Target opening a store on the South Hill? Not confirmed but looking good.

It's been a rumor for some time but signs are looking better then ever before that a new Target will open in Spokane on the South Hill just south of the Shopko on Regal St. . The site of the rumored Target is owned by well known local developer Dave Black, who recently applied with the City of Spokane to begin site work on the land for an un-named large retailer. While the name was left off of the plans, prior plans have mentioned the phrase "future Target" .

The plans submitted by Black indicate the site will be a commercial development called Regal Place and will fall near the corner of Palouse Hwy and Regal St. . Black had also once purposed a Home Depot store on land directly to the north of the Regal Place land but those plans never came to fruition.

Although it does look as if the South Hill Target may become a reality in the near future it is still too soon to tell anything as to size of the store, how many jobs it may create or whether it may include a grocery area similar to the Target's at North Pointe and in Coeur d' Alene. However if the store does open it will be the 4th Target store in the Spokane and Coeur d' Alene area.

Big R Stores planning new location in Airway Heights

CSWW Inc. which is a Montana based company that operates Big R Stores locations around Montana, Washington and Idaho has purchased a 30 acre parcel of land and will begin the planning process for a new store nearby Airway Heights. The new store will be the 3rd location for the chain in the Spokane market as Big R Stores are also found in Mead and at 8703 E. Trent Ave. in Spokane Valley. Big R also has a location at the corner of Government Way and Kathleen Ave in Coeur d' Alene that became a Big R after it was purchased from D&B Farm and Home last year.

The new Airway Heights Big R Store will be on S. Hayford Rd. directly south of the Cyrus O' Leary's Pie Factory. There has also been rumors of a distribution center on the land as well but that portion of the project has yet to be confirmed. Because the sale of the land only recently going thru, it is assumed it may be some time before construction starts or even an opening date but we will continue to follow up on that.

Big R Stores is a big box farm and home retailer that sells everything from everyday farm items to automotive and sporting goods items.

For more info on Big R visit their web site at-
www.bigrstore.com

Fusion Flours opens new gluten free take out bakery in Spokane

Nationally thousands of people deal day to day with an allergy to gluten, a common ingredient in many foods and found in wheat making it sometimes next to impossible to find groceries or go out to eat. But residents of Spokane that live with a intolerance to gluten can rejoice because of a new local business now open in North Spokane.

That new local business is called Fusion Flours. Fusion has been in business in Spokane for sometime actually as a wholesaler of gluten free flours for several local restaurants but now Fusion Flours has taken the leap into operating their own retail shop. Fusion officially opened their brand new retail bakery in early March and have since garnered much attention for the public and even the media. Fusion Flours new bake shop is located nearby Northtown Mall at 120 E. Wellesley Ave.

At the new Fusion Flours shop is plenty of gluten free baked goods that you would come to expect from such a shop like breads and scones. But also available is many gluten free meal choices like pizza and other dinner entrees / snacks. More new items may also be added as the new business evolves.

If you'd like more info on Fusion Flours new gluten free bake shop in North Spokane visit-
www.fusionflours.com

 

Huppin's closing Downtown Spokane store

After over 100 years of operation in Downtown Spokane Huppin's ,  a landmark retailer of TV's ,Camera's and other electronics announced a couple of weeks ago that it will close their store at 421 W Main across from Auntie's Bookstore / Sante' Resturant in Downtown Spokane. No word as of now however on an offical closing date for the store.

Huppin's however is not closing completly. The company also operates a store in North Spokane near the The Y which will remain open. That store is larger and much newer with it opening only back in 2010. The North Spokane Huppin's store can be found at 8016 N Division.

Also the company plans to keep it's onecall.com online shopping site open. The onecall.com site which is owned by Huppin's has been a primary part of the companies business since the site went live back in 1994.

