This year marks the return of the drive-in movie to Spokane. Some smaller events have been held in the past, but this year The Family Guide and FunFlicks will set up their giant 55 foot screen at two local locations for movies in the evenings throughout the summer.
The drive-in, screen and all will be a temporary set up and will be located in both Airway Heights and in North Spokane. Here is where to find the drive-in's -
Airway Heights- Spokane County Raceway 750 N. Hayford Rd.
North Spokane- 4307 E. Mount Spokane Park Dr. behind Yoke's
The movies are not first run like you might find at Regal or AMC, but still great favorites. Here is the schedule of movie dates and times-
Movies will start at dusk ( 9pm or so ) with gates opening to the general public at 7pm. A selection of vendors will also be on site. The movies are also fairly priced with prices being $20 per car load and $5 adult / $3 child for their open air seating area. Note: admission is cash only, no credit cards will be accepted.
The movies at the Spokane County Raceway will also have another cool feature, a separate beer and wine garden for the adults. The Raceway will also keep it's concessions open on movie nights for snacks, sandwiches and much more.
In addition to this movie event, FunFlicks of Washington,Inc. also provides their screens / full event set up for private rentals to whomever wants it. The business is a locally operated franchise of a growing national company with many high profile clients. For more information on how you or your business can rent time from Funflicks of Washington visit their web site at-
Perhaps from either there many radio & TV ad's aired around Spokane each day, or maybe by word of mouth for their excellent service. Either way, chances are pretty strong that if you live in Spokane area who know of Zerorez.
And, now even more people are going to be finding out about this unique carpet cleaning company with their move to a new shop in the Spokane Valley. Zerorez is moving into the warehouse at 13110 E. Indiana, just west of Spokane Valley Mall. This new location increases the company's visibility as they are now located just off of I-90 with their logo on the wall of the building facing the busy freeway.
And, it's not just the visibility that makes this move exciting for Zerorez, it's the building itself. This new space is going on three times as large as their old location. Before Zerorez's home was only 7,000 square feet, now with this new location they will have over 20,000 square feet of shop and office space.
And with the more space is coming more new jobs. They plan to have up to 19 technicians on staff, who are fully trained via Zerorez's extensive 3-4 week training program. This ensures that job is done right each time they are called out.
Zerorez Spokane is the local franchise of Zerorez, a Utah based company. Zerorez is a carpet cleaning company that utilizes proprietary technology to create what they consider an empowered water for cleaning. Their carpet cleaning process is most unique because they don't leave any residue behind, like many of the other carpet cleaning processes. In addition to cleaning carpets Zerorez also offers cleaning services for area rugs, upholstery, tile & grout and air ducts.
Open house at the new Zerorez location in Spokane Valley
I realize it's short notice, and most people won't get to read this till after, but Zerorez is having an open house to celebrate and show off their new bigger location. Here are the details on that event-
The Orlando, FL based Olive Garden chain has closed one of the it's three Inland Northwest locations. The location affected is the Downtown Spokane Olive Garden at 221 N. Wall St.
This location is next door to River Park Square in the Old City Hall building. The closure has been called strictly a business decision as this Olive Garden had been underperforming for some time. This has been based by some on the more prepared, non-authentic nature of the Olive Garden chain.
The location closed at the end of the business day on May 23rd. . 80 people worked at the Downtown Olive Garden, all of which will be laid off and invited to re-apply for other openings within the chain's system. A source tells INBW that employees we're given a severance package of two weeks pay.
Also, we are hearing that business has been slowing at the Olive Garden location in Coeur d' Alene although it still remains open for business. The only two Olive Garden locations in the Inland Northwest are now-
North Spokane - 9780 N. Newport Hwy - Northpointe Shopping Center
Coeur d' Alene - 525 W. Canfield Ave.
