After repairs, Petunia & Loomis is celebrating a grand re-opening in Downtown Spokane

 

After months of cleanup, construction and even some creativity, the curiosity shop Petunia & Loomis recently announced their grand re-opening beginning today (Aug. 1st) thru Aug. 3rd. The extensive repairs come on the heels of two devastating floods that hit the store in December and February. "Two floods in two months nearly swept us away" said Manager Jesse McCauley. "But like any good gothic ghost story, we came back stronger - and spookier - than ever."

The store now boasts brand-new floors and an upgraded layout that enhances the immersive, eerie experience customers have come to love. With expanded product line, returning fans and new visitor alike can look forward to curated oddities, magical supplies, antique curios, and haunted home decor that reflect the store's signature dark charm. Additionally, Petunia & Loomis is rolling out a calendar of creepy and creative events, including: 

Bug Pinning classes

Tarot classes

Tattoo pop-up's

Kids classes

and of course, their annual Krampus event in December. Petunia & Loomis is located in Downtown Spokane at 224 N. Howard. As of my writing this the store is open Mon-Sat 11-6 and Sun. 11-5, for more info on the store visit their website at https://petunialoomis.com/

Fresh Today Cafe opens in Northtown Mall

 

A new restaurant opened recently within the Northtown Mall in Spokane. The owners of Fresh Today Catering,LLC have opened a new place called Fresh Today Cafe in the food court area on the second floor of the mall. 

Fresh Today Cafe officially opened in June and will serve sandwiches, flatbreads, soups, salads, comfort foods, grab and go items, breakfast, cakes, pretzels, cookies, brownies and more. They also will routinely post specials via a "fresh sheet". Fresh Today does also plan to continue their original catering and bakery side of the business. Indoor dining is provided in the mall food court and menu items are also available for delivery via Doordash.

For more information on Fresh Today Catering visit their website at https://freshtodaycatering.com/ and give Fresh Today Cafe a follow-on social media via Facebook

Veteran duo introduces D1 Training to Coeur d' Alene with new location

 

Courtesy photo

In June local entrepreneurs and veterans Richard Smith and Kyle Parkinson opened a new D1 Training location at 8632 N. Government Way.  D1 Training is a leading fitness enrichment concept utilizing the five core tenets of athletic-based training. The new group fitness facility employs a sports-science backed training regimen led by certified trainers to help people of all ages achieve their sport and fitness goals.

D1 Training offers four age-based programs including Rookie (ages 7-11), Developmental (ages 12-14), Prep (ages 15-18) and D1 adult. Each fitness program is based on the five athletic-based tenets: dynamic warm-up, performance, strength program, core and conditioning, and cool down. Outside of group workouts, D1 Training offers group, semi-private, and one-on-one training with world class coaches. D1 Training has been expanding across the nation though franchising, D1 Training has more than 100 performance centers open with over 100 more centers currently in various stages of development.

For more information on D1 Training in Coeur d' Alene, visit the CdA location's webpage at https://www.d1training.com/cda/

New Blvd Doughnut Co / Union Roasters co-branded shop opening in Coeur d' Alene

 

What's a better combination then coffee and doughnuts? Go ahead, I'll wait...

Well, maybe there's a couple others that are close but it's that combination that is coming next week to the new location of Union Roasters, with their newest venture Blvd. Doughnut Co. at 1515 Northwest Blvd. in Coeur d' Alene. The owners claimed in a recent social media post that the doughnuts will be the PNW's holiest donuts made in small batches made fresh every morning. Additionally, the new shop will also have the full menu of the local coffee company Union Roasters who also has locations already open in Midtown Coeur d' Alene and on Tea Olive Ln. on Coeur d' Alene's northwest side. 

The new shop is scheduled to open on Monday, July 28th at 6am. Another new Union Roasters shop is currently in the planning phase to eventually open on the ground floor of the new Thomas George high rise in Downtown Coeur d' Alene. For more information on the company, visit their website at http://unionroasters.co and for more information on Blvd Doughnut Co., check out their page on Instagram

Back 40 Meadery opens on Newport Hwy in Spokane

 

Courtesy photo- Back 40 Meadery's Facebook page.

Claimed as Spokane's only honey wine tasting room, Back 40 Meadery is celebrating their grand opening this weekend at 10403 N. Newport Hwy. in the Whitworth Square shopping center. The grand opening is being called "Christmas in July" with an indoor market also included highlighting local artists and artisans. Families and non-drinkers visiting during the opening event can also partake in mocktails and other non-alcoholic beverages.

However, those wishing to partake will be able to sample mead's made locally by Back 40, who is a small batch meadery that focuses on using locally sourced honey and fresh fruit to create unique and delicious honey wines (mead).  Additionally, the new tasting room also offers a few local beers from Spokane's Bellwether Brewing. The business has operated in Elk,WA for some time before opening this new Spokane tasting room. 

The Christmas in July grand opening event is being from July 25-27th. For more information on Back 40 Meadery visit their website at http://back40meadery.com 

Construction to resume on new commercial building on Aero Rd on the West Plains

 Construction is set to resume on a paused new commercial building project at 10430 W. Aero Rd. adjacent to the Aero Rd / Westbow Rd roundabout on the West Plains. The building was once planned to be a dental clinic and site work, and foundation work was already largely done. Under the new plan however the building will be built and leased out to a number of retail and medical office tenants. No tenants can be named as of my writing this, but there is interest and marketing of the building is already underway with LT Real Estate being the local contact for leasing. 

