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Monday, March 18, 2024

Modern new apartment building planned on Sharp, across from Gonzaga

 A 2004 article in the Gonzaga Bulletin newspaper references the home at 803 E. Sharp and the likely end of "803" a well-known party house for Gonzaga students.  And, while I'm not sure if the parties ever did start back up in the rental home it does still stand on the northeast corner of Sharp & Cincinatti.

Rendering of the planned new apartment building, courtesy of Farr Group and Trek Architecture.

But likely not for too much longer as a large new apartment building is presently in development for the site. Current plans call for construction to start in late summer for a new 4 story multi family structure to be built on the site providing 17 new apartments. The building will provide student housing as it's located across the street from campus.

The project is being developed by Farr Group NW, a general contractor has not yet been picked but architectural work is being done Trek Architecture.

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Colfax planning new Downtown restaurant incubator

 Colfax, the small town in-between Spokane and Pullman has an exciting new restaurant incubator project in the works for the city's downtown area. And applications are now being accepted for business owners interested in running new restaurants in the space.

Located at 102 N. Main St. the building is a 3521 square foot structure built in 1972 and owned by the Colfax Downtown Assocation. Significant renovations have already commenced to update and modernize the building with the goal of having not one, but two new restaurants occupying the shared space hopefully by June. The Colfax Downtown Association says they plan to host these restaurants via lease's for approximately 2-5 years, depending on the restaurant's needs.


Courtesy photos by Colfax Downtown Association

Interested parties can submit applications to operate in the space by March 22nd, with a lot more details on the plans in the link at the bottom of this article. Applications will be considered by a review panel in the days after the deadline.

The space includes a shared commercial kitchen with type 1 hood, shared private dining room, full-service bar station, operational drive thru window and more.  Those interested in obtaining a lease at the new Colfax Downtown Restaurant Incubator, check their project website at http://colfaxdowntownassociation.com/application/

Also watch this site as I plan to track what new restaurant(s) end up opening in the new space.

Friday, March 15, 2024

Eats on Spokane St. food truck court planned in Post Falls

 An exciting new food truck court project called Eats on Spokane St is coming to the Post Falls city center area. The new place is planned to occupy a vacant lot at the corner of Second & Spokane St. next door to Post Falls Brewing Company.


Signage recently went up on the parcel as they plan to break ground in April, with the site opening sometime during the Summer. The project will feature a 30x50 shed roof pavilion with roll up doors that will host two restaurant tenants, indoor dining space and restrooms. The indoor tenants have already been announced and will be new places called Melfit Healthy Kitchen and Nachos Cantina. 

In the outdoor areas Eats on Spokane St. will host eight food trucks, the owners of the projects are actively seeking food truck tenants but exact details of who will open there will be announced as the project progresses (follow their pages linked below). They also plan to host events like live music, movie nights, corn hole tournments,etc. The outdoor area will also offer concrete patio space for additional seating and fire pits.

For more information on Eats on Spokane St., visit their website at http://eatsonspokanest.com and follow them on social media via Instagram or Facebook

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Supa! Authentic Japanese Kitchen opens in Cheney

A new Japanese eatery is now open in Cheney. Located at 321 1st Ave., across from the Owl Pharamacy, Supa! Authentic Japanese Kitchen serves a menu of ramen, poke bowls and sushi rolls. Gyoza and many boba and milk teas, including cheese foam options are also available.



The restaurant features indoor dining, carry out and delivery is also via DoorDash. The new restaurant is open Mon-Sat 11-8, for more information on Supa! including a look at their menu, visit their website at http://lovesupa.com



Also follow Supa! Authentic Japanese Kitchen on their Instagram page.


Friday, March 8, 2024

It's a Love Story, romance bookstore and cafe coming soon to Hayden

 Described as North Idaho's first romance bookstore & cafe and likely the first one in all of the Inland Northwest, It's a Love Story Books & Cafe is a locally owned and operated business that is planned to open soon in Hayden. The business will be located in a new 1900 SF space at 8927 Hess St Suite A, just north of Walmart.

Courtesy photo- Bjorkman family, owners of It's a Love Story Books & Cafe.

The company already sells some titles online (links at the bottom of this article) but will open their brick-and-mortar store after construction is complete on the space. Currently they are planning to open sometime in early April. The new store will feature a wide variety of romance books and accessories. Additionally, they tell me they are also planning a "unique and custom book bar" but want to keep that as a surprise for the opening.

A cafe with comfy seating will also be part of the business serving coffee, teas, baked goods and some breakfast style sandwiches. They also plan to host numerous events and clubs for romance lovers at the business once open.

