Shop Talk | Numerous businesses looking for new digs

There's no better way to gauge the retail and restaurant landscape than to keep track of who is property hunting.

Of course, securing property doesn't always mean a new store or a restaurant -- how many times has WinCo Foods purchased property here?

Still, the fact that a business is looking in the first place can shed light on the business and how it's doing.

So here's my short list of places that are looking:

* Truly Scrumptious Cupcakery Bakery -- The cupcake shop recently announced on its Facebook page that it's searching for a new location, saying the shop has outgrown its location at Track 29 in downtown Yakima. Bakery owners Mike and Lana Wharton spent the holidays running a cupcake stand at Chalet Place, the shopping center on 56th and Summitview avenues, but it's unclear whether the shop will end up there permanently.

* Kabob House -- A few weeks ago, I wrote about a former cook at the restaurant looking to open a similar restaurant at the former Casa Mia building, just down the street from the Kabob House at 3609 W. Nob Hill Blvd. Meanwhile, managers and owners at the Kabob House have been telling customers that they are looking to expand to other areas in Central Washington, including the Tri-Cities and Ellensburg.

* Wing Central/Roadhouse Grill -- Here's a hat tip to Savannah Tranchell, the Yakima Herald-Republic's food writer, for this piece of news. You may have seen Tranchell's review of the Ellensburg restaurant in last week's On magazine. In that piece, Tranchell reported that owner Jim Rowe is looking for a Yakima location. Rowe also operates a Wing Central location in Seattle.

* Lowe's -- The hardware retailer has been looking for property in the last few years for a larger store. The store had property in Union Gap under contract, but things have been quiet with that particular development. There's chatter that the hardware retailer is eyeing other properties.

New eatery in the works on Nob Hill

Several of you were curious about some activity at the corner of 32nd Avenue and Nob Hill Boulevard in Yakima.

Husband and wife Sandy and Machelle Quenzer are renovating a home at 3207 W. Nob Hill Blvd. for Sloppy Slaw Burgers and Ribs, which will offer several homemade items, including half-pound burgers, fries, beef and pork ribs and potato salad.

"It's something you would see on 'Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,' " said Machelle Quenzer, referring to the popular Food Network show that looks at interesting restaurants throughout the U.S.

The couple have always enjoyed cooking and friends have suggested looking into opening a restaurant, she said.

The idea lingered for years, but ultimately they wanted to be free of regrets.

"We just said, 'Throw in the hat, let's try it.' " Machelle Quenzer said.

They hope to open sometime next month.

New espresso stand opens

A new espresso stand has opened just off the corner of Summitview and 32nd avenues in Yakima.

Summitbrew Espresso has opened next to The Flower Garden (the business once used the stand as a potting area for its flowers). The stand uses coffee from Batdorf and Bronson, an Olympia-based company.

Owner Don Aman, 40, wanted to provide another coffee option for those traveling along Summitview Avenue, a street he drives daily to his downtown Yakima business, Strategic Alliance Wealth Management.

"We need good coffee and I wanted to provide a couple of jobs," he said.

The stand has two employees with the possibility for more as business picks up, he said.

Hours for the coffee stand are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

Recent thoughts from Shop Talk readers:

* "Now that we are getting stores worth shopping at, people are staying here to shop instead of heading out of town." -- Melissa Kessinger on Facebook about why she thinks local retailers were successful during the 2011 holiday season.

* "(I) strongly disagree with the bill HB2646. I didn't, and don't, like I-1183 but prefer to wait a couple of years before making the next random change." -- Joe Glasscok on Facebook about a new bill seeking to stop Costco from selling liquor.

* "Seems to me the Sub Shop makes excellent sandwiches at a very reasonable price. Why would we want/need or welcome a national chain that takes most of its profits out of town?" -- Ben Johnson, commenting on a recent Shop Talk blog about Jimmy John's arrival in downtown Yakima.

* "Because we deserve to have a choice! Their employees will bring money back into the community." -- Debbie Sills, responding to Johnson's comment.

Join in the Shop Talk conversation and get the latest updates by checking out Shop Talk on the online blog (www.yakimaherald.com/shoptalk), Facebook (www.facebook.com/shoptalkyakima) and Twitter (www.twitter .com/shoptalkyakima).

* 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.