Courtesy photo - LT Real Estate Co.

The property owner will act as the general contractor for the development, with architectural design done by Bernardo Wills. Once complete the new building will offer a total 11,500 square feet of new commercial space, shown in the marketing materials as divisible up to five separate suites. The project site plans also show a decent sized surface parking area as well.

While no tenants are confirmable for opening in this new building it will surely only be a short time before we're reporting on new places here, with easy access to I-90 and in the rapidly growing "Fake Cheney" area and the large Amazon Fulfillment Centers located just a short drive away on the other side of the I-90 freeway. For more information on leasing space in this new center contact Dallas Lightner of LT Real Estate at 509-315-8720 / dallas@ltrealestateco.com or Ryan Towner also of LT Real Estate at 509-481-0373 / ryan@ltrealestateco.com

Twisted Stitch Yarn now open on the South Hill

 

Courtesy photo.

A new locally owned and operated yarn shop is now open on the South Hill. The new business, called Twisted Stitch Yarn is located within a unique and historic building at 307 E. 18th Ave. Twisted Stich sells a variety of yarns, as well as knitting nettles, crochet hooks, as well as other knitting and crotchet tools and notions. 

In addition to the retail area, Twisted Stitch Yarn is planning to host classes starting sometime this fall. And, an open "Makers Afternoon" on Saturdays for knitters, crocheters, fiber fans and even the just curious. Information about all events at the new store can be found on their social media pages, Facebook or Instagram

They tell me their goal is to be inclusive, have fun, and grow and support our knit/crochet community.

Barrelhouse Pizzeria opening soon in Downtown Spokane

The owners of Barrelhouse Pub & Pizza are expanding their reach with a new concept coming soon to Downtown Spokane. The owners are currently working on a new restaurant called Barrelhouse Pizzeria which will open on the ground floor of the Holley Mason Building at 157 S. Howard, the former home of the now closed Zona Blanca ceviche restaurant. There isn't a set opening date for the new place just yet, however they say they might be able to do a soft opening as soon as next month. The owner of Barrelhouse will make announcements for the exact dates.

The new Barrelhouse Pizzeria will be a brick fired pizzeria and barrel aged whisky concept. The menu will consist of Neapolitan style pizzas, fresh roasted meat sandwiches, salads and whisky drawn directly from the oak barrel among other specialty drinks. 

As of my writing this I don't see a website for Barrelhouse Pizzeria in Spokane, however info on their original business Barrelhouse Pub & Pizza can be found at https://www.barrelhousepubandpizza.com/

Dickey's Barbecue Pit coming soon to Post Falls

 

Dickey's Barbecue Pit, the world's largest barbecue restaurant brand is expanding locally and will soon open a new location in Post Falls. The new restaurant will be in the space last occupied by a now closed restaurant called The Filling Station at 306 N. Spokane St.

The Dickey's chain says they are known for its authentic Texas-style barbecue with signature slow-smoked meats, classic sides, and warm hospitality.  The new restaurant will offer dine-in service, carryout, online ordering, delivery and even full-service catering. "We continue to grow with passionate local owners who believe in great food and great service," said Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO of Dickey's Capital Group. "Post Falls is a thriving community, and this new restaurant reflects our commitment to bringing quality barbecue to new markets while empowering local entrepreneurs."

Work is underway for the new Post Falls Dickey's with a grand opening coming sometime within the "coming weeks". For more information on Dickey's Barbecue Pit, visit their website at https://www.dickeys.com/

Bricks & Minifigs to open new store in Coeur d' Alene

 

Courtesy photo.

Bricks & Minifigs, a franchise-based chain of LEGO product retailers is coming soon to Coeur d' Alene. A local owner will open a new Bricks & Minifigs store next to the Coeur d' Alene Fred Meyer store at 560 W. Kathleen Ave. Unit #2. They plan to do some remodeling to the space before opening so an exact opening date isn't available just yet but could be during the fall of this year. They intend to do updates on their progress via social media, which will be linked below.

Bricks & Minifigs says their motto is "rebuild, reuse and reimagine" with the store buying, selling and trading all things LEGO from large full sets to collectable minifigs and build-your-own minifigs. With the business model the inventory will also always be changing, a LEGO lover's dream come true.

For more information on Bricks & Minifigs Coeur d' Alene, visit the new store's website at https://bricksandminifigs.com/coeurdalene-id/ or give them a follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bamcoeurdalene

Crepe Cafe Sisters to open new location in Liberty Lake

 Crepe Cafe Sisters, a locally owned and operated crepe restaurant is planning to open a new location, this time in Liberty Lake. The business began as a food truck and became popular expanding into a brick-and-mortar location on Nettleton St. in Kendall Yards back in 2021. They also expanded to Leavenworth where they operate a location on 9th St. and both will continue to serve their delicious crepes even after the opening of the new Liberty Lake restaurant.

The new Liberty Lake Crepe Cafe Sisters will be located within the former TT's BBQ restaurant space at 1950 N. Harvest Pkwy, across from Orchard Park. Some remodeling will be done to the space first with the new restaurant planned to open there sometime in the Fall of this year. They plan to continue to offer a menu of both sweet and savory crepes with gluten free and vegan options available.