For more information on It's a Love Story, visit their website at https://www.lovestorybooksandcafe.com/ or follow them on social media via Facebook / Instagram or TikTok

Meridian Construction & Development celebrates completion of new Circle K in Post Falls

 Something is afoot in Post Falls as Spokane based Meridian Construction & Development has announced the recent successful completion of the new Circle K convenience store in Post Falls. The state-of-the-art facility spans 5200 SF and is located at 70 N. Beck Rd within the Pointe at Post Falls development area.



Courtesy photos by Meridian Construction & Development

The new store boasts various premium features, including five island fueling stations equipped with 24-hour gas pumps and high-speed diesel options, complimented by a 24-hour high pressure car wash. Inside, customers will find an extensive soda station featuring "polar pop" and "froster slush" drinks alongside a wide selection of freshly roasted coffee, with beans from Kwanda Coffee.

The facility also offers a walk-in beer cave and an expansive hot food station. The Tuscon,AZ based Circle K chain continues to expand their presence in the Spokane-Coeur d' Alene area, now operating seven stores locally. The company also plans to introduce up to five more stores in our area over the next two years. This was the second Circle K project completed by Meridian following the prior completion of a location on US 2 in Spokane.

For more information on Circle K, visit their website at http://www.circlek.com

For more information on Meridian Construction & Development, visit their website at http://www.meridianco.com

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

The Spokane Alpine Haus planning new location on Northwest Blvd.

 With over 40 years in business most anyone in the Spokane area has heard of a business called The Spokane Alpine Haus. The ski and snowboard shop operates in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood at 2925 S. Regal and offers a number of brands of skis, snowboards for sale and rent, in addition to tuning and a selection of accessories. But soon the locally owned and operated business will be expanding with a new second location planned in Northwest Spokane.

After some remodeling Alpine Haus is planning to open in the former Chase Bank building at 2215 W. Northwest Blvd. Garco Construction is listed as the general contractor for the building's change of use, Alpine Haus will occupy the entire structure with 2167 SF listed as being used for a sales area according to building permit data.

They tell me the store will sell mostly the same merchandise as the store on Regal. Currently, Alpine Haus plans to open the new store on Northwest Blvd. sometime during the fall of 2024, just in time for next winter. 

For more information on Spokane Alpine Haus, visit their website at http://www.thespokanealpinehaus.com


Karma Express coming soon on Boone nearby Gonzaga

 A new quick service Indian cuisine option is coming soon to Spokane, just steps away from the Gonzaga campus. The new place will be called Karma Express and is to be new restaurant from same local owners as Karma Indian Cuisine, that opened in late 2022 on N. Monroe St.. 

Staff photo from the opening of their other restaurant, Karma Indian Cuisine, still operating at 2606 N. Monroe St.

Karma Express will occupy the space last occupied by another restaurant called Tasty Bun at 829 E. Boone Suite C, by the corner of Boone and Hamiliton. Work is already under way for the new restaurant which is currently set to open sometime in April. The menu is also still a work in progress but i'm told the foods will be different from their other restaurants with infusion food, street food and more all planned.

Courtesy photo of the new Karma Express location

Beer and wine will be available in the new restaurant as well. A small indoor dining area will also be offered, in addition to take away and ordering via the standard delivery apps like DoorDash and UberEats. The same couple also operates restaurants under the India House name with that business currently operating locations in Wenatchee, Post Falls and on the South Hill of Spokane. 

As of my writing this, there is no website or social media pages set up for Karma Express, so please follow the Inland Northwest Business Watch pages for more information as I will make every effort to share more info / re-post from their pages when able.


Friday, March 1, 2024

Large new 52,000 SF indoor pickleball club planned in Spokane Valley

 Similar to what's happening all over the country, pickleball is taking over the Spokane area. And a new recently announced pickleball venue coming soon to Spokane Valley will be the Spokane metro area's first large scale club.

That venue, to be called, Power Pickleball Club is planned to come to the Spokane Valley Commons building at 2818 N. Sullivan, about a mile north of I-90 near the Spokane Business & Industrial Park. The club is planned to operate a 52,000 square foot facility there that will feature a total of 16 pickleball courts, 11 of those being cushioned indoor courts and an additional 5 located outdoors. Private courts and party spaces will also be available, and the club will feature the regions first adaptive/wheelchair-sized court measuring 74' by 44' .

The new facility will feature other amenities as well, with "warmup, training & recovery" spaces, including having an on-site trainer. An on-site kitchen will also offer snacks, handhelds, beverages (likely including beer & wine) and open space to eat & relax.  “Our vision is to provide a welcoming space for everyone from beginners to seasoned players. I’ve been consumed by this dream for a long time and cannot wait to share it with the community,” said Jeremy Rosenvall the founder of the new business. 

