What does one do after a 30-plus year career at Lacey Fire District 3? You go into business, of course.

Or at least that’s the path Craig Richards has taken. He had an interest in smoked meats, his business partner and brother-in-law James Mickelson wanted to do something in coffee, so the two of them, along with Dawn, Craig’s wife, agreed on a business that combines both endeavors called Coffee Pub NW Bar & Grill.

It opened April 1 just off Old Highway 99 near Spud’s in Tumwater and Richards retired from the fire department the same week. One might consider taking it easy in retirement, but Richards said, “I like to do stuff.”

“I served the community in one capacity as a firefighter and now I’m in service to it in another way,” he said.

Their location has a drive-up espresso window, which opens at 6 a.m. The indoor space opens at 7 a.m. and the pub closes at 9 p.m. The last call for food is 8:30 p.m. because that’s when the kitchen closes, he said. The business is open daily.

For their coffee, they are using an Alder-smoked coffee bean produced by Caffe D’arte in Federal Way. For the menu, Richards gets to put his smoker to use, cooking up pork belly tacos, or how about a Mount Rainier sandwich? It’s made with beef brisket, pork butt, pulled chicken, sweet barbecue sauce, cole slaw, pickled onions and candied jalapenos, to name just some of the ingredients. For the tacos, the pork belly is seasoned, smoked, cut into strips and added to the taco, plus other ingredients, such as those candied jalapenos.

Richards said the tacos are among the most popular items so far at the new business. They also serve sausage and bacon breakfast burritos.

“The first week was a whirlwind, crazy busy,” he said. “We are super appreciative of the support from the community, friends and other folks in the business community who shared their advice.”

Coffee and Pub NW is at 804 79th Ave. SE, Suite 108, in Tumwater.

Other business happenings

Olympia Copy & Printing, which is at 704 Franklin St. SE in downtown Olympia, is closing after 53 years of business, the owner announced on the business website.

“At age 68, cancer reared its ugly head for the fifth time in January,” the owner writes. “The need to come up with an exit became obvious. The building sold in March and the new owners will take possession May 1st. The business is also closing in its current form—I had to face the very agonizing decision, it was time.

“It was of utmost importance that my book of business remain local. Graphic Communications will have our digital files and records so you may continue with reorders/new orders and develop relationships with them.

“We, at OlyCopy will tearfully lock our doors together one last time April 30th, 2024.”

Blue Heron Bakery in west Olympia, which has provided the South Sound community with bread, granola and other goodies for more than 46 years, is now a community-owned co-op as of April 1, the organization announced.

The business transitioned from one owner, Evan Price, to one that now has 25 workers and more than 300 consumer members, according to a news release.

The co-op has adopted a management structure called Sociocracy, which allows workers to have an equal voice in deciding how the operations will work with the motto “Good enough for now, safe enough to try.”

“Our employee member owners are excited to work as a team and take on more responsibility collectively. We are like a family here, and all have the same goal in mind; to keep Blue Heron Bakery’s spirit strong and to continue to serve our loyal community indefinitely,” said staff member and Director Ella Foley in a statement.

Summit Pacific Medical Center in Elma, which is expanding, has received $2.5 million in federal funding toward that goal, the hospital announced.

“When the expansion is complete in Spring 2026, SPMC will have nearly doubled the current footprint with a 30,000-square-foot addition, including an increase in bed capacity, an expanded Emergency Department, more areas for triage and patient holding, round-the-clock MRI services, and enhanced patient flow,” a news release reads.

“The infusion of federal funding is a significant financial boost that will help us enhance health care services for our growing community for years to come,” said Chief Executive Josh Martin in a statement.

In addition to the federal funding, SPMC has also secured about $60 million in revenue bonds to support the expansion project.

People News

Jamila Thomas is the new chief administrative officer at Washington State Employees Credit Union, the credit union announced.

Thomas previously served as Gov. Jay Inslee’s chief of staff and as chief of staff to Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal among other senior leadership roles in state government, according to a news release.

Thomas earned an undergraduate degree with an emphasis in political science from The Evergreen State College in Olympia.

In her new role, Thomas will work directly with the credit union’s board of directors and oversee WSECU’s human resources, public relations, community relations and organizational development teams.

A new taproom comes to Tumwater and a taco restaurant aims to open May 1

Brewery transformed to baseball facility, oyster bar eyes new space, fusion eatery opens

Downtown Olympia bank to be acquired by Tacoma-based credit union

If you know of a retailer, restaurant, coffee shop or other business that is opening, closing, expanding, remodeling, or changing its focus, send an email to reporter Rolf Boone at rboone@theolympian.com.