TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | NOVEMBER 2021
RETAIL Galerías La Estrella
Photo by Kristina Lord Saleswoman Fernanda Guzmán said one benefit of shopping at Galerías La Estrella, at 103 N. Fourth Ave. in downtown Pasco, is that most of what’s on display on the showroom floor is in stock at the business’ local warehouse.
RETAIL, From page A26 Customers also have been eager to upgrade their furnishings after a year-plus of working from home. Sofas and mattresses are top sellers. “We have been doing really good,” she said. The furniture season typically slows down in December and January, but restarts with tax rebate season after New Year’s. Search 103 N. Fourth Ave., Pasco; galeriaslaestrella.com.
Concrete Jungle Outdoor Decor
R
andy Blumer earned a degree in fine arts and made a living as a commercial real estate broker. He could retire, but when a tenant for a building he owns in downtown Kennewick disappeared one night, he decided to
take over the space himself. The result was Concrete Jungle Outdoor Decor, which sells fountains, garden statues, figurines and more. That was seven years ago, and he’s still at it. If he wasn’t having fun, he said, he’d close and retire. Concrete Jungle isn’t a typical holiday business. It is seasonal, roughly paralleling irrigation season. It typically closes by Thanksgiving and reopens in late February or early March when Tri-Citians emerge and take stock of their yards but he’ll happily meet with customers during the winter months by appointment. His customers are homeowners and the occasional landscaper. The pandemic has brought its challenges, but Blumer said Concrete Jungle broke even in 2020 and was tracking to turn a profit in 2021. He expects a strong year in 2022 as well. For Blumer, switching from disinterest-
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Concrete Jungle Outdoor Decor
Photo by Kristina Lord Randy Blumer won’t sell the cracked Renaissance-style statue at his Concrete Jungle store at 102 W. Kennewick Ave. in downtown Kennewick because he likes how it looks in one of the display fountains, but he’ll happily sell a new one and let you break it, if you want to replicate the look. Blumer offers a variety of fountains, pots and statues at his store, which has been open for seven years.
ed landlord to downtown business owner opened his eyes to the thriving culture of Kennewick’s historic sector. He praised the many restaurants and the sense of camaraderie among shop owners, and the newcomers, such as Red Mountain Commercial Kitchen, who are bringing in new customers. “This will be open as long as I’m enjoying it,” he said. “I love it. People are great. I love to talk.” As he prepared to close for the season, one item in his inventory wasn’t for sale.
A Renaissance-style statue of a woman lay artfully broken in half. There wasn’t anything artful about her though: The concrete statue broke when it fell from a delivery truck. Blumer loves her and so to do the customers who want to buy her for their own garden follies. “She’s mine to keep. I like her. They can buy a new one and take a sledgehammer to her,” he said. Search 102 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick; JungleYardArt.com.
Winter Classes December 2 4-6 p.m.
Audition Workshop Grades 4-12
This workshop is designed to help you learn what it takes to put your best foot forward at auditions! Timed to help you with ACT’s upcoming Auditions for Robbin’ Hoodie but also this workshop will help with any auditions you might have on the horizon too!
December 4-18 9-10:30 a.m.
Snowman Stories Pre-K
Celebrate the season by using Story Drama to recreate and explore your favorite snowman characters! (Who likes warm hugs?)
December 4-18 9-11 a.m.
Frozen Tales Grades 1-3
Winter is the perfect time for Frozen Tales! This Creative Drama class is your opportunity to have fun with all things frosty, frozen and fabulous!
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(509) 545-0101 clickitrvtricities.com
December 4-18 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Musicals: Annie Grades 4-6
Help us celebrate the season with a classic musical. Annie! In this class we’ll work with songs and dances from the beloved family musical.
December 4-18 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Musicals: Elf Grades 7-12
Buddy the Elf is coming to a stage near you! And you can help him sing and dance his way through the holiday season! In this class you’ll work with songs and dances from the new holiday classic musical Elf!
Register for classes online at academyofchildrenstheatre.org 213 Wellsian Way, Richland | (509) 943-6027 | info@actstaff.org