Couple of new multi-family developments coming to the South Perry District

 Soon there will be more places to live in Spokane's South Perry neighborhood. That's because two separate developments from two different developers are currently in the planning phase in the neighborhood and when built they will add over 130 new apartments to the in-demand area. First of all is:

1217 E. Newark Ave. 

Located on a recently vacated lot on Newark at the corner of Denver St and in the curve just north of The Bike Hub a local developer is working on a future four story building that will house 40 apartments with 43 surface parking spaces. This development recently cleared the SEPA application process and in the SEPA application they indicate they hope to begin construction during the spring/summer of 2026. 

The development is still in the planning phase so we have not been able to confirm if these will be market rate apartments or some other sort of tenancy. There also is no general contractor or renderings available on it just yet however according to documents filed with the City of Spokane the architectural work for this new project is being done by Trek Architecture.

819 S. Hatch St.

Mentioned as Hatch Garden Apartments in paperwork, this development will likely end up being called The Summit and will be built as two four story apartment buildings and a separate club house / leasing office building with a total of 94 rental units once opened. The project is being developed by CM Development & Construction and will be just north of the Wisconsin Burger restaurant.

Representatives with CM did not reply to our requests for more information, but they did recently speak with our friends and colleagues over at the Spokane Journal of Business where they indicated these new apartments will be market rate units geared towards students and young professionals. Actual construction on The Summit should start in the Spring of 2026. For more information, including a look at the renderings of what The Summit will look like once completed check out the Journal of Business' story about it at https://www.spokanejournal.com/articles/17479-the-summit-apartments

Sweet Tooth now open on the South Hill

Courtesy photo via Anna @Spokaneplayground

Do you often times find yourself with a bit of a sweet tooth? Same! Then you'll want to join me in checking out a new locally owned and operated business on the South Hill called Sweet Tooth. Sweet Tooth can be found at 1230 S. Grand in a space that was once a Baskin Robbins.

Sweet Tooth is currently in the soft opening phase with an official grand opening coming on October 1st. The store is launching with donuts (over 50 varieties that rotate daily), some other baked goods and a decent coffee menu with coffee coming from Spokane based Cedar Coffee as the owner of that business, former Ukrainian refugee Igor Anisimov is also the owner of Sweet Tooth. For those who don't drink coffee, Sweet Tooth also sells teas and a couple other options.

We're also hearing that in the future Sweet Tooth will also carry Eastern European Cakes, quiches and sandwiches.

New map showing what's being built where...

 I've finally re-done the Google Map showing construction projects in the Spokane, Coeur d' Alene and Post Falls area! There might be places I've missed so feel free to reach out to ask and let me know (matt.behringer@inlandnwbusiness.com). This will also be missing many residential subdivisions, educational projects and run of the mill apartment complexes as I've always tried to make this site more commercial and industrial focused, but because of that it should have the vast majority of those projects.

Also, feel free to reach out or search this site if you need more info about a particular project.

And, if this benefits you, we do welcome donations via Buy me a Coffee at-

https://buymeacoffee.com/inlandnwbusiness

Port of Subs to drop anchor in North Spokane

 

Port of Subs is coming back to Spokane as the Reno,NV based company recently reached an agreement with entrepreneur, Ben Pearson to act as a regional developer and open a several new franchised locations throughout our area. The first of which is already a work in progress in North Spokane at 7808 N. Division Ave. Suite 1 which was last used as an unrelated Firehouse Subs restaurant.

This new Port of Subs will occupy the 2000 square foot space with some remodeling being done before opening, construction will commence once the building permits are granted. The general contractor for said work is listed as to be determined on documents filed with the city. Currently Pearson hopes to open this new location in January 2026 and it will feature indoor dining, carry out and delivery of Port of Subs menu of delicious sub sandwiches.  The company also has a convenient rewards app for easy online ordering. The company operates 145 locations and growing as of 2020 and has been in business since its founding as "Sub Shop" in 1972 in Sparks,NV.

This will be the first of likely many Port of Subs restaurants coming soon to the Inland Northwest. Pearson is currently seeking qualified franchisees to join and open Port of Subs locations. They currently plan to open 10 or more new stores between the Tri-Cities, Spokane and North Idaho. No other locations are set yet as of my writing this, but they are actively seeking new spaces.

