Shop Talk-- What to look for in the second half of the year

For those of you keeping track, we're officially in the second half of 2011.

Perhaps you're wondering where the first half went. Or maybe you're panicking because you're far from completing all the New Year's resolutions you made.

For Shop Talk, I'll use it as a chance to look back at the past six months and share what to expect in the months to come.

Restaurants

All things considered, it's been a solid first half for the local restaurant industry.

Several new restaurants opened their doors to eager Valley diners looking for something new. Creekside West, which opened earlier this year at 40th and Washington avenues, appears to be maintaining its opening day momentum, judging from the full parking lots during most nights of the week.

Another eatery getting some new-restaurant buzz is 5 North, the reincarnation of The Greystone at 5 N. Front St. While some of The Greystone's regulars may be yearning for the past, most have been responsive to owner Brad Masset's revamped bar and menu.

In the quicvice category, diners were introduced to Memo's, a 24-hour Mexican quick-casual concept from Western Washington, when it opened a location on South First Street.

And I would be remiss to talk about the restaurant industry without mentioning all the new cupcake businesses; can Yakima support all of them?

Restaurants also faced challenges, however. Diners paid higher checks as gas prices and rising commodity prices forced many restaurants from fast food joints to fine dining establishments to raise menu prices.

The cold and rainy spring in the Yakima Valley delayed many crops, such as asparagus, forcing restaurants to offer winter produce for a few extra weeks and to hold out on their spring and summer menu items.

What to watch for in the second half:

* Taco Bell is arriving in West Valley with a new location, now under construction at the Orchards Shopping Center at 72nd Avenue and Tieton Drive.

* It seems that TSS Yogurt's plans to open at the Westpark shopping center on 40th and Summitview avenues are currently frozen (pun intended). Will consumers see a thaw in the coming months?

* On North First Street, there are signs that the former Twin Bridges Inn is making a comeback. There are building permit and business applications for the eatery at 1315 N. First St., but it's unclear whether there will be any major changes.

* While there are plenty of new local and regional joints, we didn't see any new national chain restaurants, a big demand from many local diners. (I'll save the local vs. chain debate for later.) The Valley Mall in Union Gap is looking to recruit some big names. Will those efforts come to fruition?

Shopping

The biggest highlight in 2011 for the Valley Mall was the opening of Kohl's Department Store in the former Gottschalks space in March.

Besides Kohl's, however, new store activity, when compared to this time last year, has been lacking. CenterCal Properties, the Portland-area firm that owns the mall, has done more work behind the scenes, particularly land-use studies at the forostco site. CenterCal Properties is under contract to buy the property at 1400 E. Washington Ave.

CenterCal CEO Fred Bruning has also mentioned that CenterCal is working on several leases for the Valley Mall and the Costco property, though he has been mum on specific names.

What to watch for in the second half:

* Nothing is guaranteed, but most are expecting that CenterCal will be successful in closing on the purchase of the former Costco property in the coming weeks.

* Confirmed names for new retailers and eateries coming to the Valley may be forthcoming. Permits are out for a Gap Outlet store at the Valley Mall Plaza, and J.C. Penney and Dick's Sporting Goods have been mentioned as possibilities for the Costco property. But shoppers will still have to wait to see it (or at least hear it from CenterCal) before they believe it.

Commercial property

After a year of actively marketing the space, downtown property and business owner Joe Mann found a tenant for the former Liquidation World space at 16 ird St.

Farther north, developer Ben Shoval introduced his new modular building shopping center, Plaza Yakima, at the former Lariat Drive-In property at 1205 N. First St.

Meanwhile, the spring has seen new construction activity throughout the Yakima area, including new office and retail space at 48th and Summitview avenues and some new retail space at the Orchards Shopping Center.

And it's no Winco supermarket, but there was a bit of construction activity in the Valley Mall Boulevard area with a new car wash across the street from Costco.

What to watch for in the second half:

* While there has not been much activity on vacant property around the West Valley Walmart supercenter at 64th Avenue and Nob Hill Boulevard so far this year, I've received indications that there are people interested in the property.

* Winco has been quiet about the future of its property catty-cornered from Costco. Will that silence be broken by the end of 2011?

* Commercial real estate brokers have mentioned that they expect more activity in the next few months. I'll be watching to see if some of those empty buildings and parcels will see some new life.

* With the expected opening of K&K Custom Furniture at the former Liquidation World space this fall, will that give downtown a boost and bring in more retail and restaurant activity?

* Mai Hoang's Reporter's Notebook is published Mondays in the Marketplace section. To reach her, call 509-577-7685 or email maihoang@yakimaherald.com.