Latest News

Carl's Jr. eyes new restaurant on North Side

Eatery would be second burger joint at intersection

November 3, 2016

A franchisee of Carpinteria, Calif.-based Carl's Jr., the national burger chain, wants to construct a restaurant at the southwest corner of Northwest Boulevard and Maple Street, preliminary planning documents recently submitted to the city of Spokane sh

Great Harvest bakery on South Hill reopens with new owners

Previous franchisee had closed eatery in August

November 3, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Spokane's Great Harvest Bread Co. store has reopened under new owners and with a new look after shutting down last August. The Dillion, Mont.-based company is a national franchise bakery that sells daily and seasonal bread varieties, fresh sandwiches,

Spokane cyber-risk company hits its stride

RiskLens to triple profits by end of '16, execs say

November 3, 2016

In 2011, RiskLens Inc. co-founders Jack Jones and Steven Tabacek pitched their idea of starting a software company built to help businesses and organizations analyze their exposure to cyber risk. It was a proposal that potential investors in Silicon Val

Spokane-based Go Green Enterprises gets nod to transport marijuana

Company is first company to obtain new state license

November 3, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Go Green Enterprises LLC is the first state-licensed professional courier service for the transport of marijuana, having obtained its transport license last month. In July, Washington state created a new license for marijuana transportation with a law re

Conservation groups here seek to buffer watersheds

$15 million program targets 10 counties

November 3, 2016

The Spokane Conservation District is looking for regional landowners to volunteer for a conservation program that would compensate them for not growing crops near streams or watersheds on their property. The conservation district, Natural Resources Conse

Winter forecast lifts ski hills' hopes

Snow resort operators expect best season in years

November 3, 2016

Mike McLean

Inland Northwest ski resort operators are anticipating a strong ski season, especially in light of long-range weather forecasts of above- average snowfall. 'The forecast is looking really good,â€ says Brad McQuarrie, general manager at Mt. Spokane Ski

Melting Pot restaurant in downtown Spokane changes hands

Couple use franchisor's new financing program

November 3, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Kim and Hollis Silva, previously employees at The Melting Pot, are now the owners of the downtown fondue restaurant, and the first franchisees with the Tampa, Fla.-based chain to take advantage of company's new Path to Grow financing program. The 8-yea

Al French concern buys back North Side medical building

Partners look to construct neighboring apartments

November 3, 2016

Mike McLean

Al French and business partner Robert Daugherty have bought back the Franklin Park Medical Center building they developed in 2005 and sold to a California ownership group in 2009. The partners also plan to develop a $15 million-plus apartment building n

Rockwood Health System owners posts $79M loss

Stock price sunk nearly 50 percent last week

November 3, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Community Health Systems Inc., the Tennessee-based hospital operator that owns Rockwood Health System here, has reported a $79 million third-quarter net loss, compared with net income of $52 million for the same period last year. Investor confidence in t

Cyan Inc. mounts its comeback

Game developer launches first foray into virtual reality

November 3, 2016

Linn Parish

In an effort to return to the forefront of the video gaming industry, Spokane-based game developer Cyan Inc. has launched this week a version of its newest game, Obduction, that can be played on a virtual-reality platform. Rand Miller, cofounder and CEO