For more information on Crepe Cafe Sisters, including the portal to place an order online, check out their website at https://www.crepecafesisters.com/

Downtown Spokane celebrates cultural diversity with mini grant events

 The Downtown Spokane Partnership recently announced the five local organizations that are recipients of 2025 Mini Grants. These local organizations will be able to use the funding to activate Wall Street between Spokane Falls Blvd. and Main St. with community events. These events will be free, family-friendly events that will celebrate the region's cultural richness while offering inclusive experiences for all. 

Funding for the grant program was made possible by Numerica Credit Union. "Numerica is thrilled to join Downtown Spokane Partnership in celebrating the winners of this year's mini cultural grant program" said Travis Simpson, chief retail and digital officer at Numerica. "By investing in events that showcase diverse cultures and experiences, we are helping build these organization's capacity and ultimately a more vibrant and inclusive city." Launched with reallocated 2020 marketing dollars during the COVID-19 shutdowns, the Downtown Spokane Partnership began awarding cultural grants in 2021 to help seed community-centered events. Past recipients include the Tacos y Taquila Festival and Lunar New Year Celebration.

The 2025 Mini Grant recipients and their event dates are:

Armenian Festival of Spokane July 26th

Summer Splash Party August 9th

Soul Food & Sips August 30th

Festa Italia September 20th

Chinese Moon Festival September 27th

For full event details and times on these and the many other events in Downtown Spokane, visit the Downtown Spokane Partnership website at http://www.downtownspokane.org

Grocery Outlet planning a new store in Deer Park

 Deer Park will soon be getting a new option for grocery shopping. The California based chain of discount grocery stores, that operates mostly with local franchisees is currently in the planning process for a new store to be built at 507 W. Crawford St, next door to Tractor Supply on the edge of the Town of Deer Park. 

The project is currently in the SEPA application process to help determine its environmental impact. In the application the developer indicates they would like to begin construction at the site during the fall of 2025. This would likely mean the new store would open sometime in 2026. While actual building permits have not been issued just yet, Garco Construction has been chosen as the general contractor for the project an a worksite storage trailer is already on the site as of my writing this.

The plans show a new construction building at about 16,000 square feet with Grocery Outlet being the sole tenant and a new surface parking lot. Once open this will be the fifth location for Grocery Outlet in Spokane County, according to the Wikipedia the company boasts 480 stores chainwide as of May 2024 but the chain is currently expanding and opening new stores in many markets. For more information on Grocery Outlet, visit their website at http://groceryoutlet.com/

New multi-tenant commercial building to be built in Liberty Lake

Courtesy photo, provided by Daines Capital

Located on the western side of the city of Liberty Lake is a planned new commercial development, being marketed as the Ridgeline Center. The new building will be constructed soon at 19701 E. Appleway, across Appleway from Ridgeline High School and will offer space for one or multiple tenants focusing primarily on office or medical office space users.

All together the new building will offer 15,000 square feet of space with an onsite surface parking lot. Spaces can be demised down to 2,000 square feet and parking is offered at 5.17 to 1000 SF. Construction will be begin this summer with an estimated completion sometime around the summer of 2026. The general contractor for the Ridgeline Center project will be Silvey Construction and architectural work done by Bernardo Wills. 

There are currently no tenants to be announced as opening in the new building just yet. But I'm told there already has been a lot of interest, so we expect to know more about this once it gets closer to completion. Daines Capital is marketing the space for lease, with more information available by calling Steven Daines at 509-590-9114 or email steven@dainescapital.com , also visit https://dainescapital.com for other commercial real estate opportunities in the Inland Northwest and beyond.

The Thrifty Gift opens in Dalton Gardens

 

A new for-profit thrift store has opened in a unique building in Dalton Gardens, nearby Coeur d' Alene. Located in a former dentist's office building, The Thrifty Gift is a 1000 square foot retail store located at 6176 N. Government Way, by The Mall Storage. They've even incorporated the former dental chair rooms to display their array of merchandise.

The Thrifty Gift sells everything from adult to kids clothing, yard art, home decor, DVD's/books/magazines, collectables, handmade creations from the owner and a lot more. The owner are a daughter and her mother who have established roots in Kootenai County and say they have priced their items to make it back into the community, they even offer a punch card program for their more frequent buyers. The Thrifty Gift is currently open Tues-Say 9am-4pm and more information about the business can be found on their website https://thriftygiftdalton.square.site/ and give them a follow-on social media via Facebook .

Trailbreaker Cider opens new location in River Park Square

 

Courtesy photo- Trailbreaker Cider owner Trent Maier.

Just in time for Hoopfest, the Liberty Lake based hard cider company, Trailbreaker Cider has expanded and opened a second location in Downtown Spokane's River Park Square. The new place is similar to the Liberty Lake location, which also remains open, with the full line of locally produced Trailbreaker Cider's, several local beers and regional wines and a restaurant menu as well.

The River Park Square Trailbreaker Cider is located on the 3rd floor of the shopping center in-between the food court and the AMC Movie Theater ticket counters. They plan to add to the Downtown menu as the longer they are open but are starting with pizzas, salads, cheesecake and a few other of their staple items. For more information on Trailbreaker Cider, check out their website at https://www.trailbreakercider.com/

Sahil's Halal Market opens near Downtown Spokane

Food and other market items are available once more at 417 E. Third Ave., just east of Downtown Spokane. The former home of Alpine Delicatessen, a now closed European market and deli has reopened with a different local owner and a different type of cuisine. 

