Friday, October 2, 2026
Community members urged the Olympia City Council to allow Spooner Berry Farms to remain at its current location, as the city prepares to begin construction of Jolene Unsoeld Community Park.
The pleas came during a city council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 15, as residents and supporters spoke in favor of keeping the farm stand at 3327 Yelm Highway SE.
Construction on the first phase of the park is set to begin in fall. Olympia purchased the property in 2018, and then leased a portion of it to Spooner Berry Farms.
According to Olympia’s Parks, Arts & Recreation Director Sylvana Niehuser, the existing concession agreement with the Spooner family runs through Oct. 1.
Niehuser said permit requirements for the park require the city to close direct highway access and route traffic through a signalized intersection at Wiggins Road.
“That’s a permitting requirement, not a choice that staff made,” said Niehuser to the council members. “We are not walking away from the Spooner family.”
The city also received state and federal grant funding that, according to Niehuser, places additional restrictions on how the property can be used.
Niehuser added space has been offered for a mobile stand in the new park plaza.
The city’s relocation contractor, Epic Land Services, also identified two viable alternative sites, including one less than one-half mile from Yelm Highway access. She said the city would cover relocation costs if the Spooners choose to move.
Sue Spooner, owner of Spooner Berry Farms, told the council that her family has farmed for 43 years and wants to continue serving the community from the location. She said the berry stand is the main hub of the farm’s operation and she believes the stand and the new park can coexist.
She said former park planning and maintenance director Jonathan Turlove, who is now retired, previously told her the city would always make sure the family had a place for the berry stand. Spooner said she also has the original park plans showing the berry stand at the site.
She said current city officials have told her that keeping the berry stand was never part of the agreement.
Spooner disputed that position, pointing to the original plans and her recollection of what the city had previously told her.
“I want the public to know we didn’t just disappear. We left because we were asked to," she said.
Several residents asked the city council to reconsider removing the berry stand.
Christy Smith questioned whether the current park design requires removing the berry stand.
“If there is flexibility in the design, I strongly encourage the city to explore it. … A community park and a community berry stand do not have to be competing visions," Smith said.
Smith also noted Spooner Berry Farms participates in Washington’s WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, providing eligible families and seniors with access to locally grown food.
Cindy Sharp, who said the stand has been on Yelm Highway since 1983, also opposed its removal. She asked the city to consider including the berry stand in the park and extending the farm’s lease.
Lacey resident Sharon Bell wondered what would happen to the site if the berry stand were removed.
“I have a worry that once it is vacated, what’s the city going to do with it? My bigger fear is it’s a logical development for another "Jungle," and in my opinion, one "Jungle" in Olympia is one too many," Bell said.
Council member Dani Madrone said the berry stand is important to the community and expressed interest in finding a way for Spooner Berry Farms to remain. She also pointed to the city’s work on a local food systems plan and said she believed city staff were interested in finding a solution.
Council member Robert Vanderpool said the park’s design includes a central area that could accommodate a farm stand or food truck. He said using that space for Spooner Berry Farms would require further discussion among the city, park staff and Spooner family.
Vanderpool said he had received about 300 emails from residents about the issue and wanted supporters to remain involved as discussions continue.
Council member Paul Berendt emphasized safety improvements will significantly change access to the property. He said the current roadway is unsafe for drivers attempting to cross multiple lanes to turn left from the Spooner property, and the frontage of the property will not look the same because of required safety improvements.
Mayor Dontae Payne said the city faces constraints related to safety improvements and grant funding, but would continue working with the Spooner family.
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SecondOtter
I'd rather have Spooner's Berry Farm than that so called 'park'. WHY is it the City Council has to destroy things that everyone else loves and depends on? Stating they don't WANT to get rid of Spooner's but the "permit' is to blame. My boot. A permit is a piece of paper.
There are alternatives, it is said? OKAY, make the PARK in one of the alternative sites, NOT Spooners.
THe city has proven time and time again when it insists a business move to accomodate the city's so called "improvements", the only thing that happens is the business closes. I wonder if anyone remembers the Tea Lady shop on the corner of Fifth and Capitol? THat shop was told to told to move out becuase of parking. HAd to put in all those parking meters (the city is on it's sixth generation of meters in less than 20 years. Mayvbe I should buy stock in parking meter companies). Look at how the city harassed Ann Buck of Buck's Fifth Avenue spice shop. Homeless people kept pooping in her door way and when she put in a gate to keep them out she was harassed by the city because it "didn't match the decor of the area". Right. Oh, it was the city, too, that locked up the real bathrooms near the Lake and were forced almost at gunpoint to put in a bathroom near the artesian well. I suppose the City Council thinks that human excrement matches the decor of the area.
