Praxis Coworking starts downtown

 

Praxis Coworking, a newly established co-working space, opened earlier this month on the fourth floor of the Holley Mason Building, at 157 S. Howard downtown.

The company was started by Spokane business owners, Robbi Anthony and Erica Norris, who will serve as CEO and chief operating officer, respectively.

Anthony is the owner of Firedove Technology, an information technology services provider, while Norris owns Talk Fast Social, a social media marketing and management firm.

Anthony says the idea for starting a co-working space began six months ago, when she invited Norris to share Firedove Technology’s office space at 114 W. Pacific.

“In less than a month, we saw our sales go up, our happiness increase, and overall productivity skyrocket,” she says. “So we thought we could scale what we had done between the two of us in a significantly bigger space.”

Praxis occupies a 3,500-square-foot office suite, which includes two conference rooms and a large co-working space.

Anthony says the company’s $275 monthly membership fee includes 24/7 access to the building, WiFi, use of shared office equipment and supplies, use of the conference rooms and recreation area, as well as space to work.

“We’ll be adding amenities to the membership as time goes by,” she says. “But the idea is to provide all the necessities and perks that traditionally come with a larger office for one flat membership fee.”

Anthony says the space can comfortably fit up to 70 members, although it will take some time to work up to that level of membership. She says members also are encouraged to help shape and design the space in its first year of operation.

“It can be extremely challenging to go out on your own, whether it’s a project or a business,” she says. “We want to lower the overall difficulty and remove some of the barriers of entry for people who want to do that.”

—LeAnn Bjerken

 

Vintage mall gears up in East Sprague area

 

Blue Cat Vintage is a new vintage shop set to open in February, at 1919 E. Sprague, in what was formerly the Teen Challenge Thrift Store space.

The business is co-owned by Nick Taylor and his wife, Janet, who are leasing the 6,000-square-foot building from SDS Realty Inc., of Spokane.

Nick Taylor is originally from Thompson Falls, Mont., while Janet is from the Portland area, he says.

Taylor says the two have varied backgrounds, with experience in operating several different types of businesses.

“I was in the auto business for 43 years, and Janet was raised in it,” he says. “We spent six years as real estate agents in the San Diego area and simultaneously ran a laundromat in Portland for 11 years.”

Taylor says the couple have spent the past two years traveling around the U.S. in their motorhome before buying a home here earlier this year.

As to their latest venture, Taylor says the couple plan for Blue Cat Vintage to host at least 42 vendors in a 3,400-square-foot showroom space, with the remaining 2,200 square feet being used as the building’s foyer and consignment area.

“By the time we open, the building will be re-wired, re-plumbed, and have new central air and heating,” he says. “We’ll also have a new parking lot.”

Taylor says the two plan to invest about $40,000 of their own money to bring their vision for the space to life, prior to moving in next month.

He says the shop will include a variety of vendors, specializing in everything from vintage toys to old military memorabilia.

“We want the store to be unique, so our goal is to attract vendors with as many different disciplines as possible,” he says. 

In addition to himself and Janet, Taylor says the business likely will include at least one other cashier-customer service employee.

“We’ve seen and heard a lot about the various investment projects taking place in the East Sprague neighborhood,” says Taylor. “There’s a lot about the area that’s changed, and we’re excited to be part of what’s still to come.”

—LeAnn Bjerken

 

Billiards bar slated  to open in Hillyard 

 

Legacy Billiards, a new bar and grill, plans to open in a 7,000-square-foot-space at 5303 N. Market, in the Hillyard neighborhood, says Steve Rijon, general manager of the bar’s parent company 7th Rail LLC, of Spokane.

Legacy Billiards will feature 16 pool tables and a full bar with beer on tap along with bottled beer and wine. It’ll also offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with menu items including burgers, eggs, steaks, sandwiches, salads, and wraps, he says.

Rijon plans to open Legacy Billiards following renovations to the space formerly occupied by Total Cosmetology Training Center.

An opening date hasn’t been set, but it could be in April or May, he says.

Renovations will include adding a kitchen and installing new lighting, he says. Spokane-based Christopher Morlan Architect PLLC is the architect.

Legacy Billiards’ parent company also owns 7th Rail, a longtime bar and grill at 1911 N. Maple, says Rijon. That bar has seven pool tables and is “slam-packed almost every day of the week” because of those pool tables.

Legacy Billiards plans to open around 11 a.m. and close at 2 a.m.—or earlier if business is slow. The establishment also will be open specialty hours for activities such as pool tournaments, he says.

—Samantha Peone

 

Convenience store opens on Garland

 

A recently renovated and renamed convenience store has opened as Garland Mart at the northwest corner of Garland Avenue and Monroe Street, says Sahib Singh, the store manager.

The store is located in 2,400 square feet of space, which formerly was occupied by B’s Garland Market, at 1006 W. Garland, across Monroe from the Garland Theatre.

“There’s a lot of businesses in the Garland District that need a convenience store,” says Singh.

Garland Mart features frozen yogurt machines, soda dispensers, coffee, a deli case, hotdogs, pizza, and a “beer cave,” Singh says.

Interior renovations include new counters, new flooring, and new machines.

Singh says his father, Harbinder Singh, owns Garland Mart and other convenience stores, including two 7-Eleven shops. Sahib Singh says he manages the stores.

Garland Mart has started operations with four or five employees, he says.

Store hours are 6 a.m.-2 p.m. daily. Singh says the store will operate 24/7 “as the weather gets warmer.”

—Samantha Peone