Sahil's Halal Market recently opened there and carries a selection of Middle Eastern and Asian foods with a selection that is growing the longer they are open. Sahil's currently has spices, sweets, drinks, dried fruits, naan, pastries and will soon have freshly baked breads and halal meats. For more information on Sahil's Halal Market, including the new grocery items they are getting in, give them a follow-on social media at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577229477927

Soulful Soups to return, at a different location in Downtown Spokane

 An iconic local restaurant that closed down at the end of April is returning. Today it was announced that Soulful Soups and Spirits will transfer ownership too local couple Aaron & Kaden Earle who plan to re-open the restaurant in new location.

Courtesy photo of the inside of the new Soulful Soups location on S. Madison.

Soulful Soups will relocate to a storefront at 111 S. Madison, the former Downtown One Tree Cider Taphouse and might be prepared to open as soon sometime in July and should be prepared for full service this fall. I'm told everything will be the same with the new location and owner, even with the recipes for the businesses soups, the only exception is they will now have a tap system for draft beer, wine and ciders. 

The original Soulful Soups and Spirits at 117 N. Howard is currently being converted in a Supa! Authentic Japanese Kitchen from a completely different owner as Soulful Soups. For more info on the re-opening of Soulful Soups give them a follow-on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/soulfulsoupsandspirits

Eats on Spokane Street opens in Post Falls

 An exciting new food truck court is now open in Post Falls called Eats on Spokane Street and is of course located on Spokane St, at 106 N. Spokane St next door to Post Falls Brewing Company. The new project has outdoor food truck spaces and a pavilion style building that also houses a couple of new eateries. Plans call for the site to also be home to some events with a night of live music even planned for tonight (June 20th) from 5-8pm.

The opening vendors of Eats on Spokane Street include:

Charcuteria serving Italian sandwiches, salads, charcuterie boards, kids sandwiches and gelato.

Angel's Eats and Treats serving Philly Cheesesteaks

Woody's Smoked Salmon serving smoked salmon sandwiches on sourdough and chowder

Taco Works

Melfit Healthy Kitchen serving healthy meals created by a chef, nutritionist and personal trainer.

Nachos Cantina serving sheet pan nachos with smoked meats. 

Additionally, Eats on Spokane Street still have room for three more food vendors to join the project. For more information, visit their website at https://www.eatsonspokanest.com/

Ellie Mental Health expands to Post Falls with new clinic at Millworx

 Access to quality mental health care is growing in North Idaho. Ellie Mental Health recently announced the opening of their second regional clinic in Post Falls at 949 E. Fourth St. Suite 106 in the new Millworx mixed-use development. The Coeur d' Alene clinic, located within the Riverstone development will also remain open.

Courtesy photos. 

Ellie Mental Health of North Idaho conducts over 1,000 individual patient visits each month and aims to double that positive impact. Ellie Mental Health is a modern outpatient provider on a mission to normalize therapy, reduce access barriers, and empower clinicians to thrive. They say their clinician-first model creates flexible, supportive environments that allow mental health professionals to focus on delivering high-quality care to individuals, couples, families, and organizations. "Our second location is now open and accepting new patients," said Jamie Major, one of the local owners said. "We're proud to be in-network with most major insurance providers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, Aetna, Pacific Source and more."

An official grand opening will be held on the afternoon of Thursday, June 26th 2025, hosted by the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce, the public is invited to attend. For more information on the new Post Falls Ellie Mental Health visit their website at https://elliementalhealth.com/locations/post-falls-millworx-id/

McDonald's to build a new restaurant along Hwy 41 in Post Falls

 A great deal of new construction is either underway or coming soon along the Hwy 41 corridor from its junction with I-90 in Post Falls up to the city of Rathdrum. One such development site in this section is North Point Plaza, a commercial development from Hayden based Corhaven Properties that had a new Grocery Outlet and 7-11 open earlier this year. And now the developers have announced a new McDonald's restaurant will also be joining the development soon. 

This will be the third McDonald's in the City of Post Falls with the others remaining open after the new location opens. The McDonald's will be built new next door to 7-11 by the corner of Hwy. 41 and Poleline Rd. , construction on the new building is planned to start in either late summer or early fall of this year with opening planned for some time in the first two quarters of 2026. The restaurant will be about 3,800 square feet with indoor dining and a dual lane drive thru.

The North Point Plaza development at 41 and Poleline Rd. also still has room for a few more tenants and is actively marketing the prime piece of real estate. For more information on building at North Point Plaza, check out the project's page on Corhaven Properties website http://corhaven.com/portfolio-item/introducing-north-point-plaza-your-premier-retail-destination-in-post-falls-idaho/

El Jefe's Grill coming soon to Coeur d' Alene

 

A new quick service restaurant specializing authentic Mexican BBQ made with mesquite is coming soon to Coeur d' Alene, and possibly other area locations in the future. Work is underway on El Jefe's Grill set to open in the storefront space at 405 E. Best Ave. Suite 104, by the corner of 4th / Best and Appleway. The business is locally owned and operated and the owner tells me their chicken, carne asada, wings and even their salsas will be roasted on the Mesquite BBQ. He says there will also be other menu items that he says everyone will be sure to love including rice bowls, Sonoran hot dogs and more.

El Jefe's Grill will also have a bar with 8 beers on tap as well as many bottled options to choose from. Additionally, the bar will have a good wine selection and pre-made cocktails. The opening date has yet to be announced but will surely be announced soon on their social media pages. A second location in a yet to be announced site somewhere in North Idaho is also being planned, watch the El Jefe's Grill social media pages for that as well.

