Friday, March 30, 2012
Grapevine Discounts goes national
Last year Spokane business owner Monte Tareski's Spokanegrapevine.com expanded their offerings by creating a discount card program to use to get discounts in the Greater Spokane area and to create a fundraising option for schools and non-profits alike by allowing them to sell the discount cards.Now that concept has really caught on and will be expanded this time nationally thru a new company name, Grapevinediscounts.com The Grapevine Discount's card is a tool to promote "buy local" firms and get the word out for small businesses.The grapevinediscounts.com concept is already online for Tallahassee,Fl and Tuscon,Az but the owners plan rapid expansion with the website soon coming online for Maui,The Twin Cities and Miami and on from there.For more on this program visit them directly at http://www.grapevinediscounts.com
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Local Business News Update:Mar 29th 2012
In the Spokane area...
Holy Cross Lutheran Church is expanding.The church is adding 10,000 sq. feet of new space on to the existing building located at 7307 N Nevada in Spokane.The new addition will feature classrooms and new fellowship hall.
The Chevron gas station on US 395 in Deer Park is closing.
Bruchi's Cheesesteaks and Subs and Senor Froggy Mexican Resturants have expanded their offerings by opening a new brand to add on to their fast casual restaurants.The new brand is Italian Express which will as the name imply's will offer fast Italian foods.Currently the brand will be in their locations at 1918 N Division and 10521 E. Sprague in Spokane Valley.
The On Sacred Ground Coffee Shop recently expanded their coffee shop which can be found in the tiny town of Valleyford directly south of Spokane Valley.The new addition offers more space for meetings and is about 1400 sq feet.
The Kalispel Tribe of Indians is building a new visitor center for the users of the Selkirk Scenic Loop.The new visitor center will be on Hwy 20 just north of Cusick.
The new 2nd location for Stop n' Go Drive Inn is now open.The drive has been at 6505 E Sprague Ave in Spokane valley and this new location is at 6325 N Wall in North Spokane.Stop n' Go offers all the normal drive in foods and does not take credit cards so bring cash if you check them out.
In the Coeur d Alene and North Idaho area...
If you need a Taylor then today is your lucky day as Alterations Express is opening in the Ironwood Square Shopping Center in Coeur d Alene.The plaza is at the corner of Lincoln(US 95) and Ironwood.
Also opening soon in the Ironwood Square Shopping Center will be a new eatery called New York Bagels.The new bagel shop is just 2 doors down from the for mentioned Alterations Express in a former loan shop's space.
Tomlinson Soleby's has moved their real estate office into space in Downtown Coeur d Alene directly on Sherman Ave. The space was last the Resort Properties on the Lake real estate office.
The Bonner Community Food Center has a new home in Sandpoint.The food bank is now located at 1707 Culvers Dr. by the UPS Distribution Center.
Holy Cross Lutheran Church is expanding.The church is adding 10,000 sq. feet of new space on to the existing building located at 7307 N Nevada in Spokane.The new addition will feature classrooms and new fellowship hall.
The Chevron gas station on US 395 in Deer Park is closing.
Bruchi's Cheesesteaks and Subs and Senor Froggy Mexican Resturants have expanded their offerings by opening a new brand to add on to their fast casual restaurants.The new brand is Italian Express which will as the name imply's will offer fast Italian foods.Currently the brand will be in their locations at 1918 N Division and 10521 E. Sprague in Spokane Valley.
The On Sacred Ground Coffee Shop recently expanded their coffee shop which can be found in the tiny town of Valleyford directly south of Spokane Valley.The new addition offers more space for meetings and is about 1400 sq feet.
The Kalispel Tribe of Indians is building a new visitor center for the users of the Selkirk Scenic Loop.The new visitor center will be on Hwy 20 just north of Cusick.
The new 2nd location for Stop n' Go Drive Inn is now open.The drive has been at 6505 E Sprague Ave in Spokane valley and this new location is at 6325 N Wall in North Spokane.Stop n' Go offers all the normal drive in foods and does not take credit cards so bring cash if you check them out.
In the Coeur d Alene and North Idaho area...
If you need a Taylor then today is your lucky day as Alterations Express is opening in the Ironwood Square Shopping Center in Coeur d Alene.The plaza is at the corner of Lincoln(US 95) and Ironwood.
Also opening soon in the Ironwood Square Shopping Center will be a new eatery called New York Bagels.The new bagel shop is just 2 doors down from the for mentioned Alterations Express in a former loan shop's space.
