March 2016
Volume 15 • Issue 3
Hospitality
WSU Hospitality program grows in Tri-Cities Pages 13-17
Real Estate & Construction
New restaurant options emerge in Richland Pages 19-33
Insurance
Don’t overlook long-term care insurance pages 37-41
he Said It “Most of us hope we’ll die in our sleep when we are 90 and never need it,” - Scott Smith, State Farm agent, speaking of long-term care insurance page 37
Legislators look to end municipal marijuana bans, moratoriums
By John Stang for TCAJOB Benton and Franklin counties could find their bans and moratoriums on selling retail marijuana revoked in 2017. Just before the end of the 2016 legislative session, Rep. Chris Hurst, D-Enumclaw, and Rep. Cary Condotta, R-East Wenatchee, introduced a bill to require counties and cities to lift their bans and moratoriums on the retail sale of marijuana. Unless the bill finds its way into the Legislature’s final budget bill by Mar. 10, it will be on the legislative docket in 2017. Hurst is chairman of the House Commerce & Gaming Committee, which handles marijuana issues in the House. Condotta is the committee’s ranking Republican. Marijuana can be grown, processed and sold in many Washington cities and counties. And many cities and counties have voted to ban those activities —creating a patchwork of where selling marijuana is legal and illegal across the state. Hurst’s and Condotta’s bill would forbid bans on retail shops, but would allow bans on processors and growers. Benton County has a moratorium on allowing new retail pot dealers. Franklin County, Pasco, Kennewick, Richland and West Richland have outright bans on growing, processing and selling marijuana. Two teen boys allegedly killing a third teen boy over pot in February in Federal Way— which bans marijuana — helped prompt Hurst’s and Condotta’s bill. They contend that a city or county banning retail marijuana does not stop pot-related crime, while simultaneously providing more of a market for illegal marijuana. Since about 65 percent of Washington’s marijuana is sold illegally, adding stores helps cut down on illegal traffic, they said. “It feels like people are closing their eyes and saying marijuana doesn’t exist because we have a ban or a moratorium,” said Hurst at a Mar. 2 committee hearing on the bill. Marijuana interests supported the bill at the hearing, while the Association of Washington Cities and the Washington Association of Counties opposed it. uMARIJUANA, Page 10
Supermex owner Jesus Higareda-Diaz helps bags groceries at Supermex in Pasco. He has built one of the fastest-growing Mexican grocery stores in the Tri-Cities. At Supermex in Pasco you can find everything from unique Mexican candies and tequilas, and savor tacos and fruit juices
Hispanic grocery store Supermex brings the taste of Mexico to the Tri-Cities By Elsie Puig for TCAJOB Stepping into Supermex in Pasco is like stepping into a grocery store in Mexico — and that is exactly what owner Jesus Higareda-Diaz wants. Colorful murals adorn the walls depicting traditional Hispanic foods and produce, piñatas line the ceiling, the smell of authentic Mexican tacos fills the air, and the friendly staff greets you in Spanish. In fact, the motto of the store is “Un pedacito de México cerca de ti”, which means “A small piece of Mexico near you.” For many local Hispanics, stepping into Supermex is like stepping into their home away from home — although HigaredaDiaz said that his clientele is far more ethnically diverse that you might think,
including Russians, Koreans and Indians. He also draws shoppers from outside the Tri-Cities. Higareda-Diaz and his family settled in California in the late 1980s from Mexico. He was just 13 and for nearly 15 years he worked with his parents, who owned a similar grocery store in California. In 2002, he moved to the Tri-Cities in hopes of following in his parent’s footsteps and opening up his very own Mexican grocery store. He didn’t have any family here, but had heard it was a growing area and that businesses did well. Higareda-Diaz opened Supermex El Pueblo Market at 420 W. Lewis in downtown Pasco that same year. uSUPERMEX, Page 35
Sterling’s to start construction on new restaurant on George Washington Way By Mary Coffman Construction is expected to being in April on a new Sterling’s that will replace the George Washington Way restaurant. The new restaurant will be built at the east end of the current parking lot to take advantage of the view of the park and river. The trees that bordered the parking lot have already been removed to prepare for construction, said Saber Sterling, the daughter of Sterling’s Famous Steak & Salad Bar founder Jim Sterling. Saber Sterling said the new restaurant will be about the same size as the current one, which is about 6,000 sq. ft. and it will feature a large outdoor patio overlooking the river.
The current restaurant will remain open during construction of the new one, with overflow parking available in the adjacent parking lot of the former Chinese buffet restaurant. Saber Sterling said they hope to have the new restaurant open in August. The current restaurant was built in 1973 as a Sambo’s restaurant. Jim Sterling managed that property, then it became Banana’s, a franchise that was owned by Sterling and some partners. Sterling got out of the partnership but bought the property and started Sterling’s Famous Steak & Salad Bar in 1982. uSTERLINGS, Page 22
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