Town Center: closings, openings and visioning update

Hennie McPennie, the kids’ shoes and toy store on 78th Avenue S.E., is closing after about two and a half years in business. Owners John and Teresa Keith declined to comment for a story, but said they have notified their customers.

This recent closure comes amid a series of changes in the Island business community — Han’s Garden, Hedman’s Salon, Mountains Plus and Veloce Velo all recently shut their doors.

Advocates Law Group will take over the former Mountains Plus showroom at 2448 76th Avenue S.E., and will host a ribbon cutting on Oct. 16.

Flower shop Anthophiles will open in the Mercer Apartments building, at 7650 S.E. 27th Street Suite 136, this spring.

The Town Center visioning process, aiming to produce a new development code for the area that activates the retail and provides a plan for parking, building heights and other downtown issues, will resume in the fall.

The city is targeting Aug. 31 for public release of the Interim Report on the process, said Development Services Group Director Scott Greenberg.

Rep. Judy Clibborn at  Sept. 10 Chamber lunch

State Rep. Judy Clibborn will be the speaker at the Chamber’s Sept. 10 Membership Luncheon beginning at noon.

She has represented the 41st District in the House for 13 years and chaired the House Transportation Committee for eight years.

Clibborn and Sen. Curtis King from Yakima worked for three years to on the comprehensive transportation package passed this July.

The $16.1 billion bill funds projects and programs across the state.

Call the Chamber office, 232-3404, to reserve your space.