Jason Van Hoose enjoys a beer at the bar of the Royal, a 70s-type lounge in downtown Olympia. Photography by J.M. Simpson

Bocce Bar?

Yep! But so much more!

Olympia’s The Royal opened last weekend, as noted by the Olympian.

While bocce is cool and all, I think for me the draw to the place has everything to do with features Jennyrose Wright discussed with me. Wright owns Olympia’s room 30, a very groovy place to browse and buy.  And now, along with her husband, Josh Brown, and the principal owner, Hezekiah Pugh (“Ky,”) she also plays a part in ownership of the Royal.

What Wright told me about last week as I was in town shopping for a groovy baby gift (and more!) was that the Royal is poised to be a sort of house party where you don’t have to worry about cooking or cleaning, and where you can get drinks like the Fat Elvis and the Farrah Fawcett.

The lounge is a comfortable, easygoing bar with heart, where collaboration and a lot of hard work have created a space filled with repurposed furniture and elements that came together with the help of Habitat for Humanity and Olympia Salvage.

Maybe keeping construction costs down is how they can keep drink costs no higher than other places in town, not to mention offering free bocce and events.

Sounds like I have a reason to go south to have fun! â€" Jessica Corey-Butler