There is no known replacement or renovation plan for the space the restaurant chain occupied in the building. The Old City Hall building has struggled itself to secure retail and restaurant tenants with a largely vacant second floor ( except Bozzi Gallery and a couple other small tenants ).
Olive Garden is a brand of the larger Darden Restaurants, also of Orlando,FL . In addition to some growing brands, Darden also once owned Red Lobster restaurants who have also had some sales issues in recent months / years.
There are no planned closures for Inland Northwest area Red Lobster restaurants.
For more information on Olive Garden, including menu information visit their web site at-
Spokane is a great place for a craft beer lover, our region is now dotted with dozens of microbreweries cranking out many different types of beers. In fact our city is the first to have it's own style of beer, " Spokane style" which is an officially recognized style after NoLi Brewing Co created it a couple of years ago.
But unlike some cities / regions around the United States, Spokane has no central district for it's breweries. And although I support having beer made in every corner of the Inland Northwest, a certain brewery district of sorts could really give a boost to both that neighborhood and the local breweries.
And, it's looking like a sort of district of breweries may be in the early stages of forming with some big brewing news coming out of the city center. Here is what's new Downtown....
Orlison Brewing Co. to open tap room in Downtown Spokane
After a couple of years a setting their sights only on selling their beers in the wholesale marketplace, Orlison Brewing Co. of Airway Heights will be remodeling an historic downtown space for a new tap room. The new space will be in the former Luxe Coffee Shop storefront at 1017 W. 1st Ave.
The Orlison Brewing Downtown location will feature 16 different beers on tap and offer some of the breweries more experimental batches, etc.. . The building Orlison will be located in also has a large ballroom, and they are working on possibly gaining occasional access to that as well their own space.
Orlison Brewing Co. will keep their HQ and production facility in Airway Heights at 12921 W. 12th. There is no official tap room at that building although they can, and still will fill growlers there.
Young Buck Brewing still in development in Downtown Spokane + " The Incubator "
Young Buck Brewing is still working on moving into their own new space on the eastern side of Downtown Spokane. The brewery hopes to be all set up and open for business sometime this summer.
Young Buck Brewing will take some of the space in the former Spokane Public Market building at 32 W. 3rd Ave. . They are also of interest because they are the anchor brewery of sorts behind a new brewery incubator there.
Several small breweries will actually share the space and equipment, a small tap room is even planned at the site to feature some of those newly created beers. We don't know what all breweries will be located at the new incubator but will continue to watch this development closely.
NoLi Brewing looking to expand into Downtown Spokane
One of Spokane's biggest breweries NoLi ( formerly Northern Lights Brewing Co. ) is confirmed to be looking a for a new space in the heart of the Downtown core. They plan to keep their brewery / restaurant however in addition to this new Downtown location.
They have not yet picked this location however, so watch for more on this in the near future. NoLi operates out of the Riverwalk development, not far east of Downtown Spokane actually at 1003 E. Trent.
Iron Goat Brewing Co. moving to Downtown Spokane
This has been a rumor around town for a little while, and it is completely true. Only thing is they won't release any information on it just yet.
Iron Goat will use to former Jones Automotive Engines building at 1302 W. Second. The building is a historic former warehouse / garage so it should make for an exciting new brewery. Currently Iron Goat Brewing is located east of Downtown at 2204 E. Mallon.
Also, in Downtown Spokane...
While there is a lot of new breweries coming into Downtown it's important to take note of those that are already in the city center. These include...
Steam Plant Brewing
159 S. Lincoln
River City Brewing
121 W. Cedar
Black Label Brewing
19 W. Main
And, for breweries all around the Inland Northwest check out the Inland NW Ale Trail. It's probably not all the breweries but still a pretty cool idea-
I always figured it was only a matter of time before the marijuana industry hit the main downtown core of the City of Spokane. And, judging by a recent ad on Craigslist that time has come. Last week a company called R.U. Holding,LLC started advertising a long time vacant building on the west side of Downtown as what appears to be a sort of hub for such businesses.
