Rugged Trading Co. moves to larger space

Rugged Trading Co., an online retailer that specializes in selling used goods, has moved to a large warehouse and is planning a grand opening there next month.

Josh and Lindsey Roe, of Spokane, co-own the company, which they started as a hobby in 2012 and operated as a sole proprietorship until converting it to a limited liability corporation last fall.  

Having outgrown its previous 1,800-square-foot warehouse, the company relocated to a 5,500-square-foot space at 7826 N. Market.

Josh Roe says Rugged collects a wide variety of goods and resells them through its website, ruggedtrading.com, which uses an algorithm to track items and drop prices daily on those that haven’t sold. 

 “If at the end of 90 days an item hasn’t sold for at least $30, we move them to a shipping container out back, and sell the items inside it during one of our two annual community garage sale events,” he says. 

Although customers can visit Rugged’s warehouse, Roe says the company asks visitors to peruse inventory via an on-site computer first anyway. 

“Rather than having people walk about and find things, we created a space for them to relax in while we retrieve their items,” he says. 

Roe says most of the company’s customers are people who are downsizing or need help with estates, but it also assists area lenders stuck with assets to liquidate and businesses looking to part with aging or distressed inventory.

Besides its owners, the company has one full-time employee, but is looking to hire at least two more within the next month.

Roe says the grand opening, set for Jun 17-18, will feature a community garage sale, along with a barbecue and family-friendly activities. Looking ahead, he says the company eventually hopes to develop a network of Rugged Trading Co. locations in other cities. 

—LeAnn Bjerken

 

Franchisee plans Valley Costa Vida

Kennewick-based restaurant franchisee Russ Cazier says he plans to open a new Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill outlet in Spokane Valley this month after closing a South Hill Costa Vida last month. 

Through his company, Cazier Enterprises Inc., Cazier also owns 26 Subway restaurants and five Costa Vida outlets, including two North Side restaurants, one at 4805 N. Division and at 9412 N. Newport Highway. 

Until last month, Cazier also was operating the Costa Vida location in the Lincoln Heights Shopping Center, at 2915 E. 29th. 

“Rather than renew the lease, I decided to open a Valley location instead,” he says. “Some key employees from that location will now be working at the new restaurant, and former employees are welcome to reapply if they’d like.”

Costa Vida is a fast-casual Mexican restaurant franchise, serving Mexican food in a coast-inspired atmosphere.

Cazier says the new 3,500-square-foot location at 10 N. Sullivan Road is set to open in mid-June, following the completion of interior remodeling work. 

“It used to be a Mattress Firm location, so we’ve done a lot of remodeling inside to change things into a restaurant,” Cazier says. “Once it’s complete, it should look very similar to our Newport (Highway) location.”

He says the new location will likely need about 22 employees, including full and part time workers.

In addition to the Spokane Valley restaurant, Cazier says he’s working to open two other Costa Vida eateries, one in Yakima and another one in Pasco.

 “I have a total of 435 employees across both our Subway and Costa Vida locations,” he says. “We’re pretty optimistic about the Valley location.”

—LeAnn Bjerken

 

Spencer’s Antiques moves to Sprague

Spencer’s Antiques & Collectibles Emporium LLC has moved to 3104 E. Sprague, says Thelma Kay Kallenbach, owner.

Kallenbach says the business, previously located at 1325 N. Division, moved because its building was being sold. Business was also down, so Spencer’s Antiques had difficulty keeping its entire 15,000-square-foot space full. Its new space is about 4,500 square feet, she says.

Kallenbach says, “We rent space to people, sell their product for them, and charge a percentage.”

She says the shop sells a wide variety of items, including antiques, collectibles, posters, toys, tools, jewelry, books, glass, and brass. 

Kallenbach says the business hopes to hold markets in the future in the large parking lot adjacent to its shop.

Spencer’s Antiques employs four people part time and Kallenbach, who is full time, she says. The business was established in 2003, and she purchased it in 2008, she says. It had been at its previous location since 2010.

Spencer’s Antiques & Collectibles Emporium is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. 

—Samantha Howard

 

Chaps to open small café at Kendall Yards

Chaps Coffee Co., which owns and operates the Chaps Diner & Bakery restaurant in southwest Spokane, plans to debut a small satellite location in Kendall Yards at 1227 W. Summit Parkway beginning in June, a company representative says.

Gina Garcia, the pastry chef and operations manager at Chaps, has been overseeing establishment of the new location, named Paper & Cup. 

Celeste Shaw owns Chaps, which now is in its 11th year in business and is located at 4237 S. Cheney-Spokane Road.

“As it’s only 500 square feet of space, we won’t have the full operations that Chaps has. We’ll be serving pastries, desserts, coffee, and light lunches,” Garcia says of the new pastry shop. “Without the space, we’re not serving the same type of fare.”

Paper & Cup, which will be located on the street level of the three-story building that houses The Inlander newspaper, will have room to seat 12 to 15 patrons and will have access to outside patio seating, Garcia says.

—Kevin Blocker