Costa Vida expands to Richland

There will soon be two more places in the Tri-Cities to enjoy the fresh flavors of Costa Vida Mexican Fresh Grill.

There's already one near Southridge High School in Kennewick and two more are being built in Richland.

The restaurants are part of a national chain which features a Baja-inspired menu with lots of seafood and gluten-free and vegetarian options.

In 2011, when the Kennewick Costa Vida opened, Brian Dixon, marketing director for the chain, said food at the restaurants is prepared fresh every day and the chain is dedicated to serving healthy foods without added sodium, preservatives and other additions.

The restaurants' ingredients list is very simple, he told the Herald. For example, refried beans are just beans, vegetable oil and seasonings.

The two new restaurants will be at 3015 Duportail St. and 95 Gage Blvd. The franchises are owned by Cazier Enterprises of Tri-Cities, said Rick Simon, Richland's permit and development services manager.

Simon said the eatery on Duportail is in the Kennedy Plaza strip mall under construction near Gold's Gym and will take up 3,214 square feet. Tenant improvements are running $180,000.

Stick & Stone Wood Fired Pizza also will share 3,013 square feet in the same strip mall. Simon said the value of this tenant improvement is $200,000.

The second Costa Vida restaurant is going into a stand alone building on Gage, which also will house a Subway restaurant. The entire building will be 4,830 square feet and cost $613,809.

Calls this week to Jeb Cazier of Cazier Enterprises were not returned.

-- To submit business news, go to bit.ly/bizformtch.

-- Loretto J. Hulse: 582-1513; lhulse@tricityherald.com

This story was originally published September 18, 2013 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Costa Vida expands to Richland ."