Tomlinson Soleby's has moved their real estate office into space in Downtown Coeur d Alene directly on Sherman Ave. The space was last the Resort Properties on the Lake real estate office.
The Bonner Community Food Center has a new home in Sandpoint.The food bank is now located at 1707 Culvers Dr. by the UPS Distribution Center.
AmericanWest Bank acquires Security Business Bank
In a move that brings Spokane based AmericanWest Bank even farther into the Southern California banking market ,AmericanWest will acquire the bank, Security Business Bank. Security Business Bank is a financial institution based in San Diego,Ca. and operates 4 branches all of which are in the San Diego area. AmericanWest which currently already has a total of over 70 branches in 4 western states will pay about 26 million dollars to acquire Security Business Bank. This is the second acquisition for AmericanWest Bank in recent days as AmericanWest paid out 7.2 million dollars late last year to acquire the Puget Sound regional bank,Viking Bank and it's 7 branches.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Local resturant news update:Mar. 28th
The owners of Coeur d' Alene Brewing Co. which had to close last year when their building's landlord didn't renew their lease have re-formed and will open another Brewery this time is Spokane.The new brewery will be called River City Brewing and will be located at 1325 W. 1st Ave on the west side of Downtown Spokane.The beers from River City Brewing will be available at a few locations but unfortunately not directly from River City as the Brewery will not feature a tap room or pub attached.
Coeur d Alene will soon have a new style of restaurant that is part of a rapidly growing food trend,Grilled Cheese.The new grilled cheese restaurant called Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese will open soon in the same building as the Fairway Gas and Grocery Conoco station on Kathleen Ave and nearby Ramsey Rd.Meltz's space is the former site of Lil' Polpetta.
The cupcake bakery, The Parisian Cupcake which has been on the South Hill of Spokane at 2403 S. Grand Blvd. is closing.
The gay bar called The Holly Rock has also closed.The bar had been in Spokane Valley by U-City at the corner of Raymond and Sprague Ave.
Coeur d Alene will soon have a new style of restaurant that is part of a rapidly growing food trend,Grilled Cheese.The new grilled cheese restaurant called Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese will open soon in the same building as the Fairway Gas and Grocery Conoco station on Kathleen Ave and nearby Ramsey Rd.Meltz's space is the former site of Lil' Polpetta.
The cupcake bakery, The Parisian Cupcake which has been on the South Hill of Spokane at 2403 S. Grand Blvd. is closing.
The gay bar called The Holly Rock has also closed.The bar had been in Spokane Valley by U-City at the corner of Raymond and Sprague Ave.
Company Profile: Seltice Thrift
Today's company profile is of Seltice Thrift located at 2785 W. Seltice Way near the Idaho Iron Gym on the west end of Post Falls. Seltice Thrift is a small locally owned and operated thrift and collectibles store with something very unique of the thrift stores in the Inland Northwest,A community clothing table with all shapes and sizes from kids clothing to adult clothing where any customer just needs to re-donate clothing back to their clothing bank to receive clothing.Shopping at Seltice Thrift is a great way to practice buying local,which is a great way to help local people make it today's economy. For more info on this great small thrift store visit and like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/selticethrift
If you'd like your local business profiled on Inland Northwest Business Watch e-mail me at: inlandbusiness@yahoo.com
If you'd like your local business profiled on Inland Northwest Business Watch e-mail me at: inlandbusiness@yahoo.com
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Spokane Tribe's Casino Proposal
If you follow the local news in Spokane lately you have surely heard by now that the Spokane Tribe of Indians has proposed a large new casino and mixed use development on land the Tribe owns at Hwy 2 and Craig Rd in Airway Heights and close by the main gate for the Fairchild Air Force Base.The casino is hot button issue for many with some being concerned that an off-reservation casino is not needed and that it is too close to Fairchild which could bring about gambling issues as well such a large scale project being possibly in a crash zone for the base,something that Fairchild has stepped up enforcement of in recent months.
But the Spokane Tribe of Indians has their valid reasons also why a casino in Airway Heights would be the answer.The Tribe has had long battles with high unemployment on the their reservation which is to the northwest of the Spokane Metro Area.The tribe also notes that since the opening of the hotel and expansion at the nearby Northern Quest Resort and Casino(owned by the Kalispel Tribe) the revenues have dropped by large amounts at the 2 small casino's the Spokane's already own and operate which are the Two Rivers in near Davenport and the Chewelah Casino in Chewelah .