The building, which is known as the Commercial Building at 1119 W. 1st Ave. was home to a company called Blue Star Technologies and was to be used as production / office facility although it never took off and was later discovered to be a scam of sorts. The company was evicted and the building put up for sale. If this ad is correct it likely means the building was sold to this new holding company.
The ad's for the new space market it as 20,000 square feet of space with multiple suites for I502 marijuana businesses. Of those I502 businesses it is marketed to marijuana production and producers, the ad's also mention that a CO2 oil producer is already an on site tenant there.
Likely most of the building will be closed off to the public and secured. But one space is being marketed for use as a business that would be geared towards the public. Some of the ground floor space facing W. 1st is to be leased retail marijuana store . This would be the first marijuana retailer in Downtown Spokane as the nearest retailer about 2 miles away.
This buildings location gives it a sort of one up on the local marijuana tourism scene as it is close by many Downtown hotels, entertainment venues and tourist attractions.
Downtown Coeur d' Alene, down on the lake and Sherman Ave. can be an awesome experience with all the cool local business and scenic views . But my favorite section of the Lake City has always been Midtown Coeur d' Alene.
Midtown has a kind of cooler more alterative feel to it. Almost like a Downtown section just for the locals to know about. And as we approach the warmer months of 2015 an influx of new businesses is looking to set up shop in Midtown.
Here is a look at the new businesses and business changes in store for Midtown Coeur d' Alene-
Capone's Pub & Grill expansion
Capone's Pub & Grill at 751 N 4th St has already started construction on an expansion of their building. The project will expand the seating area, etc... onto a lot to the south of the originally building.
Capone's Pub & Grill is a local favorite restaurant with this location and another in Post Falls. They we're even once featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive In's and Dives aka Triple D. That episode is still occasionally replayed on Food Network and a " Guy ate here" logo is visible inside of Capone's
Here is a look at what the finished product will look like once this expansion is completed-
Mid City Pub now open
From Capone's ownership, Tom and Theresa Capone is a new smaller bar called Mid City Pub which opened recently at 816 N. 4th.
Mid City Pub is located in the former Bo Jack's bar and is significantly smaller then Capone's but is still pretty cool in it's own right. Mid City has some small plates of food in addition to craft beers and some wines.
Gaiwan Tea House coming soon
What is to my knowledge Coeur d' Alene's first Tea House is coming soon to Midtown Coeur d' Alene at 901 N. 4th .
The building which is actually a historic home was last used as another small business called Rustic Romance which apparently went out of business. The building will be extensively remodeled for this new use and that work is underway right now.
Gaiwan Tea House is described as being an organic loose leaf tea house. We are waiting to see when this new business will open their doors.
Pack Rat Estate & Junk Store
We're expecting a grand opening to be in the near future for Pack Rat Estate & Junk Store a cool new locally owned and operated business that will fit right in with the other second hand / thrift stores that dot Midtown's landscape.
Pack Rat Estate & Junk Store will open in the space that was last The Stash Box at 812 N. 4th.
Bare Culture Kombucha still in business, but not in the 800 block of N. 4th
For one reason of another the Kombucha tap room and store has moved out of the space next door to the new Mid City Pub in Midtown. But the business, which is Bare Culture Kombucha is still very much alive and in fact they are still a part of Midtown.
Bare Culture Kombucha is now sold and brewed at 1701 N. 4th . In addition their products are also sold at many health food stores, resturants and similar businesses all around the area. Including in a small store space within Winter Ridge Natural Foods in Sandpoint.
Surf's Up Car Wash now open
Next door to Lett's Auto Repair in Midtown Coeur d' Alene is a new car wash to replace the old. The car wash is all newly upgrades with a cool new mural on the side of the building making it easily visible from N. 3rd.
The car wash is now called Surf's Up Car Washand is located at 1114 N. 4th and also includes a full service detailing department.