For more information On El Jefe's Grill, visit their website at https://eljefesgrill.com/, and give them a follow-on Facebook or Instagram

Piccolo Pizza planning location in Post Falls

 Piccolo Pizza, a favorite local restaurant in Liberty Lake is working its way across the border with work underway on a new second location coming soon to Post Falls. Piccolo will join the Millworx mixed-use development in a space along 4th St. across from the Kindred & Co. Bookstore. They are hoping to open in the space sometime this Summer with opening date announcements coming soon on their social media pages.

The Post Falls Piccolo Pizza will be mostly the same menu as the Liberty Lake location which includes pizzas, pastas and a few other Italian favorites. However, this location will have some new items as well. It will also offer a full bar featuring Italian inspired craft cocktails, wine and beer. 

To learn more about Piccolo Pizza check out their website at https://piccolopizza.net/ or visit them in person at 21718 E. Mission Ave. in Liberty Lake. An Instagram page has also already been created for the new Post Falls location which can be found at https://www.instagram.com/piccolo_pizza_millworx_/

Catch by Just Poke opening inside Spokane Valley Walmart

 The catch of Spokane's new restaurant scene this weekend will likely be the grand opening of a new quick serve poke' restaurant called Catch by Just Poke'. The restaurant will be the first of two locations by in the Spokane area by the recently formed Western Washington based chain and will be located within the Spokane Valley Wal-Mart Supercenter at 15727 E. Broadway.

The new Spokane Valley Catch by Just Poke will open on Saturday, June 7th, 2025, however they plan to have deals all week long, starting with the biggest deal of them all, 50% off any Poke' bowl and first responders and teachers can get a bowl for free on Saturday and Sunday (with shown ID). The menu of Catch by Just Poke' includes Hawaiian Bowls, hot and cold bowls, Musabi and more. For those in the market for something else the business also has Acai bowls, fresh smoothies, lemonades and dole whips. 

Catch by Just Poke is also currently working on a second location in the Spokane area, that will open in Airway Heights. The Airway Heights Catch by Just Poke doesn't have an opening date set just yet but will be sometime over the summer and will also be located inside a Walmart store at the Airway Heights Walmart 1221 S. Hayford Rd.

For more information on Catch by Just Poke, including how to place an online order, visit their website at https://catchbyjustpoke.com

Ribbon cut for The Hope Center in Airway Heights

 

Courtesy photo- Ellis Media

At the end of May, the purple ribbon was cut for a new resource in Airway Heights. Located at 13326 W. Sunset Hwy. is The Hope Center, a collaboration between the Women's Healing and Empowerment Network (WHEN), Airway Heights Police Department and the West Plains Safety Alliance (WPSA). "The Hope Center is a one stop organization that assists individuals needing hope" said Dr. Mable Dunbar, founder and executive director of WHEN.  "WHEN's overall goal is to address the issues of domestic violence, sexual abuse and related abuse.

Current resources offered at The Hope Center, include: 

Cleone's Closet: free clothing and necessities.

WHEN's warehouse: free household items and furniture.

West Plains Victim Services: Victim advocates provide free support services, temporary housing, and civil and criminal legal aid to victims of violence.

LEAD West Plains: Case managers provide free long-term case management and street outreach based on harm reduction principles. LEAD is building a regional, non-punitive system of response to better address unlawful and problematic behavior that stems from unmanaged behavioral health or substance misuse challenges.

Fourth Avenue Capital acquires residential high rise in Downtown Coeur d' Alene

 Fourth Avenue Capital, a real estate investment, development and operating company with offices in Seattle and Spokane recently announced the purchase of Lake Tower, a ten-story trophy apartment tower in Downtown Coeur d' Alene,ID. Fourth Avenue Capital now owns 24 assets across its portfolio, including two other properties in the Spokane/Coeur d' Alene MSA. 

Courtesy photo- Fourth Avenue Capital via PRNewswire.

The Lake Tower offers some of the largest floor plans in the area, averaging 1,370 square feet, and includes six penthouse units on the top floors that are over 2,150 square feet in size. The building is designed so that 100% of the units have entry doors that face north resulting in sweeping views of Lake Coeur d' Alene which is only two blocks south of the Lake Tower building. All units have outdoor patios, air conditioning, and in-unit washers and dryers. Additionally, there is a covered parking garage for residents. 

This acquisition comes as Coeur d' Alene continues to experience accelerated population and economic growth. The city's population has surged 23% over the last decade - more than three times the national average. Fourth Avenue Capital plans to elevate Lake Tower through targeted capital improvements that will modernize interiors and enhance the resident experience. "Lake Tower is a generational opportunity - an irreplaceable asset in the heart of one of the most desirable small cities in the country," said Davis Vaughn, Managing Partner at Fourth Avenue Capital "With thoughtful upgrades, we will deliver a rental experience that meets the standard set by its iconic location"

Fourth Avenue Capital is also currently involved with the development of Signal Point Apartment Homes, a 240-unit apartment complex currently under construction in Liberty Lake. For more information on Fourth Avenue Capital, visit their website at https://www.fourthavecapital.com/

Lolo Lofts, new live/work units almost complete in Downtown Spokane

 A few years ago, a portion of the historic building at 111 S. Adams (corner of Adams and W. 1st Ave) in Downtown Spokane was renovated and converted into the Lolo Lofts, an urban apartment complex. But given market conditions, in 2024 work commenced to renovate the remaining vacant space into live/work loft spaces. And now those spaces are seeing a finish line with a couple of new businesses already signing on to call the new spaces home.