All in all, it seems to me that the City Council had their priorities seriously skewed towards something other than what the residents want.
Thursday, September 17 Report this
KinesthesiaAmnesia
I got a little annoyed at complaints about unpermitted, immigrant-operated fruit stands popping up throughout the county, while seeing other kinds of agriculture businesses ran by other kinds of people being treated a little more preciously. I asked Thurston county and city of Olympia about land use, foot and vehicle traffic counts and temporary usage/business permits for the very busy seasonal berry stand (operated by Spooner) at Harrison and Division on the Westside. I was surprised when the county replied that no food permits are required: they are selling whole produce that is not ready to eat, and do not meet the definition of a food establishment (!?). The city rep replied that they had no record of a temporary use permit, nor any information related to traffic counts for commercial uses in that area. Before the berry fiends come at me with pitchforks I'd like to add that I grew up in local FFA and 4H, and my grandparents were local farmers. So I know a bit about local agriculture (scooped a lot of **** at the fair), and am friendly with many of the hardworking families involved in it. But the good of the whole community, like transparent and fair business and development processes, need to be the priority here. These berry stands are very popular and will do well no matter what.
Thursday, September 17 Report this
TheVirtualOne
This is typical Olympia. The four L’s are running the city - Liars, Liberals, Lunatics, and Lawyers. Voters continue to put a bunch of incompetent politicians in city offices. Don’t expect anything different until you vote these fools out.
Thursday, September 17 Report this
OlyBlues
You have to appreciate the irony in the city of Olympia having no problem ignoring countless code violations at the Jungle the past 10+ years while people are being killed and burned alive, but are incredibly concerned about any and all regulations related to the berry stand that has been causing no problems and serving families since the 80's. The city is clearly trying to force the Spooner's out and choosing selective enforcement to do so. The council should be acting in the resident's best interest and instead choose to prioritize lawlessness, drugs, crime, and transients. Disgusting.
Friday, September 18 Report this
BobJacobs
" the existing concession agreement with the Spooner family runs through Oct. 1."
I love that fruit stand too, but if Spooners signed a legal agreement ending Oct. 1, then they should abide by it. Not rile up the public for more.
Certainly this very popular fruit stand will easily find another location.
It is unfortunate that some city councilmembers are undercutting extensive staff work.
Bob Jacobs
Friday, September 18 Report this
BettyVerdammt
Council directs Sylvana Niehuser to explore meth and fenty concessions to meet equity demands made by local park users.
"Spooner Berry Farms should meet the needs of twenty first century Olympia. Park users are telling me they want a meth and fenty stand. They can pick all the free fruit they want from neighbors' yards and farms," commented Vanderpool.
Friday, September 18 Report this
Honestyandrealityguy
I was told it is because she is a conservative and the local government is liberal. Hmmmm. I guess they are showing her if true.
Friday, September 18 Report this
TheGreatAnon
The Spooner family cashed the checks. If they can show the sales contract promising them space for the stand let them. If not, well they sold that right for millions. Why are we even talking about this?
Friday, September 18 Report this
TheGreatAnon
SecondOtter, you are so wrong. The Tea Lady owner wanted to keep free parking & when she lost that battle SHE closed the business. Bucks on 5th Ave was allowed to keep the unpermitted gating. It closed after Ann Buck passed away. And finally, the public bathrooms at Capitol Lake are owned & operated by the State, not the city.
The more you know...
Friday, September 18 Report this
BillSpencer
Its just... a berry stand. Relax people, I mean it would be nice to keep the fruit shack, but it could also be easily moved down the road.
Saturday, September 19 Report this
CobraCommander
Honestyandrealityguy trying so hard to make everything a conspiracy against conservatives when they run all three branches of government and tanked the economy all by themselves.
While dear leader only cares about his ballroom, his sniper arch, and his thousands of illegal insider trades, the real conspiracy is that they're hiding the Epstein files and don't give a damn about any of us.
Monday, September 21 Report this
TruthSetsFreeOly
Sue Spooner has not been honest about the complete situation. Even in the first article done by The Olympian way back in 2018 it says that City was saying Spooner could stay UNTIL development of the park was done. She's bringing up one artistic rendering that shows a berry stand still there on the property. But my soccer club, and our whole league, saw multiple renderings, not just one. The renderings all were different concepts and part of the process. She knew this day was coming and she's looking for someone to blame because all the info is clear but she's only giving half the story.
Monday, September 21 Report this