Article was written by Rolf Boone for the Olympian.
Drive by Tumwater’s Craft District on Capitol Boulevard, which already has one building that houses Heritage Distilling Co., and you’ll see a second building under construction
It’s the 17,000-square-foot “market building,” which will house a number of retailers, said John Peters, co-developer and co-owner of the site.
A brewery, a winery and a cidery are set to open there, as well as a restaurant and bakery, he said. Peters said they also are talking to two more restaurants and food truck operators about coming to the new location. One of those tenants is Fortuity Cellars from the Yakima Valley, he said.
Construction Delays
Construction of the market building, which was delayed by the pandemic, is set to open in the first quarter of 2023. There are big plans for the entire Craft District site. At full build out, it will be home to 6-7 buildings and an amphitheater, Peters said.
One of those additional buildings is set to be occupied by a business called Ember Goods, which has plans to expand to Tumwater, Peters said. Ember Goods now has a store on Washington Street in downtown Olympia.
The developers of the craft district also have a plan for housing in the area, wanting to build 95 apartments between the Craft District and the La Quinta Inn on Capitol Boulevard.
Coffee Alternative – Shroof
Are you drinking too much coffee these days and wanting an alternative to the jittery feeling caffeine can create?
If the answer is yes, you are part of the market Olympia-based business owner Joe Farafontoff is trying to capture with his new product Shroof, a coffee alternative. Largely made of mushrooms, Farafontoff says the drink offers sustained energy without the downsides of drinking too much coffee.
It’s also healthier for him. Born with a congenital heart defect, Farafontoff, 28, has had three open-heart surgeries. And yet he previously turned to coffee when he worked in the go-go industries of software sales and cryptocurrency (Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency) in the Bay Area.
But even one to two cups of coffee wasn’t good for him, he said.
Wanting ultimately to be closer to family in the Seattle area and with a desire to start his own business, Farafontoff finally settled in west Olympia and launched Shroof in June.
Other ingredients in Shroof include cacao and cinnamon, which, combined with the mushrooms, gives it an earthy taste with chocolate and cinnamon notes. It does not taste like coffee, he said. Farafontoff said he likes to drink his Shroof with milk and honey.
The name “Shroof” is a play on the word “mushroom” and the four “Fs” in Joe’s last name.
For more information about Shroof, or to purchase some, go to: https://shroof.com/
Home Furnishings in Olympia
Seldens Designer Home Furnishings, which operates locations in Olympia, Tacoma and Bellevue, has acquired Summer House, an outdoor patio furniture store with showrooms in Bellevue and at Southcenter Mall, the business announced.
Seldens will acquire Summer House’s assets and inventory, including their current showrooms and warehouse, according to a news release. However, Summer House management and employees will remain in place.
Prominent local home builder Rob Rice Homes is exploring a new project in Tumwater, according to city information.
The home-building business wants to subdivide 55 acres at 3717 49th Ave. SW for a 192-unit development it is calling Vista Views at Black Lake.