Courtesy photo- 4 Degrees

The units range from 600 to 800 square feet and are unique lofts which can be used as a business, an apartment or yes, even both at the same time! Two of the new spaces already have tenants signed on with a hair salon called Skulpt Hair Co. moving into one and an art studio called Murphy Bay Trading Co. going into another. Another space in the building that's not part of the live/work loft construction area also recently gained a new tenant with Jumping Jackelope Axe Throwing moving their location from a space on the eastern edge of Downtown Spokane to the Lolo Lofts building.

The project is a development that is in part led by local developer Jordan Tampien, who also has 4 Degrees Real Estate. Some of the new lofts remain for lease with Whitney Tampien being the contact for info on living and/or opening a business at the Lolo Lofts building. She can be contacted via email at whitney@4degrees.com or by office phone 509-413-1956.

Also, of interesting note the building started its life as Cheverolet car dealership in 1913 and remained an automotive sales and service center for much of its life. Which is portrayed in the above photo, which was provided by Whitney Tampien - 4 Degrees

Beans & Berries Cafe opening soon in Spokane Valley

Described by the owner as a coffee house with a healthier side to it, is the new eatery Beans & Berries Cafe, planned to open soon in the same plaza as Cinder at 1421 N. Mullan Rd. Suite A in Spokane Valley. Construction and mural painting are actively underway at the new business's space, and it should open within the next few weeks. They will likely announce an official opening date on their social media pages, which will be linked below.

The cafe will occupy a space that's a little less then 1,700 square feet. In addition to coffee drinks, Beans & Berries Cafe plans to also serve a few salad options, fresh pressed juices, real fruit smoothies, proteins and vegan options. Additionally, they'll also carry a menu of breakfast sandwiches, burritos and pastries. 

For more information on Beans & Berries Cafe, give them a follow-on social media via Instagram or Facebook

Peak Sneaks coming soon to River Park Square

 

Sneakerheads take notice, a new store is on its way to River Park Square that you'll likely want to check out. Peak Sneaks opened late last year at 66 Basin St in Ephrata and recently announced their plans to open a new second store here in Spokane.

The new store will be located on the second floor of River Park Square and while the owners don't have an opening date set up just yet, they do plan to be open before Hoopfest weekend. The store will buy, sell and trade and plans to carry 200+ sneakers at the opening and some clothing and accessories in brands like Essentials and Supreme. 

Updates on the progress of the new store can be found on Peak Sneaks Instagram page and to see some of the sneakers they currently have available, check https://peaksneaksco.myshopify.com/

Lantern Donuts coming soon to Downtown Coeur d' Alene

 

A unique a new locally owned donut shop is coming soon to Downtown Coeur d' Alene. The new business, Lantern Donuts will be located in the former Crafted Bar Room space at 519 E. Sherman Ave.  and will offer elevated chef created donuts. The donuts will be creations of an experienced pastry chef with "elevated classics", Artisan seasonals and a weekly chef's choice. According to a recent post on their social media their donuts will be all organic, natural and delicious. Prioritizing locally sourced ingredients whenever humanly possible. And using no seed oils.

Lantern Donuts will also premium coffee drinks that they will roast and craft in-house. The new business is planning to open this Summer with a soft opening possible as soon as next month. For more information on Lantern Donuts, visit their website at https://www.lanterndonuts.com/ and give them a follow-on social media via Instagram

Selkirk Sport opens new retail store in Coeur d' Alene

Courtesy photos - Selkirk Sport

Selkirk Sport, the rapidly growing Coeur d' Alene based brand of Pickleball paddles and accessories has opened a brand-new pro shop in their hometown of Coeur d' Alene. The new pro shop is located in at 7878 N. Government Way, just south of Prairie Ave. and is the second pro shop for the brand that also operates a store at 3230 N. Eagle Rd in Meridian (Boise area).

Selkirk Sport bodes itself as the premier pickleball paddle and gear brand. The company was started 10 years ago by two high school students in their father's basement and now is a leading and easily recognizable brand within the Pickleball scene, which in itself is rapidly growing. 

The Coeur d' Alene Selkirk Sports pro shop carries paddles, apparel, shoes, balls and accessories and even has an area to try out the products. The store is open Mon-Sat from 10-5 and more information on the brand can be found on their website at https://www.selkirk.com

Gangnam Style Korean Restaurant coming to Downtown Spokane

 While it's hard to write about this new restaurant without getting the 2012 viral song by the same name going through my head. It's also exciting to report that a new Korean restaurant named Gangnam Style is coming soon to Downtown Spokane.

Courtesy photo-Rencorp Realty

Gangnam Style Korean Restaurant is a new locally owned and operated restaurant that is nearing completion in the Wharton Building at 411 W. 1st Ave. The owner says the new restaurant will be a Pocha-style Korean restaurant offering and exciting and authentic Korean pub-style experience. Pocha (short for Pojangmacha) refers to Korea's beloved street food stalls and casual drinking spots, where friends and coworkers gather over delicious comfort food and drinks. Serving a mix of popular Korean street food, sizzling hot plates, and traditional drinks in a fun and welcoming atmosphere.

The menu has a decent selection of items from appetizers, lunch items and bigger meals, including the popular K Chicken. Gangnam Style will also have their own homemade Kimchi. Additionally, adding to the uniqueness of this new restaurant every wooden feature, table and lighting fixtures was made by the owner's family in their garage. The opening date hasn't been announced just yet but will surely be coming soon. Stay tuned to their social media pages for details on their progress. 

