The Parkland Forza where four Lakewood police officers were gunned down last month is set to reopen.
The coffee shop will open its doors at 8:14 a.m. Saturday, according to a press release from the Forza Coffee Co. Lakewood Police Chief Bret Farrar wants to be the shop’s first customer.
The coffee shop at 11401 S. Steele St. has been closed since the morning of Nov. 29, when Lakewood police Sgt. Mark Renninger and officers Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens and Greg Richards were fatally shot as they started their work day inside Forza. The shooting was first reported at 8:15 a.m.
A massive memorial service honored the four officers Tuesday at the Tacoma Dome. Associated Ministries of Tacoma-Pierce County performed a Moment of Blessing at the coffee shop Thursday morning. The brief, spiritual ceremonies are intended to cleanse the places where homicides occur and reclaim them from the violence.
After the Moment of Blessing, there was a private ceremony inside the cafe for the officers’ families, Lakewood police officers and the Forza staff. At that time, the “overwhelming decision” was made to reopen the coffee shop, the press release states.
“The police officers and families of the four heroic officers expressed their desire to reopen to demonstrate that hate will not win,” the press release states.
In addition, staff members expressed a desire to serve “those who serve us.” The coffee company also realized that if the cafe closed, another tenant would eventually lease the space and “the sacrifices of the four fallen police officers may go unremembered,” the press release states.
Forza will be placing plaques inside all stores in memory of Renninger, Griswold, Owens and Richards and Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton, who was gunned down while sitting in a patrol car the night of Oct. 31.
“Forza Coffee Company will always be tied to this tragic incident and has determined that the memories of the fallen officers should always be a part of their stores, both existing and future,” the press release states. “Every new Forza location in the United States in the future will always open for business on the first day at exactly 8:14 a.m. The first beverage and first customer will be a representative of the local law enforcement community. We will not forget.”
Brad Carpenter, CEO of Forza, encourages customers to visit the Parkland Forza.
“We will be focusing on the love expressed by the sacrifices of the officers in their selfless act, as well as the love expressed in the memorials, well wishes and prayers,” he stated in the press release.
Forza will continue to accept donations for the Lakewood police officers’ families on its Web site through Jan. 1.
Kudos to the families of these heroes and the staff of Forza for their courage in choosing to not let evil triumph. The respectful process outlined to re-open the store and the plans to permanently memorialize the officers and honor them and all their law enforcement brothers and sisters in future stores is a great idea.
This is good news.
I’m very proud of the Forza owners and staff for finding a way to keep the memory of these 5 officers alive.
I’m also very proud of the Lakewood Police Department for supporting this.
“Gone But Not Forgotten”…
There is a Christmas carol that goes like this: And in despair I bowed my head: “There is no peace on earth, ” I said, “For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men.” Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; the wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men.”
Starbucks will have to losa a little business on Sunday as we will have morning coffee at Forza, and maybe a few days thereafter.
This is real progress for our SE Pierce community. A great way to say we are here for tomorrow.
It would be very difficult to sit in there and enjoy a cup of coffee. I wish the best for them.
I’ve never been to that Forza store, and don’t know if I ever will. Still, I think the idea is fantastic, to always remember the sacrifices of these officers, to the benefit of us all.