Openings: Popular eatery revival + Richland restaurant closing
Mario Quintero has great news for fans of Brother’s Cheese Steaks a little more than a year after the eatery was forced to close.
He plans to revive it.
Quintero sparked joy this week when he posted on Facebook about his plan to relaunch Brother’s as a popup.
It’s true, he told the Tri-City Herald. Quintero plans to rebuild the business as a food truck after fans kept asking about it.
“Our customers have never stopped supporting us,” Quintero said.
Details are still being worked out, but he plans offer a popup in January at either Red Mountain Kitchen in downtown Kennewick or at El Fat Cat Grill, near Kamiakin High School.
The schedule depends on approvals from the Benton Franklin Health District. Details will be announced on Facebook.
Quintero credits Felix and Jenny Sanchez, who own El Fat Cat Grill, with sparking the revival.
Felix contacted him as soon as Brother’s closed. He offered the use of El Fat Cat’s food truck.
“He is a great community leader, helping small businesses. He’s a big reason why I’m also coming back,” Quintero said.
Brother’s Cheese Steaks was a hit when it launched at the Pasco Specialty Kitchen. Quintero moved the business to a brick-and-mortar location on West Gage, where it struggled.
It closed in October 2024, a difficult experience that left Quintero scrambling to pay debts. He spent the past year focused on family, but still dreams of reviving the old magic.
If all goes well with the popup, he wants to establish Brother’s as a truck-based restaurant.
Quintero said the pop-up menu will be restricted to about three of Brother’ss most popular items — the classic, Philly and Cooper cheesesteaks. The Cooper is his personal favorite. He brought it after trying one in Philadelphia and having his mind blown by sandwich, which is made with sharp Cooper cheese he orders from the manufacturer.
Quinero said he hasn’t had one since the Gage restaurant closed.
Westside Pizza opens in Richland
A former Starbucks in north Richland reopened as a Westside Pizza franchise on Dec. 11.
The business is at 1750 George Washington Way, near Safeway at Washington Plaza in north Richland.
Westside Pizza owners Sherrie and Alex Zollinger converted the old coffee spot into a home for the area’s first Westside Pizza location.
In addition to pizza, it serves calzones, pastas, wings, salads and treats.
Dine-in-, takeout and delivery are available.
The Boise-based chain was established in Colville, Wash., in 1996 and has more than 32 locations. It focuses on fresh-made dough, fresh tomato sauces and generous toppings on custom-built pizzas.
Go to westsidepizza.com or follow the new eatery on Facebook.
Aub’s Lounge on GoFundMe
Aubrienn Johnson, founder of Bananza Bread and Aub’s Lounge in Richland, is seeking donations via GoFundMe to keep her Richland business afloat.
Bananza Bread serves more than 40 flavors of banana bread on a rotating basis.
Aub’s Lounge welcomes all people in a cozy alcohol-free venue near Howard Amon Park. It hosts poetry readings, live music and other events.
Money will pay business expenses including rent, utilities and staffing costs.
Public House 255 to close
Richland’s Public House 255 will close on Dec. 20, Chef Will Willingham announced on Facebook.
Willingham created his version of a public house at the former Fat Olives location, 255 Williams Blvd., Richland.
In a Facebook post, Willingham said sales haven’t kept up with costs.
Will and Maigh Willingham opened Public House on Jan. 8 with a mission to fuse Northwest cuisine and the flavors of the South.
The menu featured combinations such as pimento caesar salad, steelhead and grits, pickle pizza and a poutine smothered in bleu cheese peppercorn cream sauce.
Gift cards can be redeemed until the restaurant closes, or contact Willingham for a refund.
Send your news tips to news@tricityherald.com.
This story was originally published December 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM.