Retail

Barker Storage begins work on 10-acre storage facility

Project also includes spaces for boats, RVs

July 16, 2020

A family-owned investment company is developing a storage unit business that also will allocate space for storing boats and recreational vehicles. Barker Storage LLC broke ground last week on its planned $5.5 million self-storage project to be located

Western States Equipment plans Liberty Lake facility

Work expected to start soon, finish in 2022

July 16, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Boise, Idaho-based Western States Equipment Co. plans to build a 127,400-square-foot heavy equipment dealership in Liberty Lake, according to planning documents on file with the city. Site plans show the heavy equipment dealer is planning a four-building

Xfinity opens store in Spokane Valley, remodels North Side location

Company will hire 11 employees to be based at Evergreen Crossing

July 16, 2020

Virginia Thomas

Comcast Corp. has opened a new Xfinity retail store in Spokane Valley and temporarily has closed its Division Street store while that space is being remodeled. The Spokane Valley store is located in the Evergreen Crossing Shopping Center

Restaurateur Jeremy Tangen spins The Red Wheel in East Spokane

Restaurants & Retail

July 16, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Restaurateur Jeremy Tangen's latest endeavor, The Red Wheel Bar and Grill, is also a concept. Every hour, on the hour, an on-duty bartender literally spins a mounted red wheel behind the bar. A different drink is listed in each space on the wheel

Duncan Produce pivots after pandemic-related shutdowns

Greenacres wholesaler adds drive-thru retail

July 2, 2020

Craig Howard

Over four decades ago, John Duncan went from cutting french fries in the basement of a Coeur d'Alene restaurant to opening his own wholesale produce business. As it turns out, innovation runs in the family. In March, Duncan Produce, the company the

NOBO Pets launches here as online leash retailer

Direct-to-consumer startup foresees big market among dog walkers

July 2, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Two years ago, when he lived in Denver, running and hiking enthusiast Evan Purcell arrived home from work, threw on his workout gear, leashed his dog Bode, and the two went for an evening run. The near inseparable pair were so eager to see each other

Dearly Consignment bridal shop joins sister company

Restaurants & Retail

June 18, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Maybe Cassie Cleary will slow down a bit. Or, maybe she won't. After she debuted Honest in Ivory Bridal Shop in 2018, on June 3, she unveiled her latest creation: Dearly Consignment Shop.

Spokane hoteliers hope to buck West Side trends

INW hospitality industry isn't immune to uncertainty, though

June 18, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Reports of hundreds of layoffs at hotels in the Seattle area this month have some in the industry here concerned that Spokane will once again follow the trends set by the West Side.

Going the distance: The future of restaurants and retail stores in the Inland Northwest

Despite reopening, restaurateurs, retailers still face stiff headwinds

June 18, 2020

Kevin Blocker

On May 11, Bob and Barbara Materne celebrated the 39th anniversary of The Swinging Doors with little fanfare, because patrons weren't allowed inside the North Side restaurant and sports bar at that time.

Making lemonade: Eateries upgrade in downtime

In some cases, making improvements helps to keep workers employed

June 4, 2020

Virginia Thomas

A handful of bars and restaurants in the Spokane area have used the shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to remodel and deep-clean their spaces, sometimes using Paycheck Protection Program loan funds to pay employees to help with the work.