LeAnn Bjerken

Restaurateurs plans second Fieldhouse eatery

Project in Liberty Lake adds to group's growing portfolio

November 19, 2015

Spokane-based Nelson+Phelps Hospitality Inc. plans to open a Fieldhouse Pizza & Tap House in Liberty Lake, its second such outlet. Last summer, the company began remodeling a 5,000-square-foot space for that restaurant. That space, located at 1235 N. Li

Fairchild Air Force Base begins updating tanker instruments

Upgrades to give aircraft more modern avionics

November 19, 2015

LeAnn Bjerken

The first KC-135 Stratotanker has returned to the Fairchild Air Force Base after receiving what is known as the Block 45 upgrade, which includes cockpit instrument panel improvements and other changes intended to update the aircraft. A base spokeswoman w

Inventors draw feedback from first Toolbox pitch event

Event sought to spotlight early-stage product ideas

November 19, 2015

LeAnn Bjerken

Five entrepreneurs pitched their ideas for various creative products at an event last week titled the Toolbox Pitch Panel that was held at and hosted by the Toolbox business incubator here. The envisioned products include an electric bicycle, an automoti

Inland Northwest retailers expect strong holiday sales

Many said to be hiring seasonal workers

November 19, 2015

LeAnn Bjerken

The National Retail Federation is predicting holiday spending will be comparable to last year, with national retail sales increasing by 3.7 percent this year to $630.5 billion. Retailers here agree with those predictions, saying they too anticipate strong

Store Fixtures R Us set to close at month's end

Owner claims it's last such supplier still operating here

November 5, 2015

LeAnn Bjerken

The owner of Store Fixtures R Us, which supplies fixtures, displays, and other related items to retail stores, says he plans to close the 25-year-old East Spokane store by the end of this month, after already having shuttered sister plastic-fabrication c

Rockwood Health owner reports softer earnings

CEO cites several factors, including admissions drop

November 5, 2015

LeAnn Bjerken

Community Health Systems Inc., the publicly traded, Franklin, Tenn.-based medical facilities operator that owns Rockwood Health System in Spokane, reported this week that its earnings declined in the third quarter. CHS reported third-quarter net income a

Softer Canadian tourism, exchange rate link eyed

Many factors believed to influence fluctuation

November 5, 2015

LeAnn Bjerken

Canadian visitor traffic has been softer here in recent years, tourism officials say, but there's no real consensus about just how much blame for that decline should be placed on a recently widening gap in the U.S.-Canadian currency exchange rate. For

Trio of SBA veterans form consulting company

Three women plan to teach system to lenders

November 5, 2015

LeAnn Bjerken

Coralie Myers and Pat Johnson, of Spokane, along with Lisa Lerner, of Phoenix, have formed a new national company here called SBA Simplified LLC, with the goal of advising lenders on how best to use new lending software.

Numerica Credit Union remodels, adds branches

New design aims to enhance member experience, services

November 5, 2015

LeAnn Bjerken

Numerica Credit Union has been growing not only in terms of membership and assets, but also through branch renovations and additions.

Copeland sees increase in commercial design

Firm strives to continue founder's 30-year legacy

November 5, 2015

LeAnn Bjerken

Copeland Architecture & Construction Inc. owners Bob Britton, Jeff Fountain, and Austin Dickey say the company, long known for its design of Spokane-area homes, is gradually becoming known for commercial design as well.