For more information about Port of Subs, visit their website at https://portofsubs.com/

Franchise deal likely bringing more Wienerschnitzel restaurants to Spokane

 

After many delays and a slow construction process, the first Wienerschnitzel restaurant in the Spokane area opened in early 2024 at 10220 N. Newport Hwy and still remains open. But now with a recently announced franchise deal Spokane will be able to get their wiener fix even easier with more new restaurants from the quick service chain coming in the near future.

Boise based entrepreneur, Del Bufalo has opened two locations in the Boise area with his second opening recently in Meridian and has now signed on to open Wienerschnitzel stores in our area as well. He explains via press release. "We've seen consistent demand and an enthusiastic customer base here in Idaho. Expanding into Spokane is the natural next step, and I'm excited to introduce even more communities to our unique menu and guest experience" . The agreement is for Bufalo to open four new locations in the greater Spokane, WA and Post Falls - Coeur d' Alene,ID area. 

However, this is just the announcement of a franchise agreement, and no exact locations can be announced yet, nor can their opening dates. Wienerschnitzel reports having 340 franchised locations in operation throughout 13 states and 50 more units in various stages of development across the United States. The company is based in Tustin,CA and hot dogs and other fast food style menu items. For more information on Wienerschnitzel visit their website at http://wienerschnitzel.com/

El Pollo Loco coming to Spokane

 

More chicken is on its way to Spokane, but this time it's El Pollo Loco a Costa Mesa, CA. based quick service restaurant brand that to date doesn't have any locations in the Spokane market. Work has been underway behind the scenes for some time by a local Entrepeneur to bring multiple new franchised locations to the area. The first of which will be located at 5102 N. Division, which had been a Taco Time restaurant.

Currently they hope to open the first new local El Pollo Loco in the Spring of 2026, however construction and permitting delays have been commonplace recently so an exact opening date will be unknown for some time. In the future they plan to open multiple franchised locations around our area with more possible locations coming to North Idaho, Tri-Cities, Yakima, Moses Lake and a "handful" more in Spokane. 

El Pollo Loco restaurants specializes in a menu of Mexican-style grilled chicken items. The company reported having around 500 locations as of 2019, the most recent info I can readily find. Most of the brand's restaurants are located in the Southwest, although brands by the same name also operate in Mexico and the Philippines. In fact, the brand was founded in 1975 in Sinola,Mexico. For more information on El Pollo Loco visit their website at https://www.elpolloloco.com/

The District Lofts starts leasing in the Garland District

 

Courtesy photo

We've been watching the new apartment building rise behind the Garland Theater for the last few months now. And, after much anticipation the building's 44 apartments are now available for lease under the name The District Lofts. The building is located at 951 W. Walton, at the corner of Walton and Monroe on a parcel that was previously a section of the Garland Theater's surface parking lot.

The District Lofts offer newly constructed apartments with studios, one- and two-bedroom floor plans. Apartments have open floor plans, high ceilings, Quartz countertops, LVP Flooring, walk-in closets, washers / dryers, private balconies and are pet friendly. And that's not to mention the new building is literally steps away from the Garland Business District, a walkable district of shops, restaurants, coffee shops and bars and the vast majority are locally owned and operated businesses as well.

Leasing for the new apartments is being handled by LT Property Mangement, and information can be attained by calling 509-315-8660 or emailing leasing@ltrealestateco.com . As of my writing this (9-15-25) they are also offering move in specials, but as these can change, please consult LT Property Management for current offers. 

Wing Stop planning location in Downtown Spokane

 

Wing Stop, the Texas based chain of Chicken Wing restaurants is expanding it's presence in the Spokane market with a new franchise location coming soon to Downtown Spokane. This will be the chain's fifth restaurant in Spokane County, with another location also open in Coeur d' Alene. We reached out to the Utah based franchise owner and we're told they also are hoping to open more locations in our area but as of now the Downtown location is the only one in development locally.

The new Downtown Spokane Wing Stop will be located in the Gateway to Spokane building at 2 W. Third Ave Suite 104, which was formerly a locally owned home decor store. Plans call for a remodel of the space before opening with the general contractor still listed as TBD on building permit documents. The space is a little shy of 1500 square feet with the remodeling project estimated to cost $300,000. The space will include a small indoor dining area but like other Wing Stop restaurants orders will be available for carry out or delivery.