And that's just the tip of the iceberg so as you can see this issue won't be going away anytime soon so it I figured now is a good time to take a look at what all is being planned for the site in Airway Heights.The Spokane Tribe says the development will create 3800 new jobs on a 50 million dollar payroll.Some of those proposed jobs will be in the main casino which is to be in the center of the site,also attached to the main casino is a shopping center like area,convention space and a hotel tower.Parking is provided on many surface parking areas on all 4 sides of the building but also in a parking garage which will go in on the west side of the main casino building.Inside the main building will also be a spa and a variety of restaurants.
Heading away from the main large casino will be the Spokofuel gas station which is already open and an Arby's restaurant owned by the Tribe which will open this year next door to Spokofuel.Also nearby Spokofuel is more retail space with 3 pad sites and a space for a big box retailer,behind the casino is more commercial land and space donated to the City of Airway Heights for a new fire and police station.And last but not least a Tribal Cultural Center on the Northwest side of the site by a small lake.It's easy to see that this project one of Spokane's largest and very controversial,recently the Tribe presented the environmental findings for the project and that report can be found at http://www.westplainseis.com while on the West Plains EIS site one can also put in a comment and view photos and maps of the site,Another good reference for more on this issue check out http://www.stepspokane.com
This proposed casino and commercial development is something to watch,let Inland Northwest Business Watch know what you think by commenting on our Facebook page at..... http://www.facebook.com/inlandnorthwestbusinesswatch
But the Spokane Tribe of Indians has their valid reasons also why a casino in Airway Heights would be the answer.The Tribe has had long battles with high unemployment on the their reservation which is to the northwest of the Spokane Metro Area.The tribe also notes that since the opening of the hotel and expansion at the nearby Northern Quest Resort and Casino(owned by the Kalispel Tribe) the revenues have dropped by large amounts at the 2 small casino's the Spokane's already own and operate which are the Two Rivers in near Davenport and the Chewelah Casino in Chewelah .
And that's just the tip of the iceberg so as you can see this issue won't be going away anytime soon so it I figured now is a good time to take a look at what all is being planned for the site in Airway Heights.The Spokane Tribe says the development will create 3800 new jobs on a 50 million dollar payroll.Some of those proposed jobs will be in the main casino which is to be in the center of the site,also attached to the main casino is a shopping center like area,convention space and a hotel tower.Parking is provided on many surface parking areas on all 4 sides of the building but also in a parking garage which will go in on the west side of the main casino building.Inside the main building will also be a spa and a variety of restaurants.
Heading away from the main large casino will be the Spokofuel gas station which is already open and an Arby's restaurant owned by the Tribe which will open this year next door to Spokofuel.Also nearby Spokofuel is more retail space with 3 pad sites and a space for a big box retailer,behind the casino is more commercial land and space donated to the City of Airway Heights for a new fire and police station.And last but not least a Tribal Cultural Center on the Northwest side of the site by a small lake.It's easy to see that this project one of Spokane's largest and very controversial,recently the Tribe presented the environmental findings for the project and that report can be found at http://www.westplainseis.com while on the West Plains EIS site one can also put in a comment and view photos and maps of the site,Another good reference for more on this issue check out http://www.stepspokane.com
This proposed casino and commercial development is something to watch,let Inland Northwest Business Watch know what you think by commenting on our Facebook page at..... http://www.facebook.com/inlandnorthwestbusinesswatch
New Northwest Christian School is now open
Due to lack of space the Northwest Christian School has been operating out of 2 separate school campuses for quite some time now.But not any more as the private religious based school has completed work on the their new combined school located on Bernhill Rd. in the town of Colbert just north of Spokane.Classes at the new school will begin April 9th and community celebration is scheduled for May 12th from 2-5pm.The new Northwest Christian School building offers 60,000 sq feet of space and features a total of 23 classrooms,a library,band rooms a new large high school gym.
Ulta is coming to Coeur d Alene
The space at 450 W. Wilbur Ave. in Coeur d Alene that once housed the Coeur d Alene Borders Bookstore and most recently the seasonal Spirit Halloween store isn't staying empty long which is good news for the mid-size retail anchor space on Coeur d Alene's north side.The space will become a new Ulta Beauty store,Ulta which already has a location open in the Northtown Square Shopping Center in Spokane is a superstore of cosmetics,purfumes and other beauty products.Ulta's stores also feature a in store hair salon called Ulta Salon which i'm sure the Coeur d Alene location will be no different.The new Coeur d Alene Ulta store will open later this year as construction crews are already working on doing a full remodel of the former Border's store,Keep watching Inland Northwest Business Watch for this new stores opening date....