Gangnam Style Korean Restuarant is just part of the ongoing renovations to Downtown Spokane's Wharton Building. A few weeks ago, Jupiter's Eye Book Cafe opened in the building's other storefront space. Spokane based Rencorp Realty is also leading redevelopment of the upper floors of the historic building into 17 studio and one-bedroom apartments which are presently being worked on. More information on the Wharton Building redevelopment project, and Rencorp's other local projects can be found by following them on social media via Facebook or Instagram

And, for more information on Gangnam Style Korean Restaurant, visit their website at https://gangnamspokane.com/ and give them a follow-on Facebook or Instagram

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop opening in Post Falls on Tuesday

 Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, a chain known for its award-winning, hand-crafted cheesesteaks, turkey subs and more has announced the opening of their newest location, opening Tuesday, May 20th in The Pointe at Post Falls development area in Post Falls,ID. The new shop is located at 264 S. Beck Road.

Capriotti's Post Falls is owned and operated by local resident Jameson Angle. After spending his career in IT, Angle sought a way to work more closely with people and serve his community. He also opened the Coeur d' Alene location of Capriotti's in 2022, that location also remains open at 305 W. Appleway. "I've always wanted to be part of something that brings people together, and Capriotti's does just that" Angle said. "From the first bite, I knew this was a concept I wanted to share with my community. I'm excited to expand into Post Falls and introduce even more people to the incredible food and experience Capriotti's has to offer"

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop is known for its wide array of sandwiches including: 

The Bobbie - an award-winning creation made with fresh oven-roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and mayo.

Capstrami- Crafted with hot pastrami, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and homemade coleslaw.

Cheesesteaks- Made with premium steak, chicken or Impossible plant-based meat and melted cheese, plus hot or sweet peppers.

Capriotti's also offers catering for any event, from corporate events to birthday parties. With catered items including cold sub party trays, box lunches, or a hot homemade meatball party bar. For more information, visit their website at https://capriottis.com or call the Post Falls store at 208-981-0010

Five Below files for building permits in Spokane Valley

 A growing national discount retailer appears to be coming soon to the Spokane market. The chain, Five Below recently filed for building and mechanical permits for the former Party City storefront in Spokane Valley's Evergreen Crossing shopping center near the corner of Evergreen & Indiana (13806 E. Indiana). We reached out on a couple of occasions to Five Below's media contact but did not get a reply. However, the applications we're filed at the beginning of May under the company's name.

It appears as if the Spokane Valley location will be the only new Five Below store in the Spokane area for the time being at least and there isn't an opening date known as of yet. The application shows they plan to do a tenant improvement on the 12,189 square foot space, with architectural work done by Sargenti, a firm with multiple offices around the nation and significant experience working with large chain stores. The general contractor however is still shown as TBD.

Five Below is discount retailer that sells the majority of its merchandise for under $5 and is based in Philadelphia after being founded elsewhere in Pennsylvania in 2002. The company reports having over 1800 stores in 44 states, up from over 1400 in 2023. According to the Five Below page on Wikipedia the stores usually carry sports items, games, fashion accessories, bath and body, candy and beverages, room decor and storage, stationery and school supplies, books, smartphone accessories, novelty and gag items and seasonal merchandise. For more information on Five Below, visit their website at https://fivebelow.com

Heat Street's new store will surely heat up the Garland District

 

Courtesy photo

An exciting new local store will join the Garland Business District this weekend. Heat Street is a new retail store selling vintage, streetwear and sneakers from the storefront at 1011 W. Garland Ave. , just under a block west of the Garland Theater.

Heat Street is a local, Woman and Hispanic owned and operated business and is planning to host their official grand opening Sat. May 17th from 10am-6pm . The new store features a variety of merchandise from vintage sweatshirts, graphic tee's, vintage denim, cargo pants, jerseys, outerwear, skirts, womenswear, accessories, sneakers and more. After this weekend's grand opening the store will be open Tues-Sun 10-6

The store will also have a unique part of their business model, where they plan to rotate small vintage vendors, changing the store up every two weeks. An application to be considered for selling at Heat Street is linked on their Instagram page. Which can be found at https://www.instagram.com/heat__street/

Scale House Market announces upcoming grand opening

 The Spokane Conservation District (SCD) recently announced the completion of construction on the new Scale House Market - a vibrant, year-round food hub and public marketplace located on SCD's Quarry Campus at 4422 E. 8th Ave. in Spokane Valley. The opening to the public will be on Saturday, May 31st, the Scale House Market represents years of community vision, public investment, and conservation driven redevelopment. As the Market prepares to open its doors, SCD is also welcoming BECU as the project's Premier Sponsor. Celebrating shared values of local investment, and equitable access to fresh, local food.

Courtesy photo

"As soon as we heard about Spokane Conservation District's vision, we were inspired to get involved. We are focused on creating local impact and the market is an exciting opportunity to support Spokane in a meaningful way - one that strengthens community connection through food and people" said Beverly Anderson, BECU's president and chief executive officer. "It's a chance to work alongside passionate business owners and help them grow and build financial stability for the community"

The $4.4 Million project is being developed through a public-private partnership between SCD and Four Roots, a female, Veteran owned food resiliency business as the market's future operator and vendor support organization. Olson Projects led architectural design, and Halme Cascade General Contracting managed construction. Additional investment support came from community-minded sponsors and funders including: Avista and Avista Foundation, STCU and STCU Here for Good Foundation, Agwest Farm Credit, Forster Financial, and Johnson-Fix Foundation.

