Send all business inquires & press releases to matt.behringer@inlandnwbusiness.com

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Bella's Cafe & Cocktails opens in the University District

 A new eatery and bar is now open in Spokane's University District, on the ground floor of the Catalyst Building at 601 E. Riverside, just off of E. Sprague. The new place is called Bella's Cafe & Cocktails and replaces the Cole's Cafe that had been operating in the space their prior.

Courtesy photo

Bella's Cafe & Cocktails serves a menu of espresso drinks, delicious food and craft cocktails. Similar to Cole's , Bella's does offer gluten free options with the food menu consisting of breakfast items, sandwiches, panini's, bowls, personal pizzas and more, including occasional specials. Beer, wine and cocktails are also on the menu with a "happiest hour" currently available from 4-6 on Mon-Thurs as of my writing this.



While the new restaurant is already open they plan to host an official grand opening soon. For details on this and more information on Bella's Cafe & Cocktails, give them a follow on social media via Facebook or Instagram


Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Downtown Spokane Partnership to host 2025 Best in BID Awards and Annual Meeting

 

Courtesy photo- Lydia Cowles , owner of 27th Heaven Bakery and winner of most inspirational business owner

All Downtown Spokane stakeholders and fans will want to take note of the upcoming presentation of the winners of the third annual "Best in BID Awards" by the Downtown Spokane Partnership on Thursday, February 20th. In January, the public was invited to vote for their favorite businesses within an 80-block area of the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) in a number of categories. Thousands of voters, voted to determine this year's honorees, who include:

Best new business in 2024: Press Pickleball Club

Best local collaboration: Heritage Bar & Kitchen / Whistle Punk Brewing

Most inspirational business owner: Lydia Cowles of 27th Heaven Bakery

Best place for wellness and relaxation: Anam Cara Healing Center

Best social media presence: Rencorp Realty

Best place for a quick lunch break: Soulful Soups

Best locally owned fashion spot: Garland Resale Boutique

Best spot for a study session or work meeting: Indaba Coffee

Best place for a first date: Wooden City

Best place to take your out-of-town guests: Numerica Sky Ride


Courtesy photo of the Wharton Building in Downtown Spokane, a redevelopment project of Rencorp Reality. Who won the Best in BID award for best social media presence. Once complete the building will house Jupiter's Eye Book Cafe (now open!) a new restaurant called Gangnam Style and residential lofts on the upper floors


The Best in BID Awards are held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the DSP and the Downtown Spokane Business Improvement District. Leadership and representatives will present accomplishments from 2024 and goals and objectives for 2025 to continue building a dynamic, welcoming and vital Downtown.


Courtesy photo of Soulful Soups & Spirits, Best in BID award winner for best place for a quick lunch break.

DSP'S annual meeting is open to members and ratepayers to attend for $10 and $25 for the public. Networking will begin at 3:30pm with a program at 4:00pm, followed by a social hour with entertainment. The event will be held at nYne Bar & Bistro at 232 W. Sprague Ave, tickets are being sold online via https://downtownspokane.org


Inlander Restaurant Week menus to be released this week

Spokane foodies get ready, because it's almost Inlander Restaurant Week time again. Restaurant Week itself will be from Feb. 27th - March 8th, with more than 125 of the region's top restaurants will offer specially curated three-course menus at $25, $35 and $45 price points. The event is presented by STCU with the menus due to be released tomorrow, Thursday Feb 6th 2025.



Starting Thursday, diners can explore participating restaurants and menus at http://inlanderrestaurantweek.com. Site visitors can search for restaurants offering their three-course menus at lunch, in addition to dinner, as well as filter by neighborhood, cuisine and price point. The official event guide will also be available starting Thursday at STCU branches, participating restaurants and Inlander Community Centers inside more then 50 grocery stores including Rosauers, Yoke's, Safeway, Albertson's and Super One. The event guide will also be inserted in the Feb. 27th edition of The Inlander.

"Now in its thirteenth year, Inlander Restaurant Week is the perfect excuse to explore every corner of the Inland Northwest and finally check out that restaurant you've been eyeing - all while giving local eateries a boost during a slower time of the year" said Tamara McGregor, event director of Inlander Restaurant Week. This year, diners can once again support hospitality workers through partnerships with Big Table and CDAIDE. Every menu will feature a QR code for easy donations. Thanks to the generosity of STCU's Here For Good Foundation, donations will be matched up to $10,000 total during the event.

For more information on Inlander Restaurant Week, check out their website at http://inlanderrestaurantweek.com












Monday, February 3, 2025

Like what we do?

Donations are welcomed via Venmo @inwbusiness or by clicking here
Consider supporting local independent media and small businesses by donating to Inland Northwest Business Watch. This helps us get the word out about new restaurants, businesses, and companies doing exciting things in the Spokane and Coeur d' Alene area. It's never required but does help us keep up and pay for the increasing expenses brought on the operations of a site like this.

NEW! Donors of all amounts also will now be thanked on the desktop main page of this site, showing to the community you support local small business and independent journalism. If you donate I can share your businesses page on our Facebook page as well, just email me to let me know at matt.behringer@inlandnwbusiness.com

Chavelitas Pub Grill & Cantina coming to Liberty Lake

 After months of negotiations and deliberations by city council, the City of Liberty Lake has agreed upon on a new restaurant tenant lease for their Trailhead Golf Course clubhouse building at the corner of Country Vista Blvd. & Liberty Lake Rd. . The tenant of the space will be a new locally owned and operated restaurant called Chavelitas Pub Grill & Cantina.

Courtesy photo of the concept design for the new Chavelita's Pub Grill & Cantina, the end product might differ some from this image.

Chavelita's is a new concept from the same family that owns Las Chavelas in Coeur d' Alene and Casey's Place in Spokane Valley. They say the new restaurant concept is to combine both restaurants to create and American fusion with Mexican food. The menu will be heavily inspired by the menu at Casey's Place offering an array of salads, soups, and sandwiches but will also have a selection of Mexican dishes as well. Additionally, the new place will also have a full bar for beer, wine, cocktails and mocktails as well.

The new restaurant space will be renovated to suit the new tenant, with Chavelita's hoping to open there around June of this year. Catering will also be made available once the business is open.