This Puyallup business suffered a big loss. Tickets to a 3-course dinner there will help
There was a point earlier this year when Lori West was unsure if she could keep the doors open on her family business.
“It was getting scary,” West said. “That was the first time in the four years that I’ve owned the place that I’ve actually questioned: ‘Are we gonna make it?’”
West owns British Bites at 720 E. Main Ave. in Puyallup. The shop offers imported British goodies such as biscuits, jams and chocolates. It also has a bakery and bistro for those wanting to get a taste of British-style cuisine.
British Bites will have a fundraising dinner from 4-10 p.m. on Friday, June 24 at the shop. Those interested can purchase tickets online at bit.ly/3OhrZrT for a 4, 6 or 7:30 p.m. time slot. Tickets cost about $60 per person.
Attendees can expect a three-course meal, including British delicacies such as sausage rolls, bangers and mash as well as raspberry mini vickis. More information about the menu can be found online at bit.ly/39LBvVf.
Sausage rolls feature “a traditional rusk ground pork mix, wrapped into a flaky golden pastry,” according to the menu. Bangers and mash consist of two British sausages, mashed potatoes and onion gravy. Raspberry mini vickis are sponge cake sandwiches filled with vanilla buttercream and raspberry jam.
Attendees can also expect to hear from the Alex Britton band, a Seattle-based group that covers classic/indie rock tunes. A beer and wine garden will be open for those interested. Drinks are included with the ticket.
Shipping delays and supply shortages have been a challenge during the pandemic for stores that rely on imported goods such as British Bites. Other local businesses such as the Sari-Sari Store at 11910 Meridian Ave. E. have also faced this.
West said a shipping order they placed in fall 2021 arrived later than they hoped. They expected to get their order in December but got it in February instead. More than half of the items expired by the time the goods reached their store and had to be thrown away.
“It’s just become really, really hard because the logistics are still a nightmare,” West said.
The total cost for that shipment was around $20,000, which is more than what the store usually pays. It was a bigger shipment than usual and prices were also higher than usual due to the pandemic and inflation. Although they were able to sell a few things, the store was unable to break even. It was a “big loss,” she said.
The Puyallup Sumner Chamber of Commerce got involved with planning the fundraising dinner when they caught wind of West’s situation. This instilled hope in West and her husband, she said.
They’ve sold about 70 tickets so far.
“The people that are helping us do this event are amazing,” West said. “It’s definitely humbled us, and we’re very, very grateful for the community stepping up and doing this.”