The Scale House Market will be Spokane's first year-round farmer market. On opening day, May 31st the market vendors will be open from 8am-2pm with the mercantile area open from 8am-4pm. Scale House Market will be home to dozens of vendors, food vendors, a mercantile store, event space, commercial learning kitchen and more. For more information on Scale House Market visit their website at https://thescalehousemarket.com/ , donations to the market are also still open with information on that also on their website. 

Alani Bakery now open in Coeur d' Alene

 

Courtesy photo

A new locally owned and operated bakery is now open in Coeur d' Alene. Located in the new Appleway Quarter mixed use development nearby the intersection of Appleway & Fourth (291 E. Appleway), the new business goes by the name Alani Bakery.

Alani Bakery isn't technically a new business though as they owner has been doing custom baking orders and events from her home for the last four years and is now taking the leap into a brick-and-mortar operation. However, they do still plan to take custom orders. Today (Monday 5/12) is their soft opening with baked breakfast and sweets like cinnamon rolls, banana bread, churros, coffee cake and croissants. In the coming weeks they also plan to host an official grand opening and adding French press coffee, teas, croissant sandwiches, and cheesecake.

For more information on Alani Bakery, visit their website at https://www.alanibakery.com/ and give them a follow-on social media via Instagram

Vicki's Garden Center expands to the Liberty Lake area

 

Courtesy photos

"I have been wanting to do this for a while" explained Vicki Lima, owner of Vicki's Garden Center. Vicki's Garden Center has now opened a new second location at 3716 Spokane Bridge Rd. , near Liberty Lake. The original Vicki's at 2100 S. Inland Empire Way has also opened for the 2025 season and has added more selection. Both locations are open Mon-Fri 9-5 and Sat. 9-3.

Vicki's Garden Center opened in 2012 and is locally owned and operated by Eddie and Vicki Lima. Many of their family members work for the company as well, with about 30 employees total, some seasonal. The owners also own Lima Greenhouses where much of their inventory is grown. "With our new Liberty Lake location, we have a lot more room and we can now carry a large selection of shrubs and more roses coming along all the time. We have also been able to add houseplants. We just did not have the space before, but our customers have been asking for them." said Lima

Vicki's Garden Center has also become one of the biggest suppliers of fountains in the area as well. For more information on the business, pay them a visit or visit their website at https://vickisgardencenter.com/

Moon River Thai Kitchen opens in Post Falls

 Looking for a new local restaurant to check out? Perhaps a new place to surprise mom with for Mother's Day. Then you might want to add Moon River Thai Kitchen to your radar as the new restaurant now open in Post Falls has been getting rave reviews so far. Located in a converted historic former home at 212 E. 7th St, nearby the I-90 Spokane St. exit the restaurant is locally owned and operated and currently in a soft opening phase but is planning to do a more official grand opening in the coming weeks.

Courtesy photos

Moon River's owners tell me they are a real mom and pop establishment with just him and his wife running the business at the moment. The cooking in done by his wife, Kanita who is from a small town in Thailand and then went to culinary school in Bangkok and later became a cooking instructor there specializing in Thai cuisine. He points out opening a restaurant has been dream of hers for a long time and she's finally doing it!

The restaurant is named after the Mun River in Thailand and offers indoor dining and carry out orders. The menu consists of Thai classics Green Curry, noodle dishes like Pad Thai, salads, fried rice and others. They will also carry Thai beer, local ciders and wine. For more information on Moon River Thai Kitchen, check out their website at https://www.moonriverthaikitchen.com/ and give them a follow-on social media via Facebook and Instagram

Maddie's Corner Cafe coming soon to Spokane

 

The small space formerly occupied by a local favorite eatery, Dolly's Cafe is about to gain new life as a new restaurant is working towards opening there in the coming weeks. Located at 1825 N. Washington, in a just under 1,000 square foot stand-alone building at the corner of Washington and Indiana the new restaurant will be called Maddie's Corner Cafe.

The owner has two dogs with one being Zozo and the other being Maddie, who has cancer, and this will be a way for her legacy to live on after she is gone. Maddie's Corner Cafe is currently planned to open in June of this year and will be a diner style breakfast and lunch restaurant. I'm told they plan to have a chicken fried steak as their signature dish.

Maddie's Corner Cafe doesn't have a website or any active social media pages as of my writing this.

BECU opens new South Hill branch

Courtesy photo of the ribbon cutting at the new South Hill BECU neighborhood financial center.

Early last week, Boeing Employees Credit Union or BECU as it's more commonly known opened their fourth neighborhood financial center in the Spokane area. This location being on the South Hill in a slightly less then 4,000 square foot storefront at 2501 E. 29th Ave. Suite A. 

The new South Hill BECU center will serve over 24,000 local members, offering full financial and teller services, access to mortgages and loans, business banking, trusts and investments as well as personalized support. The credit union also has been a big supporter of the local community. Since 2022, BECU has provided more than $1 million in giving to Spokane area non-profits focused on housing stability, access to education, economic development and other key areas.

2025 marks the 80th year in operation for BECU, a credit union that started with a small group of Boeing employees and has since grown to over 1.5 million members and more then 3,200 employees. For more information on BECU, visit their website at https://becu.org