Great Escapes Espresso II opening soon
Located on the same property as Surf's Up Car Wash in the 1100 block of N. 4th will soon be another option for espresso drinks and the similar.
Great Escapes Espresso which is currently in Hayden at the intersection of Hayden and Ramsey plans to start construction soon on a new second location which will feature both drive through and a walk up window.
Hookah Lounge coming soon?
Building permits are out with the City of Coeur d' Alene to remodel the former Galaxy Gaming storefront into a hookah lounge. We don't have a name on it yet but expect it to open in the near future on the far north side of Midtown at 2506 N. 4th.
Gas station & c-store coming soon?
Coeur d' Alene Press columnist Nils Rosdahl mentioned in his Business Bits column a few Sunday's ago that the small shopping center at the corner of N. 4th & Harrison has been sold to a developer in Spokane who plans to replace the existing center with a new gas station and c-store.
I don't personally have the details on this project yet but believe it too be true as now 2 of the 4 tenants in the building have moved out with no new for lease signs going up. And, these we're the buildings bigger tenants... Just Roses and Interstate Office Supply.
A barber shop and small gift shop remain as of my typing this but we will keep an eye on them as well.
Watch for a separate post on this topic in the future...
And, now a visual look at what is happening where in Midtown Coeur d' Alene via the inlandnwbusiness.com Youtube page-
In case you haven't heard the former U City Mall in Spokane Valley is in being demolished. The part by Rosauer's is staying , along with a couple smaller buildings within the main structure, this includes the large photo processing business .
We're told a major redevelopment project is in the works there. However the details have not yet been released.
As part of our effort to use the INBW YouTube channel more. Here is a video of the demolition work there as of today...
In West Spokane / West Plains two of Spokane's larger locally based companies are playing a bit of office switch a roo. One company is moving on up to much larger offices and another in downsizing, moving to Downtown Spokane but still remaining a piece of the Greater Spokane economy.
The two company's I'm referring to are People to People / Ambassadors Group and Northwest Farm Credit. Here is the scoop on these new office moves...
Ambassadors Group / People to People , relocating to Downtown Spokane.
People to People, a division of Ambassadors Group which runs educational / student trips all around the world has had some struggles in recent years. Lay offs have been known to occur at the Ambassadors Group HQ nearby the Spokane International Airport. In fact, when the company comes Downtown it will only employ about 100, down from more then double that at one time.
But People to People is hoping to get a fresh new start by leasing new offices in the historic Holley Mason Building at 157 S. Howard . The company will occupy offices in the sixth floor ( suite 601 ) of the building which is also home to the large West Corporation call center which already employ's in the hundreds.
People to People will be moving to this space from the HQ building of Ambassadors Group which is on the West Plains at 2001 S. Flint Rd.
A big part of the reasoning behind the People to People move is the sale of their large office building on S. Flint Rd. not far south of US Route 2. The building had been on the market for about two years before the sale late last year. Although, the sale did not fetch the full asking price for the building it does mean new life there.
Northwest Farm Credit, who is also headquartered on the western side of the metro area purchased the building with hopes of soon relocating their corporate operations there. The building marks a significant increase in office space for Northwest Farm Credit as the building offers 133,000 square feet and 11 acres of land. Currently the company uses around 60,000 square feet of space.In addition, Northwest Farm Credit will own the building as opposed to the lease situation at their current HQ.
No word on exactly when the move into the new building will occur for the company which is a financial services co-op catering to the agri , farming and ranching community.
For more information on Northwest Farm Credit visit-
Northwest Farm Credit leaves large office opening in West Spokane
While office vacancies are not ideal in the real estate market, it should also be noted that they do also open up space for new companies looking to come to the area and local start ups that are on the rise, of which Spokane has several.
One such large office space vacancy will soon be the former Northwest Farm Credit HQ in the Sunset Pointe Corporate Business Park. The center which is managed by Spokane's Arger Co. Commercial Real Estate now has 61,400 square feet of rentable space available with 29,000 square feet being the smallest leasable space.