No opening date is set for the new location but is estimated to be sometime this Winter. Wing Stop was founded in 1994 and today has over 2500 locations with stores in 14 different countries. Their menu consists primarily of chicken wings and chicken tenders. For more information on Wing Stop visit their website at https://www.wingstop.com

New strip mall planned near Poleline & Hwy 41 in Post Falls

 

Courtesy photo

The Highway 41 corridor on the eastern edge of Post Falls continues to be white hot with new businesses and development projects. Located in the heart of this area is the North Point development from Hayden based Corhaven Properties on the northeast side of the Hwy. 41 and Poleline Rd. intersection.

Earlier new stand-alone 7-11 and Grocery Outlet stores opened there and just a few weeks ago they also announced the upcoming construction of a McDonald's fast-food restaurant with dual drive through lanes. But next up will be a new construction strip mall with 4 bays that should start construction in the Spring of 2026 on the vacant lot in-between the new McDonald's and Grocery Outlet.

They are currently planning to have the new strip mall complete sometime during the Fall of 2026 with four versatile retail units, with one including a drive-thru window. There are no tenants that can be announced for the project as actual construction hasn't even commenced yet but pre-leasing for the site now underway and there is already interest. For information on leasing space in this new development and growing part of Post Falls contact Jeff Ottmar with NAI Black at 509-385-8889 . The development site also has two more pad sites available, so we expect more new business announcements from this site in the future so stay tuned.

Gena's Mexican Kitchen coming soon on the South Hill

 

A new restaurant is coming soon to Spokane's South Hill as the locally owned and operated Gena's Mexican Kitchen is working on their new location at 501 E. 30th Ave., the place is a little under a block west of the Manito Shopping Center and might be a recognizable address for some as the place was formerly the long running Gordy's Sichwan Cafe, that recently closed down.

The new restaurant is hoping to open sometime within the next few weeks, but doesn't have an opening date set yet as they are still working and waiting on health department approval. Gena's Mexican Kitchen say they will have authentic Mexican food with a full bar with items for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Their website appears to still be under construction as of my writing this but watch https://genasmexicankitchen.com/ and give them a follow-on social media via Facebook

Jampod opens in Spokane

 

Courtesy photo- JamPod

Spokane's musicians might want to make note of a new business now open, just east of Downtown at 2012 E. Sprague. That new business is JamPod and is a locally owned and operated establishment offering premium, fully equipped music rehearsal rooms for bands and artists alike.  

JamPod currently offer four rooms (aka pods) available for bands or musicians to rehearse or collaborate. As before mentioned the rooms are fully equipped, meaning the musician only needs to bring their own sticks and instruments and then prepare to rock out (or whatever type of music you preform). JamPod also has three silent rehearsal rooms that even have the capacity to record within them. The new business also plans to have some retail merchandise as well, featuring local guitar builders over the major brands like Fender and Gibson.

In the future the owners of JamPod intend to add things like open mic and jam nights, with more plans to grow and add to their offerings. For more information and to see what's going on a JamPod, visit their website at https://thejampod.com and give them a follow on social media via Facebook or Instagram

Big Flipper, pinball bar coming to Coeur d' Alene

 

Courtesy photo- Big Flipper

There's something cool and new coming to Coeur d' Alene. Big Flipper is opening soon and is already hosting soft opening events in their new place at 312 E. Annie Ave., in-between 3rd and 4th, nearby Thai Bamboo in Midtown Coeur d' Alene. The new locally owned and operated business is small pinball forward bar with over 20 different pinball machines spanning five decades, including a few rare gems!

In addition to pinball, Big Flipper also offers classic arcade games and two Skee-Ball lanes. Pinball tournaments and leagues will also be coming soon, as well as private event rentals. In addition to all the games at Big Flipper the new business will also have beer, wine, canned cocktails and what they describe as a "tasty, curated menu". Their goal is "your new favorite hangout" and in a time where so called Third Places are missing this will likely be a welcomed addition to Coeur d' Alene.

For more information, and to watch for their upcoming grand opening, give Big Flipper a follow-on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bigflippercda/