Fire closed this Kennewick landmark. Now, Hill's Restaurant is rising from the ashes
A beloved Kennewick dining joint is expected to reopen this fall after a devastating fire shut it down more than a year ago.
Hill's Restaurant is being substantially rebuilt at 24 Vista Way. G2 Construction expects to remove much of the fire-damaged building this week, setting the stage to rebuild a new, modern restaurant in its place.
The "new and improved" Hill's is to reopen about Nov. 1, said owner Nancy Galstad.
"We're looking forward to seeing old friends and new ones," she said. Earlier this month, she shared a Facebook post of a sign announcing the rebuild with the comment, "Can we get an amen!"
The original building was built in 1950 and was too old and damaged to rebuild without substantial demolition.
Kennewick officials confirmed they issued a permit for the work late last year and transferred it to G2 more recently. G2 confirmed it is taking on the project in a web post:
"The community will enjoy the familiar location but with a new, modern interior, new kitchen, restrooms, counter bar area, and better flow for the servers. Same great food, brand-new look. Thank you to the owners for choosing G2 for this project. We look forward to getting this business back up and running!"
The building is owned by CHM Development Co., based in Ketchum, Idaho.
A fire that apparently began in the kitchen closed the restaurant in October 2016, leaving the damaged shell of a building surrounded by a temporary chain link fence for months.
Galstad bought Hill's from founders Ronna and Tom Hill more than 20 years ago.
The couple opened the original restaurant in what is now the Columbia Center mall area. It moved to the former Max's Broiler on Vista Way in the early 1990s.
Roasters gives back
Tri-Cities-based Roasters Coffee raised $3,541 for Autism Help Group during its April 30 Community Giving Day. Roasters donated all profits from all drinks sold at its locations to support the Richland non-profit.
The fund raiser is the first of 12 community days. Profits from all drinks sold in the last Monday of each month will support local programs. Roasters, led by Wes Heyden, operates 10 locations in Kennewick, Pasco, Richland and West Richland.
More pancake house
A second-edition of a pancake concept that originated in Portland is set to open this summer in Richland.
Puyallup-based BTE Breakfast Co., the franchisee that brought The Original Pancake House to Washington in the Great Recession, opened the first local restaurant in 2016 near Trio Southridge Hospital.
A second location is under construction on Keene Road, near Yoke's Fresh Market in south Richland. BTE is led by Ryan Medford and Blake Williams.
This story was originally published May 15, 2018 at 12:57 PM with the headline "Fire closed this Kennewick landmark. Now, Hill's Restaurant is rising from the ashes."