Restaurant closed for ‘remodel’ 2 years ago may become something new
It’s been almost two years since Azteca Mexican Restaurants closed a Kennewick location amid promises of a remodel.
Today, the restaurant remains closed, and the property is being scrutinized for a duck-themed car wash.
This spring, Quick Quack Car Wash, based in Sacramento, Calif., met with Kennewick city officials about redeveloping the Azteca property at 2807 W. 10th Ave., at Highway 395 near the Kennewick Fred Meyer store.
Azteca closed in 2024 and posted a notice referring customers to its sister restaurant on West Canal Drive. The notice is still on the front door.
However, no building permits have been submitted, and no activity has been observed at the high-profile corner since the unexpected closure.
Wrecking ball?
The colorful restaurant could be demolished.
The city of Kennewick confirmed Quick Quack Car Wash applied for a pre-application meeting, which happened March 18.
Quick Quack has not filed a site plan or taken further action. The matter is listed as pending in city planning documents, and the preliminary interest is no guarantee the car wash will happen.
Benton County property records indicate the site is still owned by Ramos Ramirez Properties LLC, a sister to Azteca Restaurant Enterprises. It is valued at $2.5 million for tax purposes.
The city reports Quick Quack indicated its plan included clearing the site and building a 3,500-sqare-foot automated car wash with vacuums.
It would employ two to three and be designed to handle up to 100 vehicles an hour.
A Quick Quack executive confirmed the chain is looking at Tri-Cities locations, but did not say if Azteca is one.
What is ‘Quick Quack’
Quick Quack is a fast-growing chain of upscale car washes with about 300 locations in the western U.S.
It shares a green and yellow color scheme and duck mascot with the University of Oregon, where the official student newsletter is named “Quick Quack.”
There is no obvious connection between the car wash company and the school in Eugene.
Quick Quack is expanding into Oregon and Washington.
While it is chiefly focused on the Interstate 5 corridor, it opened its first Mid-Columbia car wash in March when it opened at 9 W. Valley Mall Blvd. in Yakima.
The Azteca site is within site of the newly opened Surf Thru Express car wash at Highway 395 and Seventh Street.