SGL/BMW spurs plans for coffee house
A new coffeehouse and bakery is planned for Moses Lake, to be located at the corner of North Evelyn Drive and West Central Drive.
MOSES LAKE - The construction of SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers' Moses Lake plant piqued a Mukilteo LLC's interest in starting a new coffee house.
Starting in July, Yao's LLC could start building a new 4,200 square-foot coffeehouse and bakery in Moses Lake, said Paul Wong, the project's Mukilteo-based architect, on Friday.
The project is going through the permitting process with the City of Moses Lake.
The business, Old Blue Coffee House and Bakery, would be located at the corner of North Evelyn Drive and West Central Drive.
The business's owner, Ted Yao, of Yao's LLC, liked the area, as Moses Lake is growing, Wong said.
Wong also said he and Yao learned about SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers LLC, the joint venture between SGL Group and BMW Group, by reading a Seattle newspaper.
"Moses Lake is kind of growing," Wong commented. "With BMW, it's kind of a neat area."
It's why Yao ventured out to Moses Lake, even without having any family, businesses or other connections in the area, Wong said.
It is also Yao's first coffee house.
Wong estimated five or six people would staff the coffee house.
Once completed, the business offers a drive-through lane for espresso sales and Wi-Fi for customers.
If all goes as planned, the business could be completed by October, he said.
A builder hasn't been selected because Wong needs to complete the plan, he explained.
Wong visited the site a few times.
"It's pretty nice," he says. "It's a cozy area, away from the traffic."
The neighborhood has a ball field, where there's plenty of activity in the summer months, commented Debbie Doran-Martinez, executive director of the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce
Some site selection teams for businesses have made inquires at the chamber, she said.
They do not disclose who they are.
The chamber is also referring people to the Grant County Trends Web site, www.grantcountytrends.ewu.edu, for area information.
"It has all of our data in a nutshell," she said.
A public hearing for the project's site plan review starts at 7 p.m., March 24, before the city's planning commission.
The hearing is located at city council chambers, 411 S. Balsam St.
The deadline for the public's written comments is up until the date of the hearing.
For more information, call 509-764-3749.