Music therapist moves her practice

 

The Center for Music Therapy and the Center for Healthy Couples & Families have relocated to newly leased space at 1315 N. Napa, in the Chief Garry Park neighborhood.

Owner and sole employee Kim McMillin is a licensed mental health counselor and board-certified music therapist whose businesses offer counseling and music therapy sessions for both groups and individuals.

McMillin says she’d been searching for a larger space. Previously, the two businesses were sharing a 244-square-foot space within a multitenant building at 1717 W. Sixth, on the lower South Hill.

“Multiuse buildings don’t always work so well for music therapy because we do a lot of drumming and loud noises that sometimes disturbs other tenants,” she says. “I also felt it was important to have added space for more group and family work.”

McMillin says she’s now leasing the entire 2,200-square-foot building along Napa Street from Spokane-based Tombari Properties.

She says the space offers a larger music therapy room, meeting room, and additional office space that she hopes to sublease to another mental health practitioner.

McMillin says she plans to host an open house next month to introduce the new location to both families and professionals who are interested in music therapy. 

“There’s still a real need in the community for arts, music, and movement opportunities for families with special needs kids,” she says. “That’s part of why I do this work.”

—LeAnn Bjerken

 

 

Mac Daddy’s plans to open next month

 

Mac Daddy’s Gourmet Grub, a mobile food service here, says it plans to open a restaurant next month just north of Spokane.

The new restaurant, to be called Mac Daddy’s Pub & Grill, will be located in the former Unforgiven Lounge space in the Fairwood Shopping Center, at 415 W. Hastings Road.

Nick Bokarica, who co-owns the operation with his business partner Andy Greenslitt, says remodeling of the 3,400-square-foot space is currently underway, and he expects the restaurant will be ready to open by Oct. 20.

“As a mobile business, we were limited to seasonal operations, and it was hard to keep staff on board,” he says. “A restaurant is something I’ve been working toward since the beginning.”

Mac Daddy’s is known for serving mac and cheese in various forms, including mac and cheese burgers, grilled bacon mac sandwiches, and more.

Bokarica says the business started as a hot dog cart, which he operated for several years before the owners decided in April 2016 to focus their attention on mac and cheese, creating Mac Daddy’s. 

“It started with a second cart for mac and cheese items that eventually became more popular (than hot dogs),” he says.

Previously, Bokarica says, Mac Daddy’s served as a mobile food and concessions stand, operating a truck or cart at catering events, and a larger booth at events like Hoopfest, Pig out in the Park, and the Spokane County Interstate Fair.

In addition to himself and Greenslitt, Bokarica says the business also employs one manager and several family members who assist in operations.

“We’ll likely hire between eight and 10 new employees for the new restaurant crew,” he says.

Bokarica says the new restaurant will have a similar menu to Mac Daddy’s current offerings, but will also include new appetizers, salads, and weekly specialty items. 

Bokarica, an avid sports fan, says the new space also will operate as a sports bar.

“The idea is to create something different, but still a welcoming spot where people can drink, visit, and watch games,” he says.

—LeAnn Bjerken

 

 

Wheel Sport adds its fourth bike shop

 

Wheel Sport, a small, Spokane-based chain of bicycle shops, plans to open its fourth store here this winter, says Mark Neupert, one of Wheel Sport’s owners.

Wheel Sport, through its real estate holding company WS Real Estate LLC, recently acquired a 3,200-square-foot shop building formerly occupied by Northgate Auto Specialists, at 9501 N. Newport Highway.

Neupert says he hopes the store will open before Christmas, after improvements to the building are finished.

“The shell of the building is good, but it needs a new roof and a sewer connection,” he says.

Neupert says the store likely will employ five or six people.

In all, Wheel Sport currently has 26 employees, he says.

Wheel Sport’s other stores are located at 1711 N. Division, in the Emerson-Garfield neighborhood; at 3020 S. Grand Boulevard, on the South Hill; and at 606 N. Sullivan, in Spokane Valley.

Neupert, his wife Sarah, and their friend Nick Salisbury bought the business in May from former owner Terry Solinsky.

Neupert says the new owners had no plans at the time to open a fourth store. The North Side location was attractive, however, because of its proximity to residential neighborhoods, he says.

Wheel Sport handles Specialized, Pivot, Salsa, and Electra brand bikes. The stores also stock bicycle shoes, clothing, helmets, racks, baskets, car carriers, and accessories, he says.

Neupert says bicycle sales are strong in Spokane, bucking a national trend of declining sales.

“Spokane is making an effort to be a riding community,” he says. “There’s been some great work on paved trails, sharrows, and bike lanes.”

He adds that bicycle and trail associations “have done an incredible amount of work on trail building.”

—Mike McLean

 

 

Vitamin store moves to space in Valley

 

Spokane Vitamin & Mineral has moved to a 1,000-square-foot suite at 12623 E. Sprague in Spokane Valley.

Lisa Angle purchased the business—which previously operated at 1008 W. Rosewood on the North Side—in April before moving it to Spokane Valley. 

“Spokane Vitamin & Mineral has been around for 33 years, and to the best of my knowledge that I can tell, has only had three owners,” she says.

Angle says the business caters to anyone who wants to be healthy and have a more active lifestyle.

“We have vitamins and supplements for people ranging from infants to geriatrics,” Angle says. “I’m not looking to market to a specific group of people. What I want to see is for people to get well.”

Angle says the store also carries a full line of organic supplements and vitamins, in addition to more conventional lines. The store also is an anchor drop-off location for customers of Azure-brand vitamins, who can order products and have them dropped off at Spokane Vitamin & Mineral, she says.

“Technically, Azure is a competitor. But the store has had relationship with the company for many years and wants to see that continue,” she says. “It’s also a good way to get other customers here to see what we have to offer.”

—Kevin Blocker