Monday, March 26, 2012
Inlander's Best of the Inland Northwest 2012
The most anticipated copy of the Spokane's The Inlander newspaper is on racks now.For the full list of all the best of's including best pizza,best mall,best food cart etc... visit www.inlander.com .
But here are just a couple I figured the INBW readers might want to know about...
Best new restaurant...
1. Manito Tap House
2.The Saranac Public House
North Idaho's Best:The Grille from Ipanama
Best new business...
1.Trader Joe's
2.Sweet Frostings
3.Global Neighborhood Thrift Store
But here are just a couple I figured the INBW readers might want to know about...
Best new restaurant...
1. Manito Tap House
2.The Saranac Public House
North Idaho's Best:The Grille from Ipanama
Best new business...
1.Trader Joe's
2.Sweet Frostings
3.Global Neighborhood Thrift Store
Local business news update:Mar 26th 2012
In the Spokane area....
The Spokane Public Market in Downtown Spokane has a new food vendor.That new vendor is Lylo's Teryaki
Clear Channel Spokane has launched their newest radio station called 96.1 Hits Fm and it replaced country formatted radio station Kix 96 FM.The all new 96.1 Hits Fm features adult contemporary/top-40 music.
The visitor info magazine,The Essential Guide is expanding into the Spokane market and will have a magazine for the Spokane area soon.The Essential Guide is already available in the Walla Walla market.
In the Coeur d Alene and North Idaho area...
Sylvan Learning Center is opening a new location in Coeur d Alene.The Coeur d Alene Sylvan Learning Center will open soon in the Sunset Shopping Center at Sunset and Hwy 95 across from Fred Meyer.Sylvan already has a location in Post Falls which will stay open.
Moving out of the Sunset Plaza for the large Prairie Shopping Center in Hayden is the Coeur d Alene office of Weight Watchers.The new address for the Coeur d Alene Weight Watchers is 81 W. Prairie Shopping Center
And on a sad note after 34 years in business the Sagle Flea Market on US 95 in Sagle is closing.
The Spokane Public Market in Downtown Spokane has a new food vendor.That new vendor is Lylo's Teryaki
Clear Channel Spokane has launched their newest radio station called 96.1 Hits Fm and it replaced country formatted radio station Kix 96 FM.The all new 96.1 Hits Fm features adult contemporary/top-40 music.
The visitor info magazine,The Essential Guide is expanding into the Spokane market and will have a magazine for the Spokane area soon.The Essential Guide is already available in the Walla Walla market.
In the Coeur d Alene and North Idaho area...
Sylvan Learning Center is opening a new location in Coeur d Alene.The Coeur d Alene Sylvan Learning Center will open soon in the Sunset Shopping Center at Sunset and Hwy 95 across from Fred Meyer.Sylvan already has a location in Post Falls which will stay open.
Moving out of the Sunset Plaza for the large Prairie Shopping Center in Hayden is the Coeur d Alene office of Weight Watchers.The new address for the Coeur d Alene Weight Watchers is 81 W. Prairie Shopping Center
And on a sad note after 34 years in business the Sagle Flea Market on US 95 in Sagle is closing.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
New resturants coming to Gonzaga's neighboorhood
Last year the building that housed David's Pizza which had been a favorite pizza place for many in Spokane was torn down to make way for a new multi-tenant strip mall style building.While the day David's Pizza closed wasn't a bright spot for the community it is now safe to say the grass may be greener on the other side of this fence,as I reported on this blog earlyer David's Pizza now will be moving into a new fully remodeled location in the old hostess factory at 803 N Post near Spokane Arena and really not far away from their old Gonzaga University area home. And now a quick search of Washington State's liquor and beer and wine licences show the new building on David's old site will house several new and exciting resturants.The building which is at 829 E. Boone Ave has licences now for the following...
1.Loco Dogz in suite C,Loco Dogz is a custom hot dog resturant which some might know from their other resturant near Eastern Washington University in Cheney. For info on Loco Dogz visit www.loco-dogz.com
2.Bruchi's Cheesesteaks and Subs in Suite E. Bruchi's is locally based cheesesteak resturaunt and one of the main sponsors every year of Hoopfest.Bruchi's has a few other locations elsewhere in Spokane including the Northtown Mall food court.
3.Pizza Oven in suite B .The Pizza Oven is chain pizza resturant which came to Spokane just last year with their first location being inside the food court of River Park Square in Downtown Spokane.