A closing sale for the Downtown Spokane Huppin's is already underway,Huppin's management also intends to keep on as many of the Downtown store's 15 employees as possible but does admit layoff's are possible. The Downtown Huppin's opened it's doors in 1908 as a taylor shop elsewhere in the Downtown area and became the electronics retailler that we see today during the 1950's.

For more info on Huppin's visit their website at-
www.onecall.com

Sephora cosmetics chain to open at River Park Square in April

Visitors to Downtown Spokane's River Park Square mall will have a new place to shop for makeup and other cosmetics next month as Sephora a French based cosmetics company will open their first full line store in Spokane sometime in early April on the second floor (skywalk level) of the shopping center in a space that was home to Abercromie & Fitch until that popular clothing chain choose not to renew it's lease a couple of years ago.

The Sephora store will occupy about half of the former Abercromie & Fitch space with no word at this time may move into the remaining half. The unit has been largely vacant since 2011 with the expection of the Calender Club / Go Games seasonal store that opens every year in most Spokane area malls including River Park Square.

Sephora also operates 2 smaller stores in the Spokane area,both of which are limited locations and can be found inside of JcPenney stores at Spokane Valley Mall and Northtown Mall. Those locations will also stay open.

Sephora is based in Paris,France and has been in business since the 1970's. Sephora stores carry a wide verity of cosmetics and are a part of their larger parent company LVMH.

For more info on Sephora visit-
www.sephora.com

Frontline Fitness opens in Post Falls

It's unclear as to why, but the Tready Rock Plaza complex along Seltice Way in between Chase Rd. and Spokane St. in Post Falls has struggled to keep tenants other then it's anchor tenant , Meineke Auto Repair. But a new work out facility that is now open in the complex is looking very promising. The new gym is called Frontline Fitness and is in a front space that was last a small car dealership.

Frontline Fitness is a locally owned and operated business and offers many classes as well including  Les Mills programs and many more . Instructors are also available as well as childcare and a pro shop.

Frontline Fitness is open Monday thru Friday 5am till 10pm , Saturday 7am to 6pm and Sunday 7am to 5pm.

For more info on the new Frontline Fitness in Post Falls including classes visit-
www.frontlinefitnessbattlefield.com

Or find them on Facebook at-
www.facebook.com/pages/Frontline-Fitness/466925306690576

Local Business Profiles-The Spokane/ Coeur d' Alene resturants featured on Diners, Drive Inns and Dives.

For this edition of Inland Northwest Business Watch's local business profiles I figured I'd try something new, featuring several businesses with a common tie to each other like maybe an up and coming neighborhood filled with several locally owned and operated shops. Or in this case the Spokane restaurants that we're featured on Guy Fieri's hit Food Network TV show Diners, Drive-Inns and Dive's . Or as fans of the show call it, Triple D .

No area restaurants have popped up on the show very recently but as some may recall Guy and his crew came thru the area in 2010 and made several stops. While some disagreed with a few choices, all are very good and very local places to eat . If your looking for a place to eat in the Spokane and Coeur d' Alene area, look no farther then this list...

Resturants in the Spokane area...

Waddell's Pub & Grill
4318 S. Regal St Spokane
Web Site: www.waddellspubandgrill.com

Chaps Coffee Co.
4235 S. Cheney Spokane Rd. Spokane
Web Site:www.chapsgirl.com

Elk Public House
1931 W. Pacific Ave Spokane
Web Site : www.wedonthaveone.com

Editor's Note: The Elk Public House is one of my personal favorite places in Spokane. All of the other restaurants mentioned here are also worth a visit but if you only can choose one, I recommend The Elk. But please don't hate me if you don't agree.

Picabu Neighboorhood Bistro
901 W. 14th Ave Spokane
Web Site:www.picabu-bistro.com

Hills' Resturant and Lounge
401 W. Main Ave. Spokane
Web Site:www.hillsresturantandlounge.com

Resturants in Coeur d' Alene area...

