What’s being built there? Chick-fil-A close to opening + $175M insulation plant
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What’s being built there? A reader’s guide
What’s being built there? is an occasional Tri-City Herald feature that offers quick explanations of the building projects taking shape in the community. Suggest projects via email: news@tricityherald.com.
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“What’s being built there?” is a semi-regular series that documents construction projects shaping the communities of Benton and Franklin counties and western Walla Walla County.
Suggest projects you’re curious about by pinging us at news@tricityherald.com.
Kennewick
Surf Thru Express Car Wash
624 S. Ely St.
A massive retaining wall is being built along Highway 395 in Kennewick for the future home of Surf Thru Express, a car wash chain expanding into the Tri-Cities.
The company plans outlets in both Kennewick and Pasco.
Building permits indicate the car wash has a construction value of $3 million and will include a canopied vacuum station. The 6,700-square-foot project is owned by Todd Gall of Bakersfield, Calif. Chervenell Construction is the contractor.
Chick-fil-A (update)
7009 W. Canal Drive
The Tri-Cities’ first Chick-fil-A appears close to opening now that the parking lot has been paved and business signs installed. Alas, the Atlanta-based chicken chain hasn’t publicly committed to an opening date.
The company told the Tri-City Herald on April 11 that it will “open soon, pending any delays.”
The $1.1 million project includes a 5,000-square-foot restaurant with inside seating for 70, patio seating for 24 and parking for 96 vehicles. There will be two drive-thru lanes.
ESI Construction is the contractor.
Pasco
Surf Thru Express Car Wash
4621 Convention Place
One of the two Surf Thru Express car washes under construction in the Tri-Cities is taking shape near the HAPO Center in Pasco.
It is being built on behalf of Todd Gail of Surf Thru Express, based in Bakersfield, Calif.
The project is valued at $2.5 million and is a companion to a project starting now at Highway 395 and Ely in Kennewick.
Chervenell Construction is the contractor.
Summer’s Hub Restaurant and food Truck Park
6120 Burden Blvd.
Foundations are being set for the Pasco edition of Summer’s Hub, a restaurant and food truck park being developed near Gesa Stadium.
The $1.7 million project includes nearly 6,600 square feet of building space surrounded by parking for about 30 food trucks.
The project is being developed by Chris Corbin, who created the Summer’s Hub complex off Canal Drive in Kennewick.
Burbank/Walla Walla County
Rockwool aka Roxul USA Inc.
12 Petersen Road
Rockwool, a Danish insulation manufacturer, has begun preparing a 250-acre site at Wallula Gap Business Park for an eventual 2.7-million-square-foot manufacturing plant.
The $175 million project is about 10 miles east of Pasco. Rockwool bought the property from the Port of Walla Walla for $8.75 million.
Walla Walla County authorized mass grading for the Rockwool project, code named Project Sequoia, in January. The work is valued at $16,300. The first phase will employ 125 with an annual payroll of $8.5 million.
Century Pipe
1181 Railex Road
Century Pipe LLC, based in San Antonio, Texas, is pursuing approval to build a 52,800-square-foot plastic pipe manufacturing plant near Wallula Gap, according to state environmental review documents.
The project is pending, so there is no visible construction yet.
The property is owned by the Port of Walla Walla and is adjacent Tri-Cities Intermodal and Northwest Wine Services.
Knutzen Engineering of Kennewick is representing the company.
This story was originally published April 14, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
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