ABOUT US
The Olive Branch Café & Tea Room, in its current location, was originally created by Terry Waller, in 2015. The idea was to bring a high-end tea culture to Pierce County, where there once was none. With the addition of Brian, the volunteer pianist, Olive Branch began to take shape and quickly became a staple in the Tacoma and overall Pierce County area. In 2021, Terry met her soul mate and was wed. They eventually decided to move and spend the rest of their days in Georgia.
The Olive Branch was purchased by Christina Hernandez and Natural Allah. Both being natives of NY, they brought with them their savvy business acumen and began pushing The Olive Branch to an even higher level. Natural is no stranger to the Pierce County area. Many may remember his entrepreneurial endeavors with Vinum Lounge Wine Bar on Pacific Avenue, Soul Restaurant in the Proctor District, and Essence Lounge on 6th Avenue in Tacoma. Christina, who is also employed by Child Protective Services, working directly with the children, is the glue that binds it altogether. Both are now residents of Tacoma and look forward to bringing more entrepreneurial endeavors to the heart of Tacoma.
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Brian Ingoldsby, our pianist, came along shortly before the opening of the restaurant in 2015. The piano (owned by Brian) is an 1890 Hallet Davis & Co. 9 foot concert grand, and is in outstanding physical and playing condition. Brian was, for many years, a staff organist at several of the area's renouned pizza parlors that featured the huge Wurlitzer theatre pipe organs. Brian played at Pizza & Pipes, Big Bob's Pipe Dream, and on his own Wurlitzer pipe organ, installed in Steve's Gay 90's Restaurant, All of these mentioned places have long since been closed. Brian feels fortunate to be able to continue to entertain at our restaurant and we think the guests feel the same way. His music is generally considered to be from "The Great American Songbook."
Terry Waller - Founder
Brian at the Grand Piano
A major change to the Freighthouse Square building came in the last few years. Amtrack Corp. has taken over a large portion of the building for it's use as it reroutes passenger rail traffic past the facility. The Olive Branch Cafe remains as the sole occupant at the West end of the facility and has been given the space currently used as public passage into the rest of the building areas.