4.I cannot find the licence for it now but I have strong reason to belive a Noddles and Company will also becoming to Spokane in the area around Gonzaga perhaps even the 829 E. Boone Ave. building.I will post more on this soon if I can confirm it...
1.Loco Dogz in suite C,Loco Dogz is a custom hot dog resturant which some might know from their other resturant near Eastern Washington University in Cheney. For info on Loco Dogz visit www.loco-dogz.com
2.Bruchi's Cheesesteaks and Subs in Suite E. Bruchi's is locally based cheesesteak resturaunt and one of the main sponsors every year of Hoopfest.Bruchi's has a few other locations elsewhere in Spokane including the Northtown Mall food court.
3.Pizza Oven in suite B .The Pizza Oven is chain pizza resturant which came to Spokane just last year with their first location being inside the food court of River Park Square in Downtown Spokane.
4.I cannot find the licence for it now but I have strong reason to belive a Noddles and Company will also becoming to Spokane in the area around Gonzaga perhaps even the 829 E. Boone Ave. building.I will post more on this soon if I can confirm it...
Local business news: March 22nd 2012
Note to regular readers of Inland Northwest Business Watch: To make my blog posts more noticeable in web searches I have changed the names of the update and resturant round-up feaures.From here on in watch for local business news and local resturant news posts for all the latest in local business news and info for the Spokane and Coeur d Alene area.
Here is today's business updates:
In the Spokane area...
A new re-sale clothing shop has opened in Spokane's Garland District.The new store is called Zipper'z and is located at 903 1/2 W. Garland Ave.
MMJ Collective is now in a new location in Spokane Valley.MMJ's new home is at 13519 E. Sprague Ave.
Bronzed Beans which is tanning and nail salon as well as a coffee shop has opened a second location in Spokane Valley.The new Bronzed Beans is now open at 7805 E. Sprague Ave close by Dishman Dodge.
The non-profit orginization Hearth Homes which is christian group providing transitional housing for those in need recently expanded by opening a new home in the Spokane Valley.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale will end their classes they had been offering on base at Fairchild Air Force base on the West Plains.The base still has classes on site from 4 other schools however.
In the Coeur d Alene and North Idaho area...
Sweetwater Bakery at 119 E. 3rd St. in Post Falls has closed their walk-in retail shop and will insted make their wholesale business their focus.Sweetwater Bakery has been primarly a wholesaler for some time selling to convence stores and institutions among others.
While it's been open for a little while now one of Coeur d Alene's newest coffee drive-thru's is Retro Shot Espresso. The drive thru is located at 6264 N Government Way less then a block south of Silver Lake Mall.
The American Acadamy of Nail Technolgies is changing it's name as well as adding cosmotolgy classes.The new school name will be The Acadamy of Cosmotolgy and will stay in their current location of 1600 E. Seltice Way suite A across the road from the Post Falls Trading Co grocery store.
Here is today's business updates:
In the Spokane area...
A new re-sale clothing shop has opened in Spokane's Garland District.The new store is called Zipper'z and is located at 903 1/2 W. Garland Ave.
MMJ Collective is now in a new location in Spokane Valley.MMJ's new home is at 13519 E. Sprague Ave.
Bronzed Beans which is tanning and nail salon as well as a coffee shop has opened a second location in Spokane Valley.The new Bronzed Beans is now open at 7805 E. Sprague Ave close by Dishman Dodge.
The non-profit orginization Hearth Homes which is christian group providing transitional housing for those in need recently expanded by opening a new home in the Spokane Valley.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale will end their classes they had been offering on base at Fairchild Air Force base on the West Plains.The base still has classes on site from 4 other schools however.
In the Coeur d Alene and North Idaho area...
Sweetwater Bakery at 119 E. 3rd St. in Post Falls has closed their walk-in retail shop and will insted make their wholesale business their focus.Sweetwater Bakery has been primarly a wholesaler for some time selling to convence stores and institutions among others.
While it's been open for a little while now one of Coeur d Alene's newest coffee drive-thru's is Retro Shot Espresso. The drive thru is located at 6264 N Government Way less then a block south of Silver Lake Mall.
The American Acadamy of Nail Technolgies is changing it's name as well as adding cosmotolgy classes.The new school name will be The Acadamy of Cosmotolgy and will stay in their current location of 1600 E. Seltice Way suite A across the road from the Post Falls Trading Co grocery store.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)