Tender Velvet Rebel Oven's Grand Opening

A new independent bakery is opening its doors this Saturday in downtown Olympia. Tender Velvet Rebel Oven's grand opening is Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 11 AM, inside the 222 Market at 222 Capitol Way N.

The bakery is run by Mari, and it's queer-owned. If you follow local Olympia food, you may have already seen their work, commercial photographer Russell Moore ran a behind-the-scenes shoot with Mari earlier this year that documented the cramped-but-busy space behind the counter and the vibrant guava matcha that's already become a signature drink.

Here's what they're serving:

• Cake by the slice

• Cupcakes

• Cookies and biscuits

• Savory goods

• Matcha (including the guava matcha)

• Coffee and other drinks

Once open, regular hours are:

• Thursday: 11 AM – 8:30 PM

• Friday: 11 AM – 9 PM

• Saturday: 11 AM – 9 PM

• Sunday: 11 AM – sold out

The 222 Market is on Capitol Way N between State Ave and 4th Ave, right in the heart of downtown Olympia and just a few blocks from the Capitol Campus. If you're already coming into Olympia this weekend for Lakefair, the car show is Friday on Deschutes Parkway, the Grand Parade is Saturday at 5 PM, and the fireworks are Sunday, walk a few blocks north between events and grab a slice of cake.

Contact: [email protected] · (360) 350-0302

Real estate note: independent, personal, queer-owned bakeries like Tender Velvet Rebel Oven are exactly the kind of business that turns a downtown corridor from "there's a coffee shop" into "you should live here." Downtown Olympia has been slowly rebuilding its small-shop density since 2020, and Tender Velvet opening inside the 222 Market, a shared-market concept that lets small businesses launch without carrying an entire storefront's overhead, is a smart use of the space and a good sign for downtown's small-business recovery.