on a secured, asphalt lot for 28 food trucks with necessary hook ups, including electric, gas and water.

In the middle of the lot will be a 7,000-square-foot building, that will house Brady’s Brats & Burgers — the only brick and mortar restaurant at The Hub — along with family style picnic tables for dining, a small stage for concerts and entertainment and restrooms.

The building will have glass garage doors to roll up and let in fresh air during summer months and close to keep customers warm during the winter.

Family business

“There have been so many times where me and my father, we’re partners in this, where we thought it was going to make it and nothing ever ended up happening,” Corbin told the Tri-City Herald. “It’s just a different project to get rolling and we finally figured it out. I’ve been keeping it so secret because everybody wants to do something like this.”

“... This is about the customer experience when they go to the food trucks. This is about a place for food trucks to grow their business,” he added.

Corbin’s parents, Kathy and John Corbin, have owned the Tri-Cities Chuck E. Cheese franchise for nearly 40 years.

Chris Corbin, who said he started helping out in the family business at age 11, most recently has served as director of operations.

The restaurant moved in October 2018 from its longtime rented space on Columbia Center Boulevard in the Richland Wye to 6340 W. Rio Grande Ave. near Vista Field.

Corbin said that’s when he learned of the opportunity to buy the empty lot between the restaurant and Sportsman’s Warehouse in The Colonnade along West Canal Drive.

Summer’s Hub of Kennewick is named after Corbin’s 9-year-old daughter.

Brady’s Brats & Burgers, which first opened in Sandy, Ore., in 2018, is named after his 5-year-old son. The Kennewick restaurant will be its second location.

“That’s something I want to give to my kids, and it’s neat to have something to pass on to them,” he said.

Food truck mecca

The ingredients for Brady’s Brats & Burgers are locally sourced, with different homemade combinations of brats like elk and juniper berry and lamb and feta. The Kennewick restaurant will be the only location allowed to serve wine, beer and cider inside The Hub.

Corbin also works as a State Farm insurance agent in Sandy, and said his idea for Summer’s Hub came from Oregon’s Happy Valley Station with its pavilion and food cart setup.

“I absolutely love food trucks. I always thought of the Tri-Cities as the mecca of food trucks,” he said. “They pop up everywhere and you fall in love with one, and then you don’t know where it’s at.”

If The Hub takes off, Corbin said he can see opening versions in Richland, Pasco, Pullman and Spokane.

Summer’s Hub of Kennewick will feature security cameras and lights around the fenced lot to help protect the businesses. It also will have rules for the businesses, such as being open certain times to help develop the hub into something great, he said.

Corbin told the Herald he has not worked out the rate yet for food trucks, but is considering $1,000 a month with an early bird discount. He already has eight businesses on the wait list.

“This is what I envisioned is to have a place that is hopping from morning to night,” he said. “It’s going to be awesome. I can’t wait.”

People wanting more information so their business can participate are encouraged to email Corbin at TheHubKennewick@gmail.com.