Jeff Winn, left, and Chris Swedin owners and opertors of Yakima Craft Brewing Company explain the brewing process. Chris Thorn photo

By CHRIS THORN

The Yakima valley is the heart of hop production, but that hasn’t translated into beer production. 

Yakima Craft Brewing Company, established in 2007, is currently the only brewery in the upper valley.

Before Yakima Craft Brewing Company opened in 2007; the valley was home to Yakima Brewing & Malting Co., established by Bert Grant in 1982. 

Grant later opened the country’s first brewpub restaurant since Prohibition, Grant’s Brewery Pub, located smack in the middle of downtown near Track 29. 

After Grant sold the business in 1995, multiple sales of Yakima Brewing & Malting Company occurred and in 2005 both the brewery and brewpub were closed.

Joey Castilleja works at his computer in his Zillah office. Castilleja operates Incredible Lease and Genius Coach. Staff photo

By RICHARD BURGER

Despite concerns about the economic recovery appearing in the news from time to time, Joey Castilleja sees positive signs of business growth.

Castilleja operates Incredible Lease in Zillah, and deals with a variety of commercial clients.

“I am seeing businesses wanting to expand,” Castilleja said. 

He deals exclusively with commercial leases and mostly with equipment, he said.

His clients find him through his Internet Web site, www.incrediblelease.com, and come from across the nation. 

“Real entrepreneurs are optimistic,” Castilleja said. “I think we’re coming up on a boom.”

Susan Bonser, a Fresh Taste Meals customer, mixes ingredients for meatloaf with kalbi sauce. Elena Olmstead photos

By ELENA OLMSTEAD

Nearly everyone has experienced that feeling of dread when you walk through the door after a long day’s work and realize there is still one more chore waiting for you – making dinner.

But making dinner doesn’t have to be a chore. In fact, making dinner can be as simple as coming home, turning on the oven and popping in a meal you made yourself.

The owners of Yakima’s Fresh Taste Meals are making a living making people’s lives easier.

Joel’s Tire owner Joel Ylvisaker, right, and manager Ryan Rodeen show off some of the inventory being stocked in the new Yakima store, slated to open Feb. 8.  Staff photo

By RICHARD BURGER

A 45-year veteran in the tire business has opened the first of what may be a number of full-service tire stores in the Yakima Valley.

Joel’s Tire, owned by Joel Ylvisaker, was slated to open its doors Feb. 8, at 1203 N. 40^th in Yakima.

“We’re excited about being here,” said Ylvisaker. “This is a great place to start a business.” 

Ylvisaker said he’s already been doing business in the Yakima area prior to opening the new store, operating three service trucks from a local warehouse, servicing commercial vehicles.

Dr. Michael Zammit conducts an angiogram at the Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center Cath Lab in mid-January. He joined the Center staff Jan. 1. Richard Burger photo

By RICHARD BURGER

A nationally recognized vascular surgeon has joined the staff of Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center. 

He is Dr. Michael Zammit, who studied and practiced with the Wapato-born surgeon who pioneered coronary bypass surgery.

Zammit joined the Yakima Regional staff Jan. 1, and his first day of surgery was Jan. 13.

Among the positions held by Zammit before coming to Regional, were director of the Vein Treatment Center of Stevens Memorial Hospital in Edmonds, director of the Non-Invasive Laboratory of Pacific Vascular, Inc. in Bothell, and director of the Clinical Vascular Fellowship at Hope Heart Institute in Seattle.

Valley Buffet owner Toni Vrettas along with cook Steve Aliff are ready to greet patrons of the new restaurant in downtown Zillah. Rosemary Dellinger photo

By ROSEMARY DELLINGER

Valley Buffet is Zillah’s newest eatery. The breakfast and lunch buffet opened on Dec. 9. 

Toni Vrettas, a resident of Zillah since March is operating the new restaurant in downtown Zillah in the former Doc’s Pizza building. 

“We’re really excited,” Vrettas said about her newest business venture at 507 First Ave.

Steve Aliff, a longtime Zillah resident with more than 25 years of cooking experience is Valley Buffet’s cook. Local wait staff includes Heather Collins and Trudy Goodson.

Second Chance Spirits vice-president Brian Morton looks over the hand-hammered still that will be used to produce the Prosser company’s line of products, called Blue Flame Spirits.  The product line will include whiskey, vodka, gin, and specialty liqueurs. The still was manufactured in Germany and took about a year to complete. Richard Burger Photo

By RICHARD BURGER

Brian Morton is a man on a mission, and one that might come as a bit of a surprise in the lower valley community touted as the birthplace of the Washington wine industry.

Morton is one of two principals in Second Chance Spirits, Inc. a Prosser firm that will shortly begin producing whiskey, vodka, gin, and specialty liqueurs under the Blue Flame label. The firm also has a local silent partner.

Tammy Everts, New Vision business development director, is working to identify potential candidates for the new Yakima Grows program, an initiative to help companies and entrepreneurs develop new products. Denise Keller photo

By DENISE KELLER

If someone in Yakima County has an idea for the next best thing since sliced bread, New Vision, Yakima County Development Association has a plan to assist that entrepreneur in taking the innovation to market. 

New Vision is putting together a program to encourage small businesses and individual entrepreneurs to develop or expand product lines or new inventions. The group is calling the program “Yakima Grows.”

Windy Point Winery in Wapato. Submitted photos

By ELENA OLMSTEAD

When Windy Point Vineyard’s 2005 Cabernet Franc was awarded a gold medal at the Washington State Wine Competition last June, winery owners Mike and Liz Stepniewski, were extremely proud. 

But things only got better. 

The Funky Monkey arcade is ready for customers during its grand opening in Selah in November. Staff photo

By JERYN GONZALEZ

In the expanding town of Selah there is a new attraction that’s keeping more local business in town.

“It’s about time,” said Selah resident Shane Brussman, a regular to one of the many new businesses of Selah, Funky Monkey Arcade.