New in Tacoma & Pierce County: openings and projects, week of October 26, 2026

What's opening and being built in the 253. From public permit and license records, Sep 26 to Oct 25, 2026.

Hi neighbor 👋 This is the first issue. Every week: what's opening, what's being built, and the numbers behind it, with a link to the public record for every item so you can check it yourself.

🔢 The month in numbers

• 634 new housing units in permit applications (Tacoma + unincorporated Pierce County)
• 112 pre-applications: projects that haven't filed yet but are talking to the city or county
• 43 commercial remodels / tenant improvements filed · 23 sign permits
• 156 permits mentioning a heat pump or mini-split
• 122 new City of Tacoma business licenses with an open date in the window
• 127 new contractor registrations with a 983/984 ZIP (WA L&I; 983 includes Kitsap)

🍽️ Opening soon

• Tanoor Lebanese Grill & BBQ: the former Famous Dave's on S 72nd St. Permit to add an oven and use the space for Tanoor, filed Oct 13, in plan review. (BLDCA26-0329)
• Clove Indian Cuisine: Tacoma Mall property, S Steele St. Interior build-out issued earlier; 613 sq ft open-air patio filed Oct 2. (BLDCA26-0312)
• Angel City Pizza: N Proctor St. New liquor license application (restaurant, beer/wine), posted Oct 23. (WA LCB, license 455418)
• Fantastic Smoothie: Pacific Ave (98408). Kitchen + counters build-out filed Oct 5. (BLDCA26-0317)
• Taqueria El Rinconsito: Willow Hill, Meridian E (98373). Remodel into a restaurant, $400k, filed Oct 5. (Pierce 1075598)
• BECU: Canyon Crossing (98375). Tenant improvement, $350k, filed Oct 9. (Pierce 1077358)
• Mystery spots: a new food & beverage tenant on N Pearl St (BLDCA26-0311) and a commercial kitchen + full bar for 48 on St Helens Ave (BLDCA26-0334). Know what's going in? Hit reply.

🏗️ What's being built

• East Grove Apartments (98374, unincorporated Pierce County): 8 buildings, 228 apartments, ~$36.0M in building valuations, filed Oct 15-20. (Building A, 1077420)
• Embark at Uplands (98374): 44 buildings, 124 townhome and duplex homes, ~$37.9M, filed Oct 9. (1076415 and 43 more)
• 8-story apartment building, 98405 (Tacoma): 175 units, 126 parking stalls, $25.1M valuation, filed Oct 22, pending intake. (BLDCN26-0038)
• Military Road Apartments (98445): 3 stories, 36 units, $4.5M, filed Oct 5. (1075026)
• Port of Tacoma berths: Husky Terminal ($8.4M) and Washington United Terminal ($17.7M) filed to deepen berths from -51 ft to -57 ft for 18,000-TEU ships. (BLDCA26-0320, BLDCA26-0319)
• Tacoma Public Schools IDEA building: foundation permit for a new 2-story building with classrooms and shops (Industrial Design, Engineering, Art), filed Oct 9. (BLDCN26-0037)
• Ballpark upgrade, 98405: bullpen and outfield party decks relocated, a new covered food-service area and a raised deck. (BLDCA26-0330)

By ZIP: 98374: 358 · 98405: 178 · 98445: 42 · 98391: 13. Cities without open permit data (Puyallup, Lakewood, Federal Way and others) aren't included yet.

👷 The firms behind this month's projects

Shout-out to the businesses named on this month's commercial filings: Moffatt & Nichol (Port berth deepening) · McGranahan PBK (Tacoma Public Schools IDEA building) · Urban Design Group (Clove patio) · BCRA (22,628 sq ft office build-out, Cornerstone building) · Ferguson Architecture (ballpark decks) · CMD Sign & Electric (new McDonald's signage, Pacific Ave) · Haas Architects (3-unit townhome building, 98409) · JRJ Architects (medical office parking garage upgrade)

👋 Welcome to the 253

New business licenses at storefront addresses: The Kennedy Collective (6th Ave), Goldie and Mae (Proctor), FancyPants Jewelers (Broadway).