Marina explores makeover, grocery store opens, get a free backpack, try some Spam musubi

Representatives of West Bay Marina are set to get feedback next week on a proposal to redevelop the site, according to city of Olympia information .

“The existing marina is out of date and is not composed of environmentally friendly materials,” the project narrative reads. “The project consists of installation of new piers, ramps, pilings, and float systems with up-to-date environmental standards in a new configuration.

The narrative also states that the creosote-treated pilings will be removed and replaced with galvanized steel.

“The total proposed square footage is 49,891 square feet of grated floats, 1,552 square feet of grated piers and ramps, and 187 galvanized steel piling,” the narrative reads. “All covered moorage will be removed, and the overall square footage will be reduced by 2,053 square feet.”

The boat houses are not part of the project, according to marina officials.

“Some might be removed once the marina is upgraded; however, they are privately owned by residents that rent moorage space at the marina and not related to this project.”

The meeting with the city’s Site Plan Review Committee is set for 9 a.m. July 24.

Other business happenings

The Tumwater location of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue , known for popularizing Hawaiian-style cuisine, is participating in the fourth annual National Spam Musubi Day on Thursday, Aug. 8, the company announced.

What is musubi? It looks a bit like sushi, but instead of fish it is Spam on rice, wrapped in nori seaweed.

L&L is offering customers the chance to get free Spam musubi at the Tumwater location, redeemable through the L&L mobile app.

To redeem the free Spam musubi, customers must download the L&L app on the Apple Store or Google Play site, click on the free Spam musubi coupon, and download it to their cart. The offer is available while supplies last. For a full tutorial on how to download the app, go to hawaiianbarbecue.com .

The fourth annual National Spam Musubi Day coincides with the one year anniversary of the Lahaina wildfires. In observance of the date, L&L will match donations to the Maui Strong Fund up to $10,000. From Aug. 1-8, customers can donate through the L&L website or mobile app.

Grocery Outlet Bargain Market has opened a store in Elma. The store off Eagle Drive has helped create 30 new jobs in the community and will provide savings on name-brand merchandise for local consumers.

“Through my collaboration with Grocery Outlet, I have the opportunity to expand my business, generate employment opportunities in Elma, and, most importantly, contribute to the betterment of the local community,” said store operator Shannon Browning in a statement.

Grocery Outlet also has locations in Olympia, Lacey and Yelm.

The new store is at 10 Eagle Drive Elma, WA 98541. It’s open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m daily.

In an effort to ease the financial burden for families heading into another school year, Verizon Wireless retail locations, including in Olympia, will be giving away hundreds of backpacks at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 28.

Any leftover backpacks at the “School Rocks Backpack Giveaway” events will be donated to local schools of each store’s choice.

The Olympia store location is at 1204 Cooper Point Rd SW Suite 100.

People news

Washington State Employees Credit Union has hired two new vice presidents for the Olympia-based credit union.

The two hires are Aaron Collier and Shawn Dunn.

Collier has been hired as the VP of Information Technology. He will oversee enterprise architecture, IT infrastructure, business process automation and software engineering.

In his previous role, he served as the Chief Information Officer for Redwood Credit Union. Before that, he worked at WSECU as the Director of IT Infrastructure for 13 years.

Dunn has been hired as the VP of Data and Analytics. He will oversee the credit union’s data science, engineering and architecture teams. He previously served as the VP of Business Intelligence for Arrowhead Credit Union.

Both Redwood and Arrowhead credit unions are based in California.

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Long-awaited downtown restaurant among multiple biz openings this week

Downtown gets new restaurant and new bakery, but another restaurant is set to close

If y ou know of a retailer, restaurant, coffee shop or other business that is opening, closing, expanding, remodeling, or changing its focus, send an email to reporter Rolf Boone at rboone@theolympian.com.