Moore Wright Group ‘closed until further notice’
Published 1:30 am Friday, August 7, 2026
By all accounts, The Moore Wright Group [TMWG] had been doing inspiring things to help the local community and beyond since arriving in Aberdeen just before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
From distributing food to the needy to providing warm shelter during inclement weather, TMWG had established itself as a valuable resource. Late last summer, something began to change and by the end of 2025, the organization’s efforts had declined.
On Dec. 5, 2025, the TMWG, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, issued its last known official communication in the form of a press release announcing “strategic operational changes” including a reduction in force and Friday closures for all TMWG facilities. Today, TMWG’s headquarters located at the former Swanson’s grocery store at 1401 Simpson Ave. in Aberdeen shows no sign of activity, and multiple signs affixed to the windows proclaim “Closed Until Further Notice.” TMWG’s Facebook page has been inactive since Dec. 5, 2025.
“We had hoped to expand our cold weather shelter capacity this season. However, delays in facility activation and prolonged approval processes have limited our ability to add any emergency beds at a time of significant community need,” said Tanikka Watford, executive director, via the Dec. 5, 2025 press release. “Additionally, we can no longer afford to continue unfunded food programs or individual community distributions. These pauses deeply sadden us, but they are necessary to protect our core services.”
The Daily World reached out to Watford in late December and after exchanging a handful of emails, Watford cancelled a mid-February interview appointment and indicated that after a consultation with the organization’s attorney, an official statement would be forthcoming. It was not. Efforts to contact Watford and TMWG’s attorney for comment for this story specifically have been unsuccessful.
Tax-exempt organizations, nonexempt charitable trusts, and section 527 political organizations file Form 990 to provide the IRS with required information. After declaring $4.5 million in income, less expenses and $404,166 in salaries in 2022, TMWG reported an income of $7.1 million, less expenses $714,707 in salaries in 2023. In 2022, TMWG claimed $29 million in net assets or fund balances, and $36 million in 2023. According to IRS.gov, TMWG has not filed an IRS Form 990 since 2023. TMWG has failed to file an annual report on time in the state of Washington four times since registering with the state in 2018 — 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2025.
In October of 2023, the Washington State Department of Commerce published a lengthy blog post on the Medium blogging platform extolling the virtues of TMWG. The blog gave some background and discussed the organization’s distribution of goods to the needy, housing projects, addiction recovery support and workforce development.
“Tanikka’s parents founded TMWG in Alabama in 2007, with the mission to strengthen families and communities and to restore hope. At its core, TMWG, a nonprofit specializing in the distribution of essential items to help break the cycle of poverty, abuse and abandonment,” the blog read in part.
Prior to taking an active role with TMWG, Watford and her company Southern Solutions filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in North Carolina in 2007, and a bankruptcy court judge ruled that Watford owed nearly $275,000 in nondischargeable debt to five companies, respectively.
The Dec. 5, 2025 press release from TMWG mentioned “Exploration of strategic asset liquidation to strengthen long-term sustainability.” Last summer, a subsidiary of TMWG known as the J Street Cafe was to open in Hoquiam and pick up some of the slack when the Feed the Hungry program in Aberdeen shut down. However, the J Street Cafe never materialized and the building is currently for sale with a list price of $420,000. Another TMWG asset, the former Econo Lodge Inn & Suites at 910 Simpson in Hoquiam is also for sale with a list price of $4.95 million. An undeveloped parcel at 1505 Simpson Ave in Aberdeen is listed for sale at $425,000. A dilapidated residence at 1505 Aberdeen Ave. is also for sale and listed at $99,000. A commercial space at 1420 Simpson Ave. is for sale for $275,000. 1401 Aberdeen Ave. is also for sale at $95,000, 1419 Aberdeen Ave is listed at $95,000 as well — all TMWG properties.
According to the Grays Harbor County Treasurer’s office, TMWG currently owes $127,641 in back property taxes and is “not currently in foreclosure.” The Treasurer’s office has not had any recent communication with TMWG.
Oceanside Motel
According to the Department of Commerce’s blog post, “Part of the inaugural funding awarded from Commerce’s Office of Apple Health and Homes went to TMWG. The funding focuses on housing assistance and permanent supportive housing for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness who also have health conditions. … In March 2023, TMWG received a $7.9 million Rapid Capital Housing Acquisition grant from Commerce’s Housing Trust Fund to purchase and renovate the Oceanside [Motel] in Hoquiam. … The goal is to give people a safe place to call home while finding stability regardless of the circumstances that led them there.”
