The new owners and staff at the Foodies restaurants in Richland and Kennewick are brimming with excitement and optimism about the reboot of both locations following their swift closure earlier this year.  

They look forward to building on the Foodies culture, streamlining consistency and increasing locally-sourced products. The only part that’s unclear: the fate of the restaurants’ beloved Tootsie Rolls. 

“I heard about this. They’re coming back,” said Christina Heintzelman, one of the new owners.  

To which Foodies’ newly promoted general manager, PJ Beatty, quickly replied with a laugh: “I purposely hadn’t picked them back up, but don’t repeat that.” 

A couple of Tootsie Roll treats were once placed on the side of each dish, a quirky inclusion that added to the homey charm and sense of community the Foodies staff always aimed for. Stay tuned to see if they reappear. 

New owners 

The new ownership group, which also includes Ryan and Janene Purdie, bought the restaurant from former owner Joanna Wilson at the end of February, closing the deal just a few weeks after she closed the doors on Feb. 11. 

“Even though it may have been abrupt for some, for me it was a long time coming,” Wilson said. “I am so blessed to have the support of my family and friends, who’ve respected our privacy. Let’s celebrate – it’s back open with new owners.” 

Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Heintzelman brings restaurant operation experience to the ownership group. She also was a Foodies regular since she lived nearby, and collectively the team looks forward to carrying on the Foodies “feel.” 

“I didn’t realize the impact we’d had on people’s lives until we had made the decision (to close),” Wilson said. Both restaurants employed about 50 people. 

It’s all about the food 

Heintzelman said she previously expressed an interest in owning the restaurant if it ever materialized, and so a staff member called her upon learning Wilson was closing it down.  

“I think at that point, there were already two people in front of me, and I just kept talking to (Wilson) and meeting with her on the intentions of this place and the integrity of the food, the service and where we wanted to go with everything, and Joanna and I aligned on that,” she said. 

Wilson handed over the “Foodies bible” of recipes and three-quarters of the former staff returned, bringing their knowledge of the menu and operations. This included Beatty, now assuming the general manager role after the former lead opted not to return. 

“I wouldn’t have taken this position without the opportunity to bring back the staff,” he said. “The people I worked with on a daily basis really made this place. They defined it.” 

“And I wouldn’t have been interested if the team wasn’t willing to come back,” Heintzelman agreed.

Beatty has worked at Foodies for seven years, staying longer than he originally anticipated and right up until the doors closed in February. 

“There’s a lot of turnover in this industry. You can hop from one place to another, depending on what the culture is like, and I didn’t feel the need to be running off and going somewhere else.” 

The owners said “they went for it” and reopened at 701 The Parkway on April 18, just shy of 10 weeks after it had closed. 

Foodies General Manager PJ Beatty, left, and co-owner Christina Heintzelman reopened the popular Foodies restaurant in Richland.

| Robin Wojtanik

Must-have mozzarella sticks

Staff said the response was immediate. 

“I think we hit a record,” Beatty said. “It was a line out the door, and we didn’t run out of mozzarella sticks – which was one of my rules. People will drive across town to get them, and they’ll leave if we don’t have them.” 

Hand-rolled mozzarella sticks will remain on the menu, along with nearly every other fan favorite. 

Wilson said excitement on social media about the reopening “came as the biggest compliment; to hear people say they were craving something I had created.” 

A slight price increase, averaging less than $2 per item, reflects updated, locally-sourced ingredients, with the goal of elevating the food, where possible. The seasonal “fresh sheet” will remain, with popular items potentially making their way to the main menu, like the steak bites, coconut shrimp tacos and poke bowls. 

“Joanna did a wonderful job of putting the right people in the right place and we’re just doing some shifting around of roles to let people blossom,” Heintzelman said. 

The reboot hasn’t been without its hiccups, but the owners say customers have been understanding. It’s their priority to maintain consistency. 

“We’ve started to put systems in place where people are doing quality control behind the bar and in the kitchen and evolving the menu into the best version it can be, along with staffing appropriately,” Heintzelman said. 

The Kennewick location will reopen soon, though a date has yet to be announced. The new owners want to bring the same consistency and feel of the Richland crew to the riverside restaurant. 

“For me, culture is everything. I’ve always looked at the team as the leaders,” Heintzelman said. “People always say, ‘Oh, it starts at the top,’ and to me, the top is the team. I would like to see the consistency and the integrity in the food; the happiness within the people, because, with that, brings good service and brings people in.” 

Foodies also wants to capture the additional sales potential from golfers visiting the Columbia Park Golf Tri-Plex and offer a few breakfast options like made-to-order items designed to be portable. Possibilities include breakfast sandwiches and burritos, or grab-and-go pastries. 

The ownership team said the city of Kennewick has “bent over backward” in assisting with relaunching the restaurant at 2701 Paul Parish Drive in Columbia Park. 

The initial delay in opening both sites was ramping up the staff and ensuring everyone was trained. 

But Beatty said it wasn’t hard to find willing workers. 

“There’s so much excitement and buzz about this place, and I really want to tap into that with the community because you are part of us, and we are part of you,” he said. 

One of the owners said the restaurant has a sort of “Cheers” vibe where everybody knows your name, and Heintzelman agreed.  

“I think we’re beyond a time where people would go into places to get their food and leave; people come in to create relationships. I created relationships here and it was an emotional draw. The people were amazing, and I want to keep building on that,” she said. 

A new season

So, what’s next for Wilson?  

She’s not leaving the food industry. She is working with Pepper Preppers of Benton City to launch a sauce and spice line. She joked about plans to open a restaurant consultant business. “How to open one and how to close one. What to do and what not to do. You don’t get into the business to close,” she said. 

Joanna Wilson

Wilson said she hopes to return to finding her joy. 

“Being in business is exhausting. We’re constantly under business regulations, price changes, human resources issues and scrutiny. I always wanted to get back to simplifying it and seeing that connection with your guests. I want to connect again. I want to enjoy cooking again. I’m working on a cookbook and some cooking classes. So, that’s never going to leave – it just needed to have a different look.” 

Engaged and a first-time grandmother, Wilson said her next “season” will bring a lot of optimism. 

“I’ll be a part of something that allows me to be creative and allows me time with my family. Pretty sweet deal,” she said. 

Wilson remains touched by the impact her restaurants have had on the community and is pleased to see them continue. 

“It’s overwhelming. I’m so humbled. Now that I’ve had time to digest it, I couldn’t be happier with what it meant to people, and that brings so much joy to my family to say we were a part of that; we built that,” she said.

Long history

Foodies began as a pontoon boat called Floatin’ Foodies, and became Foodies Brick and Mortar in downtown Kennewick a decade ago until damage from a nearby fire forced its closure. Wilson decided to focus on the Richland eatery until the city of Kennewick approached her about operating at its city-owned riverfront building, opening there in 2022. 

Go to: eatatfoodies.com.