How an empty building near Columbia Center is getting a new look

Standard Paint and Flooring has purchased the former Staples building near Columbia Center as it expands its Tri-City business.

STPF-Kennewick LLC paid $2.5 million for the property at 1480 Tapteal Drive in Richland. The deal closed in December, according to Benton County property records.

The new owners will upgrade the 24,000-square-foot space to replace the existing Standard Paint and Flooring building at 360 N. Kellogg St.

Standard Paint and Flooring is a local, family-owned company. The new location will include a show room as well as full design center. The upgrade should be complete this year.

Staples opened in 1999 and closed in June 2016 as part of a larger round of store closures to save money after the Federal Trade Commission nixed its deal to merge with Office Depot.

This story was originally published January 9, 2018 at 11:55 AM with the headline "How an empty building near Columbia Center is getting a new look."