Kennewick Taco Bell is flattened. This will replace it
Twenty-six years is apparently the lifespan of a fast-food restaurant building in the Tri-Cities.
The 1992-built Taco Bell restaurant at one of the busiest intersections in Kennewick — Highway 395 and West Kennewick Avenue — was demolished last week to make room for a bigger, greener replacement.
A 2,530-square-foot building will replace the 2,000-square-food old one.
Like the original, it will have a drive-through and still deliver Taco Bell lovers' same favorites, including Grilled Stuft Burritos, Nachos Supreme and Doritos Locos Tacos.
The Kennewick Avenue Taco Bell and its sisters at Southridge in Kennewick, at Queensgate in Richland and on Court Street in Pasco, are owned by Columbia Bells LLC, a division of Weber Enterprises. Weber is a franchisee of the parent company, Yum! Brands.
Lindsay Johnston, director of development for the Eugene, Ore.-based Weber, said the new building will be the first in the company to have a next generation HVAC system.
Other energy-saving touches include LED lighting, light sensors that automatically turn lights on and off and next generation food friers.
"It's a busy location for us," she said.
The 30 employees are working at the three other Weber-owned Taco Bells during the rebuild.
Watts Construction is the contractor. Johnston said the restaurant should reopen by mid-August.
The city of Kennewick issued permits for the project in April, nearly a year after owners first approached the city with the plans.
Fiesta Mexican Restaurant hits Richland
A homegrown Mexican brand is expanding. Fiesta Mexican Restaurant announced on its Facebook page that it is opening a Richland location at 2731 Queensgate Drive.
Isidro Ortiz and his mother, Teresa, created Pasco-based Fiesta Mexican Restaurant Inc. 17 years ago.
With the Queensgate addition, it will have full-service restaurants in all three cities. The ribbon cutting and grand opening is June 7.
Analare gets saucy this summer
Anelare Winery launches a monthly series of French cooking classes May 23 at the Benton City winery, offering hands-on cooking demonstrations covering five French "mother sauces" — Bechamel, Veloute, Tomato, Espagnole (brown) and Hollandaise.
The series begins with Madame Porter of Bon Voyage French School, who will explore how to make an authentic Bechamel sauce, along with a mini lesson in French. Future sessions will be June 27, July 25, Aug. 22 and Sept. 26.
Cost is $49. The class is 6 to 8 p.m. at the winery, 19205 N. McBee Road. Register online.
This story was originally published May 22, 2018 at 12:42 PM with the headline "Kennewick Taco Bell is flattened. This will replace it."