There are no known tenants moving in yet as Northwest Farm Credit isn't actually out of the building just yet. The space is modern class A office space with 3 stories, plenty of on site free parking. And a parcel to the west that is considered phase II and is vacant land that is also available via sale.
For more information on Sunset Pointe Business Park visit-
Over on the western edge of the Gonzaga University campus, construction is just getting started for a new six story apartment complex ( More on that here- http://www.inlandnwbusiness.com/2015/05/groundbreaking-tuesday-for-university.html ). But, also in the works and coming to an area around Gonzaga is a new large mixed use building. This mixed use project is in the planning phases just off of the eastern side of campus and nearby the Madonna Residence Hall.
The building is purposed for 1002 N. Hamilton, and while it is not officially coming yet, it looks promising as it continues to work it's way slowly through the planning processes. Here is a look at the most recent rendering of the project-
As you can see this building, which is yet un-named, will feature four story's of space. On the ground floor will be 17,000 square feet of commercial storefronts, all facing Hamilton, and likely perfect for restaurants, bars or retail businesses. Above that will be three stories of apartments, 66,000+ square feet and 57 units in all. Parking will be available in a lot at the rear of the building with garages to possibly be built for the apartment tenants.
A site plan of the site shows four separate retail spaces, but yet the above rendering appears to include many more possible businesses . Since the building is still " in the works " no commercial tenants have been announced. The apartment section is of course subject to change but the plans show a variety of 1 bed, 2 bed and 3 bed apartment units
The project is being developed by Ferdinand CJF,LLC with a Kent Hull listed as the main developer. Currently the project is out for SEPA review and does seem to be moving forward, although it is important to keep in mind that this is not the first project purposed for the prime piece of vacant real estate in the Hamilton Ave. corridor.
Keep an eye on inlandnwbusiness.com for more in the future on 1002 N. Hamilton Ave.
The Michael Building / The Germond Block, whatever you want to call it, major renovations are nearing the end for the historic building on the northeast corner of E. Sprague and Lincoln in Downtown Spokane.
826 E. Sprague is the buildings address and it's bringing new apartments to Downtown and updated retail space. And, these are not your average apartments as The Michael Building is luxury urban living in residences with top of the line touches and of course location, location , location.
The Michael Building overlooks part of the Davenport Hotel, near the STA bus plaza and only a couple of blocks from Riverfront Park and River Park Square. The building offers 18 apartments with one and two bedroom units available. Rental rates at The Michael Building are a bit higher then most in Downtown Spokane at near $1,600 per month for 1 bedroom and $2,300 per month for a 2 bedroom. But, despite the higher rental rates the building and it's location are worth it since about half of the apartments are already rented.
The apartments take up all three upper floors of the four story building and offer exposed brick, brand new stainless steel appliances, newly updated plumbing and electrical and updates through out the entire building including a new secure lobby area on the ground floor facing E. Sprague Ave. .
In addition to the new apartments the ground floor space has also received some updates and will soon be home to a new a restaurant. The space at the corner of Sprague and Lincoln will become Knife Burger Bar with an opening currently planned for August. In addition to Knife Burger Bar, Patit Creek Cellars winery's tasting room and Bruttles candies retail store are also tenants in the Michael Building that are planning to stay in their existing storefront spaces.
Another storefront space is also available on the ground floor, with an 800 square foot space still available. The storefront was once rumored to be planned to be a coffee shop but it appears that plan never came through and the space remains for lease. The storefront is for lease at $18.00 per square foot. Commercial leasing at The Michael Building is being done through Goodale & Barbieri Company Real Estate, here is a link to more information on that space-
Apartment rentals in the Michael Building is also being done by a division of Goodale & Barbieri. For information on apartments call 509-459-6109 or visit the building's official web site at-
