The ribbon cutting ceremony was well attended by the community. The Chamber had Ambassador, Pierce County Business Accelerator Alum, and Chief Executive Officer of Impacto Notary & Multi-Services,  speak on its behalf, and even  made an appearance to support Welcome Restaurant. By the end of the cutting there was a line going outside the doors of people waiting to get a taste of Pinedo’s food!
 
Experience Welcome Restaurant’s ‘flavors without borders,’ head to 5105 N Pearl Street Ruston, WA 98407. You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, or give them a call at: (253) 375-4049. 

On June 24, the Chamber and City of University Place representatives celebrated Gravis Law’s expansion with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Guests had a chance to meet with members of Gravis Law’s team, including Chief Executive Officer & President, Brett Spooner, and Chief Operating Officer, Martin Ray Kilmer. There were several Gravis Law employees ready to answer questions about their work and explain the reason behind Gravis Law’s motto: ‘Making Law Uncomplicated.’
 
Before the speeches began, guests enjoyed live music, refreshments, and tours of the new office space. Randi Johnson, Chief Growth Officer, shared that “[Gravis Law] has a few vacant office spaces within the suite that [Gravis Law] wants to lease out to those who are interested in or already studying legal services.”
 
During the ribbon cutting ceremony, Spooner shared Gravis Law's founding story. He acknowledged how the four founders, the Gravis Law employees, and the community are relevant to its history and growth.  Derek Johnson, Senior Attorney || made the ceremonial cut of the ribbon to mark the conclusion of the ceremony.
 
Learn more about Gravis Law by visiting its website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or X pages. Gravis Law is located at 7350 Cirque Dr. W, Suite 201, University Place, WA 98467.

On June 17, Artist Robleto celebrated its one-year anniversary with a warm and vibrant celebration attended by friends, loyal clients, and fellow entrepreneurs.  
 
Located inside the Sola Salon Studios suites at Sixth Avenue Plaza in Tacoma, Artist Robleto is a spa and wellness center dedicated to bringing harmony and well-being to the body. Offering personalized services such as relaxing massages, renewing facials, and expert body sculpting, Artist Robleto has quickly built a reputation for excellence. Clients describe their experiences as “thoughtful and intuitive” and “relaxation and luxury at its best.” Bilingual services are available in Spanish and English, making self-care more accessible to a broader community. 
 
Founder Rosibel E. Robleto Morales welcomed attendees, offering tours, giveaways, face masks, and delicious food, including empanadas from Welcome Restaurant. 
A proud graduate of the Pierce County Business Accelerator (PCBA) program, Morales was joined by several fellow cohort members to celebrate this important milestone. 
 
Chamber Board Chair-Elect Chyna Willman led the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, recognizing Morales for her perseverance and accomplishments: opening a physical location, graduating from the PCBA, and growing her business despite the challenges of the past year. 
 
Morales delivered heartfelt remarks in Spanish, expressing deep gratitude to those in attendance and to the Chamber for its ongoing support. She shared that this celebration was not just a reflection of the past year’s hard work, but also the momentum she needed to continue moving forward. 
 
The Chamber was proud to celebrate Artist Robleto’s success alongside the PCBA community and Tacoma’s vibrant small business network. 
 
Learn more about Artist Robleto by visiting its Instagram. Book your services with Rosibel via phone at (253) 287-7201, so you can enjoy some pampering at 5401 6TH Ave, Sola Salon #300, studio #32, Tacoma, Washington, 98406. ​

On June 11, TAPCO Credit Union celebrated the opening of its newest branch at 176th and Canyon Road. Community partners such as Graham Business Association, TAPCO staff, media, and neighbors joined in the event to check out the new space, grab a bite to eat, and connect with others in attendance.
 
Branch Manager Elizabeth Stewart and her staff were on hand to greet guests and answer questions. She welcomed attendees and provided introductions to TAPCO leadership and elected officials who were on hand to share remarks in celebration of the new location.
 
President and CEO Justin Martin provided opening remarks, noting how long TAPCO Credit Union has served the community, and how its commitment to doing so would carry forth in the years to come. He emphasized that the new location was more than a financial services center, but a community hub designed to serve the people of Frederickson with available meeting space, a coffee shop, and pathways to connect with one another.
 
Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello brought his high energy to the event and highlighted how TAPCO’s history of consistently showing up for the community is a legacy in and of itself. Executive Mello noted that its support for its members and the greater Pierce County region is critical to the success of the area.
 
The new location has a lot to look forward to as Frederickson continues to grow. At the new branch there will be a Cutters Point Coffee Co. café and drive-thru open on-site by the end of the year, adding even more convenience for the community and members stopping by.
 
The Chamber is thrilled to welcome the new TAPCO Credit Union location at 176th & Canyon Road to the community!
 
Learn more about TAPCO Credit Union by visiting its website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. The new branch is located at 5320 176th St E, Tacoma, WA 98446.

Since 1989, Crunch Fitness has embraced the mission of creating an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome — with no judgments and no limits. That same spirit now has a new home in Tacoma.

