Exclusive | Love’s travel center and 2 new restaurants to open in Tri-Cities
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Coming soon to the Tri-Cities
The latest news on new restaurants and businesses in the Tri-Cities
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A handful of new businesses are betting on increased warehouse production in Pasco.
The Highway 395 exit near Kartchner Street and Commercial Avenue will soon be home to two new restaurants and a travel center.
Love’s
Love’s is building a truck stop and travel center on a 9.2-acre plot off Capitol Street between Kartchner and Hillsboro Street.
The truck stop will feature a 10,000-square-foot convenience store with an Arby’s restaurant. It will also have gas pumps for both passenger vehicles and commercial trucks.
The truck stop portion will have a 5,000-square-foot tire shop for 18-wheelers, as well as 55 truck parking spaces.
The truck stop will be in a prime location for drivers coming to and from the forthcoming Amazon warehouses, Darigold processing plant, Reser’s Fine Foods plant expansion and dozens of other industrial businesses in the area.
The Oklahoma-based Love’s is well known for its accommodations for truckers, such as showers and 18-wheeler maintenance.
Caitlin Campbell, a spokeswoman for the company, told the Herald in an e-mail that they are planning for an August opening for the travel center.
“The location will have plenty of amenities to help get customers back on the road quickly and safely including clean restrooms, fresh food and drinks, Love’s Mobile to Go Zone and a dog park,” Campbell said.
According to the company’s website, they will open 40 new travel centers this year, bringing their total locations up to 420 truck stops with 1,500 maintenance bays. They also have some non-truck stop locations, for a total of 580 locations in 41 states.
Each location creates an average of 75 jobs.
Garibaldi
A beloved Mexican restaurant that changed ownership during the first wave of COVID shutdowns in 2020 is getting a new lease on life.
The original Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant, at 707 Court St. in Pasco, became Desert Heat when owner Ismael Tovar sold it in summer 2020.
Now he’s looking to relaunch at a new location. Tovar is taking over the old King City Restaurant, at 2125 E. Hillsboro St., near the new Love’s Truck Stop.
The new Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant doesn’t have an opening date yet, but Tovar has said on social media posts that hiring has begun and they are nearing completion.
Cafe Magnolia
Cafe Magnolia has set its grand opening.
The new European inspired cafe has taken over the old home of Koko’s Bartini, in the Cynergy Centre at 4309 W. 27th Pl St. 100
The restaurant is the newest venture for Nena Cosic, owner of European Deserts by Nena, and her fiance Chad Langford.
The two-day grand opening is set for Friday, June 17, and Saturday, June 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days.
Cafe hours will tentatively be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and it will feature a full drive-thru. She also plans to continue to offer custom orders.
Cosic said customers will be able find her famous meatball sandwiches, Mediterranean style breakfast, charcuterie boards and sandwiches and the European treats she is known for.
They’re also planning to offer coffee, beer and wine.
She is particularly excited to be able to offer cakes and charcuterie boards through the drive-up window.
In addition to the dining area, they plan to expand the outdoor seating and create a quiet corner in the hallway just outside the restaurant.
Only Tacos
A new food truck is coming to the Columbia Gardens Wine and Artisan Village.
Only Tacos will be open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. They can be found in the Columbia Gardens food truck plaza at 325 E. Columbia Gardens Way, off of East Columbia Drive.
Co-owners Jesus Rodriguez and Manuel “Curly” Montijo plan to offer regionally inspired flavors from across Mexico. They’re also eager to share the history of the ingredients that inspired each dish, according to a news release.
Other food trucks currently operating at Columbia Gardens include Ann’s Best Creole and Soul Food, Bobablastic Tri-Cities, Culture Shock Bistro, Swampy’s BBQ and Taste of Wok.