Capone's Pub & Grill
751 N. 4th St. Coeur d' Alene
Web Site:www.caponespub.com

Editors' Note: Capone's is also opening a new location on Government Way in Hayden very soon. We are working on getting info on their new bar which is in a new building but for the most part the same as the original in Midtown Coeur d' Alene.

Jimmy's Down the Street Café
1613 E Sherman Ave. Coeur d' Alene
Web Site: www.jimmysdownthestreet.com

Although all of the local restaurants featured on Diner's, Drive Inns and Dives we're featured some time ago, The Food Network does still air reruns of the episodes from time to time. Consult your local listings for air times.

If you have an idea for a future local business profile article to be posted here on Inland Northwest Business Watch please contact me anytime at the e-mail address below:
inlandbusiness@yahoo.com

An update on Winco coming to Coeur d' Alene

One of the hot business topics here on Inland Northwest Business Watch has been the opening of a new Winco Foods grocery store in Coeur d' Alene. For more info about the store coming,like where it will be, who Winco is,etc... visit this post-

http://www.inlandnwbusiness.com/2012/06/winco-coming-to-coeur-d-alene.html

But here is what we have learned about the store and when it is coming.

-Construction is expected to start in early May of this year.

-A projected opening date has been set for early March 2014.

-The new store will take up 72,000 square feet.

The new Winco store won't be the only tenant for the land as the remainder of the site, at Ramsey Rd. and Appleway is being marketed as The Crossroads at Coeur d' Alene. This project will include a couple of other smaller retail spaces and a selection of out lots, of which INBW hears one is already sale pending. No word on to who or which space it is at this time.

Continue to watch Inland Northwest Business Watch for more news on Winco coming to Coeur d' Alene.

3rd Avenue Plaza offer new co-working / small office space in Spokane.

The econony both locally and national is improving ,slowly improving but none the less it is improving. And right along with these new better times is coming a need for many to look for a space to run a new business. That is the primary reason behind a big rush on co-working and small excutive office space in many markets nationally and including Spokane.

Filling that need is a new office building now open just east of Downtown Spokane at 725 E. 3rd Ave, at the corner of 3rd Ave. and Scott St. The building which is now called Third Avenue Plaza has been remodeled and now offers...

 -Free parking
-Vending machine's
- Community Refrigerator
- 2 conference rooms on site
- High Speed Internet
-Free Coffee and Tea
-Mail service
- Copy and Fax service
And 24 hour a day building access via a secure keycard.

In addition to office space in the building Third Avenue Plaza also offers virtual offices which is a way to recive mail and give the impression of a professional permant office while operateing your business from someplace else like a private home or even another city.

Renting at Third Avenue Plaza is also cheeper then most office buildings with rental rates ranging from a day pass to the co-working space for just 15 dollars to private office spaces beginning at 250 a month. For full rental rates visit their website at the adress listed below.

Third Avenue Plaza is located only about 5 min. east of Downtown with easy access to I-90 via eather the Division St exit or Altamont St. exit. Leasing at the building is being ran by local real estate broker Bernadette Pillar.

For more info on Thrid Avenue Plaza visit their website at-
www.spokaneoffice.com

Or look for them on Facebook.

The District Bar opens in Downtown Spokane

The Downtown Spokane restaurant scene continues to grow and now visitors to the Davenport Arts District have an option, The District Bar.

The District Bar opened back in December at the space next door to The Knitting Factory concert house.The new bar's address is 916 W. 1st Ave. The District Bar is a gastropub that features a full selection of alcoholic and non- alcoholic drinks as well as a full menu of food options.

The District Bar's menu is cooked under the authority of executive chef Gary Evans who's culinary credits include the Beau Rivage Casino and Resort in Bloxi,Miss. and the Palm Court Grill inside the Davenport Hotel.

Many of the menu items at The District Bar are classic American pub fare with some slight variation's. Drink wise 18 different beers are available including some local brews and hard liquor drinks are also sold.

For more info on The District Bar visit their Facebook page at-
www.facebook.com/districtbarspokane