KENNEWICK, Wash. – The Cascade building has always been a big part of downtown Kennewick’s history. New owners have bought the building and plan to bring this history back to life.
The building has seen its share of challenges over the last few years. Catching fire not once but twice. One small business owner and his partner bought the building to help revitalize downtown Kennewick.
Kagen Cox, the owner of Kagen Coffee and Crepes, opened his second location only a month ago, he said. Cox and his business partner, Kellen Adcock, decided to buy the building.
“It’s a great opportunity to invest in the downtown,” said Cox. “To be a part of something that’s been around for over 100 years.”
The two men plan to renovate the historic building where other small businesses can open up shop downstairs. The second floor has six apartments that Cox said they are looking to fix up and rent out, four two-bedroom apartments and two studio apartments.
Cox and Adcock said they’ve already had a few businesses interested in the commercial space. They are still trying to figure out how to divide up the spaces. Cox said he thinks they’ll have between two and four commercial spaces.
“The big dream is to own the property that you have your business in,” said Cox. “When we realized we had an opportunity to not only open in downtown Kennewick but potentially be a part of that space. It just made a lot of sense. That’s when we got with Kellen and decided we could do something together.”
Executive Director of the Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership, Stephanie Button, said she’s recently seen much growth in the area. This new project is significant.
“It is vital that the Cascade building has been purchased and that it’s in the hands of two local developers who have big visions for bringing it back online,” Button said.
Button said this has been a banner year for the downtown area. She said 20 new businesses have opened up this year. Button said great downtowns don’t just happen; they take communities.
“Individuals, businesses, property owners working together for a common vision,” said Button. “A healthy vibrant community, that’s really our vision as the main stream organization. The Downtown Kennewick Partnership these last several years.”
Cox said with the fires at the building, they’re taking precautions to ensure another one doesn’t happen.
“We’ve been putting up new cameras, and as we bring in more power to the big building, we’ll put more cameras up,” he said. “Then, hopefully, the activity of us being there will be a big deterrent.”
Cox said while it’s still early in the renovation process, he and Adcock had city officials and fire crews inspecting the building and hope to have the approval to start work in the next few weeks.
