Home - Wenatchee Business Journal

From Columbia Market to Dan’s Food Market: Celebrating 75 years of service

The Koncz family became the new proprietors of Dan’s in May 2023.

LEAVENWORTH – As chains continue to dominate the grocery business, Dan’s Food Market has remained a preferred destination for locals and tourists alike. After 75 years, the market is …

Meet Erin McCardle, Mayor of Chelan

For more than a decade, McCardle has been an active voice in shaping the future of Chelan. After serving on the Chelan City Council from 2010 to 2024, she stepped into the role of mayor just over a …

Meet Carl Florea, Mayor of Leavenworth

Florea has led Leavenworth since 2020, steering the small town through growth and change. Now serving his second term, Florea prioritizes tackling challenges like housing affordability, upgrading …

Brad Hawkins
Chelan County Commissioner
District 3

Meet Brad Hawkins, Chelan County Commissioner

Hawkins received his K-12 education in Wenatchee School District, graduated with honors from Central Washington University, and earned a Master’s in Public Administration from George Washington …

Meet Mike Steele, Executive Director of the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce and a Washington State Representative

Mike Steele wears many hats in his service to the Lake Chelan Valley. As the executive director of the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce for 18 years and a recently reelected state representative, …

Meet Jerrilea Crawford, Mayor of East Wenatchee

Crawford began her tenure as East Wenatchee mayor in 2020 and is currently serving her second term. Before becoming mayor, she served on the city council for three years. Crawford’s …

Lake Chelan Building Supply, where customers become friends

CHELAN - When it came time for Brett La Mar to hand over the reins to his family business, Lake Chelan Building and Supply, he wanted a buyer who would embody his parents’ motto – where …

Leavenworth Coffee and Waffles opens

LEAVENWORTH – The newly opened Leavenworth Coffee and Waffles lives up to its name, serving locally roasted coffee and creative, one-of-a-kind waffles. Leavenworth Coffee and Waffles is …

Restaurant owner brings horseman's flair to new Pateros eatery

PATEROS – There is a new cowboy in town, and he is wasting no time stamping his brand on the former Rivers Restaurant. When new operator Adolfo Sahagun is not astride one of his …

Former Lead Wilderness Ranger Kyle Warden buries an abandoned poop left near a creek.

Federal cuts hit Wenatchee River Ranger District, threatening Leavenworth backcountry

LEAVENWORTH – Ten U.S. Forest Service employees have been fired at the Wenatchee River Ranger District Office amid agency wide cuts, with fears that more agency firings are on the way. …

Man Shop to train new barbers through paid apprenticeships

WENATCHEE — The Man Shop is expanding its paid apprenticeship program to Wenatchee, marking a new approach to barber training in the region. The program, launching in March in …

U.S. Job Market Shows Steady Growth in January, Unemployment Edges Down

The U.S. labor market maintained its momentum in January, with employers adding 143,000 jobs while the unemployment rate decreased slightly to 4.0 percent, according to data released by the U.S. …

Home Prices Rise in 89% of Metro Markets as Housing Wealth Gap Widens

The latest quarterly report from the National Association of REALTORS® reveals a continuing trend of home price increases across American metropolitan areas, with Washington state markets showing …

Existing home sales rose 2.2% in December, marking strong end to challenging year

Existing home sales increased 2.2% in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.24 million units, the National Association of Realtors reported Wednesday. The December sales pace marked the …

Housing market soars in Chelan-Douglas while nation slumps

While U.S. home sales hit a 30-year low in 2024, the Chelan-Douglas region tells a different story. Local sales surged 11.7% by volume and 25.6% in dollar terms, defying the national downward trend …

Existing home sales jump 4.8% in November, hit highest level since March

Existing home sales reached their highest level since March as buyers adapt to current mortgage rate conditions, according to the National Association of Realtors. Sales of previously owned …

Chelan County Commissioners allocate over $319K in Lodging Tax dollars to boost local tourism initiatives

WENATCHEE — Chelan County Commissioners greenlit the allocation of nearly $320,000 in lodging tax dollars toward various tourism-related entities, benefitting a gamut of local organizations. …

Wenatchee's trivia scene lights up the nightlife

WENATCHEE - Are you secretly a genius? In Wenatchee, there's a simple way to find out, almost any night of the week: A friendly game of trivia. In fact, many of the places you already go on both …

Erickson worked on a food forest for Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort, planting perennial fruit-bearing trees, shrubs, vines, ground cover, and herbaceous plants. Wildflower, vegetable, and medicinal herb seeds were also scattered throughout.

Shelter and Seeds aims to turn your yard into a thriving, food-producing ecosystem

LEAVENWORTH – A new business in Leavenworth is helping landowners transform their properties using sustainable, regenerative practices. Shelter and Seeds, owned by Sean Eriksen, …

Leavenworth brush site permanently closes

LEAVENWORTH – The Leavenworth brush drop-off site will not reopen this spring after Chelan County Public Works announced its permanent closure. The county-operated brush site, …

Manson Grange enhances safety with new defibrillator

MANSON — The Manson Grange has installed a new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) after receiving a $2,600 grant from the Lake Chelan Health & Wellness Foundation. The life-saving …

The partially constructed “Upper Valley Cross” came to a sudden and unexpected halt at Tuesday’s Leavenworth City Council meeting.

Tumwater Mountain cross project halted, property owner withdraws building application

LEAVENWORTH — The controversial Tumwater Mountain cross project near Leavenworth has been terminated after the property owner withdrew their building application, according to Chelan County …

$100M plan for police hiring gets greenlight from Washington House

OLYMPIA - Democrats in the Washington state House on Tuesday approved a revamped plan to provide $100 million in grants to local police departments to hire more officers. The vote on House …