Physical therapy clinic opens here

Inspire Physical Therapy has opened on the third floor of the Spokane Integrated Medical Services Plaza, at 601 W. Fifth, on Spokane’s lower South Hill, says owner and operator Sean Sipe. 

“We’re excited to expand physical therapy offerings in the area,” he says. 

Sipe also owns three Spokane Occupational & Hand Therapy clinics in Spokane, one of which is just down the hall from Inspire’s recently opened space. 

“It was through our existing hand therapy clinic there that we became aware of the space opening up, and the need for physical therapy services in that area,” says Sipe. “With Northwest Orthopaedic specialists operating on the two floors above us, it made sense for us to be in a location where patients are already visiting for other types of therapy.”

Sipe says that following a $60,000 remodel, the two clinics’ combined staff, three from the new Inspire clinic and 10 from the hand therapy clinic, will share the 4,800-square-foot space. 

Physical therapist Eric Schaefer has been named director for the new Inspire clinic here.

Inspire Physical Therapy focuses on the treatment of sports injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation, and general orthopedic conditions.

In addition to his Spokane clinics, Sipe owns three clinics in Western Washington. They include Yelm Physical Therapy, in Yelm; DuPont Physical Therapy, in DuPont; and another Inspire Physical Therapy location in Lacey.

—LeAnn Bjerken

Rio Grill moves to downtown mall

Owner Patrick Hughes has moved his Rio Grill Brazilian Express restaurant from the South Hill to a much smaller space in downtown Spokane.

It’s now located in an 800-square-foot space next to a Panda Express outlet in the River Park Square food court, on the mall’s third floor.

Previously, Rio Grill had occupied a 4,700-square-foot space at 5620 S. Regal, where it had opened in August 2014.

The restaurant, which employs five people, offers entrees consisting of fresh, daily made Brazilian fare, such as citrus herb chicken, garlic lime steak, and coxinha, which are handmade shredded chicken dumplings. Entrees come with sides of rice and black beans or salads. Prices range from $7.50 to $9.50.

 “We got positive reviews at the other location,” Hughes says. “People liked the food, but I think we were just a little too far out for being viewed as a specialty food.”

Hughes says it’s still too early to gauge how the business might fare in the new location, having just opened there on Feb. 4, but adds, “What we have going for us here is visibility.”

Hughes, 40, moved to Spokane eight years ago from San Diego. He completed culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu, in Los Angeles. He has worked at restaurants in Southern California and Vail, Colo., and has been in the restaurant business since his mid-teens.

Over time, Hughes has developed a fondness for South American—particularly Brazilian—food. “It’s got good flavor profiles. People think it’s spicy, but that’s just not the case.”

Hughes thinks his menu lends itself favorably to catered lunches for local businesses, an area he’s currently trying to develop.

“Once we get this one (restaurant) solid, we’d like to try and branch out to Seattle and Portland,” Hughes says. “This is good food that just really hasn’t been introduced to the region.”

—Kevin Blocker

Jacobs changes name, plans second location

After 57 years, the company here formerly known as Jacobs Upholstery & Patio is relaunching as Jacobs Custom Living Inc. 

Company President David Jacobs says the new name reflects the business’s progression into custom furniture.

“Ever since we started, we’ve mainly been a reupholstery business, but we’ve been on the lookout for something to encapsulate what our whole business really does,” Jacobs says. 

The company is changing the name in advance of plans to open a second store location in north Spokane. “We’re leasing a space at 7503 N. Division, and hope to have it ready sometime in March,” says Jacobs. 

The new store will mostly sell indoor and outdoor furniture and accessories, with the majority of the upholstery work still being done at the company’s Spokane Valley location, at 16023 E Sprague.

Jacobs says that as part of its new name, the store also will be partnered to the new slogan “your life … customized.”

“Customization is very important to us,” he says.  

The business, which M.H. Jacobs and William Jacobs—David Jacobs’ grandfather and father, respectively—began in 1959, has expanded its services through the years to include upholstery services for indoor and outdoor furniture, boats, vehicles, and commercial spaces, as well as furniture and window sales. 

David Jacobs became president in 1994, the same year the company became incorporated, but he and his siblings work closely together to operate the business. 

“My brother Darby is general manager, our other brother Dean is in charge of furniture reupholstering, and our sister Donna takes care of reupholstery and window sales,” he says. 

The company employs 25 people. 

—LeAnn Bjerken

Bobcat dealership has changed hands

Bobcat of Spokane has taken over sales, leasing, and service of the Bobcat brand of compact construction equipment in the Inland Northwest, says Reese Dickenson, the dealership’s territory manager.

The dealership is located within the 23,000-square-foot Thermo King Northwest Inc. facility, at 10211 W. Westbow Blvd., south of Interstate 90 near the Medical Lake interchange.

The dealership has eight employees.

West Fargo, N.D.-based Bobcat Co. manufactures compact loaders, excavators, utility vehicles, and accessories.

Bobcat of Spokane’s territory ranges from Ritzville, Wash., to western Montana and from the Canadian border to north central Idaho, he says.

Pape Material Handling, of Spokane Valley, had previously been the Bobcat dealer here. Pape sells, leases, and services a number of other brands of equipment.

—Mike McLean