Openings: Waterside event center in Pasco + Kennewick's Slurpee King reimagined

Yahoo

14-06-2025

An intriguing building perched above the Columbia River at the Port of Pasco's barge dock is now available for private gatherings.
Wheelhouse Event Center, a partnership between Corina Manzano and Joey Jordan, renovated the vacant restaurant at 1350 S.E. Road 20 E., off Dock Street.
Wheelhouse offers about 1,700-square feet and deck space next to the Columbia River for groups of up to 70 people. Manzano said it's already hosted a memorial service, small quinceanera celebration and has booked birthday parties, retirement gatherings and other groups.
Manzano and Jordan will celebrate their new business with the Pasco Chamber of Commerce, which will hold a ribbon cutting and opening celebration from 3-6 pm., June 19.
Manzano and Jordan both are Pasco natives and had long been intrigued by the deteriorating building that's practically over the water. It once housed a restaurant serving the marina area, but had fallen into disrepair.
In it, they spied an opportunity to bring something fun to Pasco's east side that would complement the eventual development of homes and businesses at Osprey Pointe, which is nearby.
They contacted the Port of Pasco, which owns it, about doing something.
In time, the port advertised for contractors to repair the vacant structure. Manzano and Jordan both are general contractors. They submitted the lowest bid and jumped into the project.
The building needed everything but a roof, Manzano said.
They replaced floors, rebuilt walls, replaced the electrical and HVAC systems. The tore out the old restaurant kitchen, including walk-in refrigerator. They rebuilt bathrooms, constructed a kitchenette and repainted everything.
They hope to eventually replace the aging docks. For now, they're in precarious condition and are off limits to guests.
Follow Wheelhouse on Facebook @wheelhouse.event.center.
A long-closed 7-Eleven once crowned the 'Slurpee King of the World' is reopening as Slushee King .
The new business is owned by Gurjeet Bimal, a Walla Walla vape and convenience store operator. Bimal acquired the 2,500-square-foot former convenience at 3606 W. Clearwater Ave., under the name Bimal13 LLC.
Property records indicate the $765,000 sale closed in 2023, about two years after 7-Eleven closed
Building permits indicate Slushee King is giving the property a modest makeover with new kitchen, fire and other systems. A sign was posted at the store this spring.
The former 7-Eleven was crowned 'Slurpee King of the World' in 2007 after beating out competitors in Detroit, Mich., and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, for the title, according to a report citing Franchising.com, an industry publication.
In addition to icy drinks, Slushee King will sell beer, deli items and tobacco and vape products. There is no business by that name listed in state corporation databases
'Slurpee' is a trademark owned by 7-Eleven Inc.
Cafe Magnolia, the European style cafe, will leave its prominent spot at the Cynergy Centre in Kennewick for a newly-built space around the corner.
Cafe Magnolia will move to 2403 S. Quillan St., it said on a Facebook post.
Owner Nena Cosic aid they were planning to expand their current spot, 4309 W. 27th Place, Kennewick. They were concerned Cafe Magnolia would outgrow it.
The new space will have almost 5,000 square feet, which will accommodate both a cafe and an event venue and catering. it is expected to open this fall.