Burger biz coming to Lacey, Craft District cider site will close, and pharmacy expands

A restaurant that combines two comfort foods, the American hamburger and Japanese “katsu,” a breaded, deep fried pork cutlet, is coming to Lacey, a spokesman for the business said this week.

Katsu Burger is aiming to open its ninth Western Washington location in October, said media director Christopher Poetter.

Their choice of location is the Lacey Downs Plaza , which is where the Lacey Post Office is.

Poetter said the business has wanted to expand to South Sound for a long time, but those plans were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its first location opened in the Georgetown area of Seattle in 2011, he said.

The restaurant serves katsu-style pork, chicken, tofu and plant-based options, but the signature dish is the burger, which features a fried, breaded patty, which Poetter described as similar to a “beef crab cake.”

There also are shoestring fries and milk shakes. The fries come with a choice of seasonings, such as regular sea salt, Japanese curry powder, a 12-spice blend or sprinkled with nori, a Japanese seaweed. Dipping sauces are all homemade, Poetter said.

He added that the Lacey location will be run by a husband and wife team from Lacey.

For more about Katsu Burger, visit the restaurant’s website .

Taproom will close

Finnriver Farm & Cidery , which opened a taproom almost exactly a year ago at the Tumwater Craft District on Capitol Boulevard at E Street, is closing the location, the business announced on its website .

“We have made the difficult decision to close the Tumwater Taproom at the end of September,” the message reads. “Our final day of service in the Tumwater Taproom will be September 28th.”

“We want to express our deepest gratitude for the community this space has brought us closer to and for your continued support. As we approach ‘Last Call,’ let’s celebrate the magic of the apple and human connection! Thank you for being a part of our story and we hope you’ll come by and raise a glass!”

Pharmacy expands

The owner of the Hawks Prairie Health Mart Pharmacy on Marvin Road Northeast has expanded to Panorama , the senior retirement community in southeast Lacey, pharmacy owner Sunil Gowda said this week.

The Panorama Pharmacy Health Mart is in the main building of the sprawling campus at 1751 Circle Lane SE. The pharmacy is open to the public, Gowda said.

The Panorama location opened a month ago, but celebrated its grand opening on Wednesday, including a Thurston County Chamber of Commerce-hosted ribbon cutting. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Gowda opened the Hawks Prairie location 11 years ago. He recently added compounding services there and they also will be available at the Panorama site, he said.

They also do flu shots and vaccines at the new location, Gowda said.

Award winners

Experience Olympia & Beyond , the area’s visitor and convention bureau, has announced its Tourism Award Winners. The winners were nominated by their peers and voted on and selected by the 2024-2025 Experience Olympia & Beyond board of directors.

Boldness in Tourism award

The winner: Patrick and Christina Costelo, Legends Arcade .

The nominees: George Sharp, Thurston EDC; Christen Green, Team Tomorrow; Taber Lee, Port of Olympia; Desiree Freeland, Olympia Downtown Alliance; Britt Bowman, city of Tumwater; Line Roy, city of Yelm; Monique Ossa, Ossa Skinworks.

Excellence in hospitality award

The winner: Elise Landry, Chicory .

The nominees: Janine Phillips, Hampton Inn & Suites, Lacey; Christen Greene, Team Tomorrow; Amilia Fosberg, Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar; Jose Guzman, Olympia Tumwater Foundation; Christian Skillings, Iron Rabbit and Cynara.

Patrick Knutson Tourism Legend Award

The winner: George Sharp, Thurston EDC .

The nominees: Eli Sterling, Earthbound Productions; Patty Belmonte, Hands On Children’s Museum; John Freedman, Olympia Tumwater Foundation; Christen Greene, Team Tomorrow; Sophia Landis, Sofie’s Scoops.

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If you 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.