Locally based Selkirk Sport, a worldwide leader in pickleball paddle technology was also recently announced as a platinum sponsor of the new venue. They note the collaboration between Power and Selkirk Sport underscores the club's commitment to providing top notch equipment and facilities as the Selkirk Semi-Permanent Pro Pickleball Nets will outfit all 11 indoor courts.

A comprehensive pro shop featuring Selkirk and other products will be available in the Power Pickleball Club's facility. For those new to pickleball or wanting to up their skills will also find routine clinics and camps for all levels. Currently the new club is planned to open sometime during the Summer of 2024, with presales now underway as of today. 

For more information on the Power Pickleball Club, including info on how to sign up for the membership presale please visit their website at https://powerpbc.com or follow them on social media via Facebook / Instagram / YouTube or TikTok

Cascadia Pizza Co. planning locations in Rathdrum and Coeur d' Alene

 If you've attended any number of events and farmers markets around North Idaho in recent months you might have noticed the Cascadia Pizza Co. food trailer out and about. That red trailer is actually the first step in introducing the area to their business, which, thanks to the company's first ever franchise agreement, is coming soon to two locations within Kootenai County. 

The small Western Washington based chain of wood fired pizza restaurants is currently working on two local brick and mortar stores. These will be the fifth and sixth stores for the chain and their first outside of Western Washington. The new locations will include one in a new construction building opening later this year at 8083 W. Main in Rathdrum and one in the former Firehouse Subs space at 1422 W. Appleway, just north of I-90 in Coeur d' Alene. The Coeur d' Alene is location is currently projected to open in April.

Both locations will offer indoor dining, take away and delivery. The menu of Cascadia Pizza Co. consists of many pizza options all 100% wood fired and Neapolitan inspired. Beer will also be available on tap at the new restaurants.

For more information on Cascadia Pizza Co. , including a look at their menu, visit their website at http://cascadiapizzaco.com




Thursday, February 29, 2024

Cafe Rio, Wake Up Call and Swig all coming soon to The Pointe at Post Falls

 More new restaurants are coming a growing area of Post Falls. Although they are all still in the planning stages with exact details presently being ironed out, before they can actually break ground. The plans call for three new places by the southwest side of the W. Pointe Pkwy and Beck Rd. interchange, across from Maverik.

Garco Construction will be the general contractor for the project that with the following places all planned-

Cafe Rio - Planned to open in a new 2800 square foot building direct at the Pointe Pkwy./Beck Rd junction. Plans show the new restaurant will include a drive thru lane and a small outdoor seating area.

Wake Up Call - Planned to be a new 490 square foot drive thru building directly to the west of Cafe Rio.

Swig - Planned to be in a new 1500 square foot building due west of the Wake Up Call this will be the first location of the Swig chain in the Inland Northwest. The St. George,UT based company sells "dirty sodas" which have proven to be quite popular lately in addition to a few cookies.

Courtesy photo of the planned new Post Falls Cafe Rio location

There aren't set opening dates for any of these new businesses just yet but we expect construction to start as soon as they are able. This is the same development area which recently built two other new buildings, one a new Napa Auto Parts store and the other a small strip mall with locations of Wendy's , The Man Shop and Joint Chiropractic all coming.

Unrelated to this exact site but adjacent to it within The Pointe at Post Falls will also be a new Starbucks coffee shop which recently applied for building permits along Beck Rd., just southwest of the existing Maverik store. After many years of sitting empty, with the exception of Walmart and Cabelas, The Pointe at Post Falls is now proving to be a development hot spot for the area. Stay tuned to this site as I plan to keep track of each and every development in the area.

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Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Taichi Bubble Tea to open in Kendall Yards

 Taichi Bubble Tea, a rapidly growing New York based chain of bubble tea and ramen restaurants is coming soon to Spokane. The company will occupy the space last used by The Tea, an unrelated boba establishment at 1227 W. Summit Pkwy, in the same building as The Inlander's offices. 



Courtsey photos

The new business of course does offer an array of bubble teas but also has a menu of other beverages, ramen and warm rice bowls. Taichi Bubble Tea currently plans on opening there around the end of March with updates available on their social media (linked below). Once open, take-out and delivery will be available via DoorDash, GrubHub and UberEats in addition to their own online ordering platform. 

Taichi Bubble Tea was originally established in 2015 and has been growing ever since with 40 stores already open and many more in the pipeline. This will be the first Taichi location in the Spokane area as well as in Washington state, although the company tells me they are always on the lookout for new opportunities.

For more information about Taichi Bubble Tea, visit their website at http://www.taichibubbletea.com . Additionally, you can follow the new Spokane Taichi Bubble Tea on their Instagram page .