Daily Archives: June 18, 2013

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt

9080466513_1c0594bb3b_bMy friend and I share the same birthday (which was in May, we are running late!) and we decided to treat ourselves at Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt in Jame’s Center 1816 South Mildred Street, Tacoma. There are 14 flavors and plenty of toppings. Their Facebook Page is here.

What is interesting to me is that the South Hill Menchie was my new place in April 2012. At that time they had 170 locations and now they have 237. In April 2012 Washington State had seven locations and now they have 19 with three more in the works.

Imperial Garden and Gift Center, Closed 1997

9034433036_6976a7f363_bI remembered that I use to go past this property at 2328 Tacoma Ave. South and seeing a man working on Bonsai trees here. So I wrote to the Northwest Room of Tacoma Public Library and they told me that the property was built as a residence about 1952 by Kenneth & Amy Hikogawa and in 1974 Amy Hikogawa opened the Imperial Garden & Gift Center on the site. Amy Hikogawa died in April 1995 but her son, Ben Kigowa, apparently kept the Imperial Garden and Gift Center open through 1997. Ben passed away in January 2013.

Thanks so much to TPL’s Northwest Room. They are such a valuable asset for our city!

Ben Hikogawa obituary can be found here.