The Chamber was proud to join Tacoma City Councilmember John Hines, Chamber Ambassadors, Chamber President & CEO Andrea Reay, and of course the whole Crunch Fitness crew in celebrating the grand opening of Crunch Fitness Tacoma on April 28.
Guests were treated to a tour of the gym’s expansive space, led by General Manager Sally Lucero, who fully embraced the event’s fun and energetic 1980s fitness theme. Councilmember Hines shared his excitement for the gym’s presence on the West End, noting it’s a great fit for the neighborhood and an asset for the broader community.
Councilmember Hines spoke about how he was excited to see the gym thrive in the West end, and how it is a perfect addition to the neighborhood.

Lucero closed the celebration by thanking everyone in attendance, sharing that the Crunch team is excited to be part of the community and, in her words, “can’t wait to help everyone get their fitness on!”
 
If you want to learn more about Crunch Fitness and its membership opportunities, check out on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tik Tok, and X (formerly Twitter). The gym is located at 5401 6th Ave #401 Tacoma, WA 98406.

Chamber Board Chairwoman, Kierra Phifer, kicked the celebration off with a brief introduction before attendees heard from CEO & Founder of King’s Dream Business Consulting, Jawan Harris.

Harris reflected on the initial demand of King’s Dream being sourced from its online presence, having only been founded a year before the COVID-19 pandemic. Many – if not all – small business owners needed the support and steadfast help that Harris and his team provides. Since it proved to be a necessity online, Harris knew that a physical location was the next milestone for King’s Dream.
 
Mayor Woodards reminded guests of how important it is for businesses to help other businesses, like King’s Dream, but especially in today’s climate because businesses are finding themselves stuck between a rock and hard place.
 
“I didn’t mean for this to turn so serious, when we’re supposed to be celebrating this grand opening, but I feel compelled to make sure you [Jawan] know just how important the work you are doing is,” said the Mayor.
 
After meaningful messages had been delivered, the ribbon was cut, and attendees were invited to sign the the ribbon and create a future momento for the business. The Chamber was very grateful to be a part of this celebration for King’s Dream Business Consulting. Please join us in welcoming King’s Dream to downtown Tacoma!
 
If you want to learn more about King’s Dream Business Consulting you can follow it on social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok.
​
The headquarters is located at 702 Broadway Tacoma, WA 98402.

BECU (Boeing Employees’ Credit Union) has an expansive history in Washington State dating back to 1935. On February 19, it celebrated the grand opening of the Pierce County Financial Center located in Central Tacoma.  
 
Joining the festivities were the City of Tacoma’s Mayor Victoria Woodards; Rhubarb from the Tacoma Rainiers;, Dona Ponepinto, President and CEO of United Way of Pierce County; and an prodigiously supportive crowd of community members. Food and drink was provided by two local businesses for attendees to enjoy before the ceremony started.  
 
Bev Anderson, BJ Hunsicker, and Jason Rudman — who make up the Leadership team at BECU-- each spoke about their time at the credit union and the impact they have seen. Out of the 1.5 million total members, there are over 180,000 BECU members located in Pierce County. The BECU Pierce County Financial Center is the first in the area, and the team has combined experience of over 50 years. As Hunsicker said, “[the financial center offers] a full one-stop-shop experience.”  
 
Remarks from Mayor Woodards gave everyone a great laugh with her reminding folks that while the building may be called Pierce County Financial Center, that they are in Tacoma and BECU should consider rebranding already, “because BECU stands in Tacoma first, then it goes Pierce County!” All jokes aside, Mayor thanked BECU for being a partner of the City of Tacoma and for engaging in local programs to strengthen the community.  
 
Dona Ponepinto President and CEO of United Way of Pierce County spoke about the two entities’ relationship. Ponepinto said, “Mayor Woodards is a tough act to follow, but I am grateful to be speaking today.” And while Rhubarb cannot speak, he was most enthusiastic flashing thumbs-ups and ‘raising the roof’ during the speeches.  ​

Kitsap Bank celebrated its newest branch opening in Tacoma, achieving 21 locations across Western Washington.  
The celebration of this business milestone took place on Thursday, February 13, with a ribbon cutting. Though it started to snow, attendance was high with over 30 people gathered to recognize Kitsap Bank’s operational achievement.

Guests mixed and mingled before the Chief Executive Officer Steven Politakis gathered everyone for remarks. Politakis gave a sincere testimony of his time with Kitsap Bank and his fellow executive team while he gave shoutouts to employees and thanked them for their dedication to the bank. Politakis was joined by Olympic Bancorp Board of Directors’ Chairwoman, Cydly Langer Smith, who shared the same sentiment.

Recalling the annual staff retreat that generated the idea of acquiring the location Politakis said, “[I heard who owned the building] and I thought ‘Hey I know those guys. They are super smart...they are really good guys...and they love Tacoma – we can do business with those guys! This is great.’ [We got connected], put together a lease and we are off and running.”
​ 
Chamber Board Chairwoman, Kierra Phifer, initiated the ribbon cutting in front of the branch’s main entrance. Attendees were invited to sign the framing matte commemorating the ceremony as they enjoyed bites during the open house. 
Please join the Chamber in welcoming Kitsap Bank to downtown Tacoma! ​