Coffee shop where Lakewood officers slain to reopen Saturday

The Forza Coffee shop in Parkland, where four Lakewood Police officers were slain Nov. 29, will reopen Saturday at 8:14 a.m.

That's the time that Lakewood Sgt. Mark Renninger, and Officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold, and Greg Richards, were ambushed and killed at the coffee shop.

The shooter, Maurice Clemmons, was shot and killed in South Seattle Dec. 1.

On Thursday, Associated Ministries conducted a moment of blessing at the coffee shop to "reclaim that space as a place for life."

Afterward, during a private ceremony in the cafe for some of the officers' families, Lakewood Police officers and the cafe staff, a decision was made to reopen the coffee shop.

According to the coffee company, Forza will always be tied to this incident and the memories of the fallen officers will always be part of the stores.

Also, plaques will be placed at all stores in memory of the officers and Tim Brenton, the Seattle police officer who was also killed while on duty.

Every new Forza location in the U.S. will open for business on its first day at exactly 8:14 a.m. and the first customer will be a representative of the local law enforcement community, according to the coffee company.

On Saturday, Lakewood Police Chief Bret Farrar plans to be first in line when the coffee shop reopens.

"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," said Brad Carpenter, head of the coffee company and a former police officer. "We encourage the community to keep the families (of the police officers) in their prayers."

Donations to the Lakewood Police Independent Guild, to benefit the families of the officers, will be accepted on the Forza Web site until Jan. 1 at www.ForzaCoffeeCompany.com.