“The first introduction to The Moore Wright Group was from the Department of Commerce several years ago,” said Brian Shay, Hoquiam city administrator. “They had talked to Commerce about wanting to open up the facility in Aberdeen to have a distribution warehouse and Commerce had talked to me about them wanting to acquire that building and that they were applying for a grant and they were going to operate like Northwest Harvest or the Salvation Army, a group like that. Didn’t actually meet the organization at the time, was just introduced to the concept of them coming to town from Commerce. From my observation they did distribute food and meals out of the facility in Aberdeen there for a time, but I think their operations are now closed.”
A March 23, 2023 email from Charles Hitchcock of the Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing to Shay, and others including Studio C Architecture out of Portland, stated, “Our approved proposal to the state was for Permanent Supportive Housing, which was specifically called out in the RCW. The Moore Wright Group has also contracted with Foundational Community Supports for the operating funding, which is specifically for Permanent Supportive Housing.”
On March 30, The Daily World reported that Watford said Studio C Architecture was a partner in their development plan. Studio C Architecture was acquired by MG2 and its founder, Jim Walker, who is copied on emails regarding the Oceanside Motel project, has yet to respond to a request for comment.
A July 24, 2025 email from Hitchcock to Shay stated, “We are currently projecting late spring 2026 for Certificates of Occupancy.” Reached via email, Hitchcock declined to comment.
Another July 24, 2025 email to Shay and other city officials from Anthony Chadwick of TMWG stated, “We’ve received all necessary permits and have installed the construction fencing on site. Remediation work is scheduled to begin in early August, and we will have the site retested before any subcontractors commence work. Our other subcontractors are tentatively slated to begin in mid to late August. We’re still on track to complete construction in early 2026 and anticipate beginning the ramp-up of occupancy shortly thereafter.”
An Aug. 19, 2025 Facebook post, which includes video, indicated that renovations to the Oceanside Motel were underway. A truck marked “Decontamination” can be seen in the video.
Yet, there is no evidence that the Oceanside Motel has been renovated or used for any kind of housing or occupancy. As of press time, it does not appear that any activity has taken place at that location in some time. All that remains of any construction is the fencing and a ladder. A Department of Commerce staff member who was copied on related emails is currently out of the office until Aug. 12.
“That property on Aberdeen Avenue is very important because it’s right by the Y. I think back to when The Moore Wright Group first bought that … They were awarded $7.9 million from Commerce to buy that building and some other properties, and they were going to use that funding to acquire the property and renovate them for affordable housing,” Shay said. “That Oceanside Motel had been just a seedy, bad motel for a long time. The city was like, ‘Wow, this is great, we’re to get that building rehabbed, it’s right by the Y and it’s going to have affordable housing that we need.’ And now it’s just sitting there shuttered, nothing happening.”
The Econo Lodge Inn & Suites on Simpson Avenue, on the other hand, has been rebranded as the Anchor Pointe Inn & Suites and is operating as a hotel once again. The hospitality operations manager says that 15-20 rooms are available. The other 38 or so will be ready for occupancy once they’ve been renovated. The property is currently for sale at $4.95 million and is described as a “Turnkey hospitality investment opportunity in the heart of Hoquiam! This recently remodeled 64 room motel is well positioned to capture year round demand from tourists, business travelers, and event driven guests.” The official website describes it as “a refined, independent boutique inn that beautifully redefines the coastal travel experience.” Accommodations start at $79 per night.
Shay added, “The Econo Lodge … When they bought that, it’s recorded on the deed that the building has to be used for affordable housing, and they never opened it for affordable housing. They have a building permit, they’re going to re-open it as a motel.”
The Department of Commerce’s Medium blog indicated that the Moore Wright Group was part of the national Recovery Café Network and operated a Recovery Café of Hope to support individuals who were recovering from substance abuse. An Aug. 31, 2022 Facebook post heralded the café’s opening, accessible through the side entrance of the 1401 Simpson Ave. facility, and stated that it would operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Break-ins
Last month, TMWG reported two break-ins to the Aberdeen Police Department [APD]. On July 16, TMWG reported a theft worth $18 million that included computers, laptops, cameras and files, including deeds. According to APD, the restitution form has been reduced to $44,000 and reflects fair market value.
On July 29, a second theft of computers and files was reported. APD has not received a restitution form as of yet. Officers did take a sweatshirt and headlamp, possibly belonging to the suspect, into custody. According to APD, there was no sign of forced entry in either case, and the property is not equipped with security or surveillance cameras.
If TMWG’s Facebook page is any indication, the organization was active through November of 2025 supporting causes, participating in community activities and raising awareness for various campaigns. TMWG also sent two emissaries to the inaugural Grays Harbor County Housing Summit last August. And now the only activity appears to be hotel operations in Hoquiam.
