Kootenai Clinic opens large new medical office building in Cd'A ( Photo's )

Residents of Coeur d' Alene have seen the construction on Lincoln Way ( US 95, south of I-90 ) for sometime now. The good sized red brick office building, which is part of the Kootenai Clinic system of medical clinics and offices is one of the largest additions to the Coeur d' Alene medical community in some time.

And now, that building is officially complete and recently opened it's doors to patients. Here is a look at what all this new space contains-

Grumpy Monkey Coffee & Bakery - New business review

It's been quite some time since the last new restaurant review I've posted to this web site. But tonight, I paid a visit to a new coffee shop / bakery, in Coeur d' Alene that impressed this blogger enough to hurry home and share this excellent, brand new establishment .

Spokane Cheesecakes opens in new location ( Photo )

Once a small vendor in the Spokane Public Market, Spokane Cheesecakes has grown by leaps and bounds. The locally owned and operated is now back open, but this time in their very own retail space.

Interplayers Theatre opens retail store called , The Opening Act .

Downtown Spokane's Interplayers Theatre has seen it's ups and downs financially over the last couple of years. With even a couple of announcements of a looming closure, but through it all Interplayers players have continued to put on great show after great show .

Professional Home Care Training Center opens in Spokane Valley

A new business, now open in Spokane Valley, is assisting those with an interest in providing home care to the elderly and those who need additional assistance. The percentage of the population that's in need of home care has grown exponentially in recent years, and jobs providing that care can often offer decent pay and are almost always easy to find.

Anyone with an interest in providing care, this may be your time. And, the new Professional Home Care Training Center may be the place to help you enter that field.

Hallett's Chocolates relocates factory store , makes other changes.

Lot's of changes have come to the Spokane based Hallett's Chocolates. Among the big changes is a new store and a new web site. Here is what's new...

New Business Openings & Closings - Dec. 19th 2013

A look at the some of the highlights of the many new businesses opening in our area...

Complete Suite Furniture to open in former Halpin's location

Halpin's was a Spokane Valley institution with decades invested in the community. In fact Halpin's opened for business in 1940 and at the final location in 1949. Sadly, Halpin's closed their doors earlier this year, that closure was covered here on Inland Northwest Business Watch over the Summer, more on that here- http://www.inlandnwbusiness.com/2013/07/spokane-valley-icon-halpins-pharmacy.html

But, the old Halpin's space won't be empty long...

Giant Nerd Books opens on N. Monroe

A new bookstore is now open just blocks north of Downtown Spokane. But this new bookstore isn't like the other new and used book retailers around the region. In fact, even this businesses name is unique.

More info on The Wandering Table / Yards Bruncheon restaurants coming to Kendall Yards ( Photo's )

Earlier on the blog we shared the announcement of several new restaurants planning to open soon in Spokane's Kendall Yards urban development. Among those planned restaurants is a permanent home for The Wandering Table, and Yards Bruncheon. Both are projects of Chef Adam Hegsted , but at the time of the announcement we knew only a little of these new establishments.

But, as time has gone by we have managed to find out more. So, as a follow up to that post here is some more info on The Wandering Table and Yards Brucheon. Also, Keep watching as we will try to share more on the other new restaurants in Kendall Yards as we get that info.

Bamboo Island Bath & Body opens retail store in Wandermere ( Photos )

Spokane now has a local answer to that mall bath and body chain. With the recent opening of a retail storefront for Bamboo Island Bath & Body, Inc. , a company that's actually been around since the mid 1990's.

Former Coeur d' Alene Mines HQ building sold

It's been a part of the Downtown Coeur d' Alene skyline for several years, housing the world headquarters to Coeur d' Alene Mines . But just like the changes that have come to the mining company, changes are also likely for the former HQ building itself.

New tenants move into Spokane Industrial Park

Four new tenants have recently moved into Spokane Business & Industrial Park in Spokane Valley. Those new tenants are:

Renovations wrapping up at 121 W. Pacific, Downtown Spokane.

Pacific Ave. south of the railroad tracks in Downtown Spokane is probably one the most historic sections of the entire city. But yet it's often overlooked, and a lot of times the home a significant homeless population. But this blogger is also a bit of history buff, and neighborhoods like the area around Pacific and the nearby Intermodal Center( train / bus station ) are the kind of locales I think we need to preserve.

And, although the area hasn't always seen many revitalization attempts, things are defiantly looking up. With one project in particular.

Zombie themed espresso shop opens in Spokane

Zombie's are the current big trend , and apparently the business owners of Spokane have taken notice. First, with Dawn of the Donut , a zombie themed donut shop on the Division St. Hill and now with Zombies Espresso, a zombie themed espresso drive up.

Progress update on Crossroads Coeur d' Alene,more new resturants coming ( photos )

Now that Coeur d' Alene's new Winco Foods grocery store is now open, we can shift our focus onto the other portions of this sizable project. Construction at the site is already well underway, and the shell of one a few new buildings at the site is already up. Here is a look at the store's that are planned for that building and what else is yet to come....

Arc of Spokane to open thrift store in old CompUSA building Downtown

The Arc of Spokane is a non profit that has served the Spokane community for many years, doing good works with residents with developmental disabilities. The Arc of Spokane does this via several different programs, however running those programs isn't without cost.

Drive In Theatre proposed for Spokane

It's not even a sure thing this business will ever get built, but two local residents are purposing bringing back the Drive In movie theatre concept to Spokane.

Food Truck Rally in the works for upcoming First Friday

In early December the Downtown Spokane Partnership is planning a food truck rally during their monthly First Friday event. And while none of the participating food trucks are " new businesses " this new event is proof that, slowly but surely, the Spokane business scene is getting hipper and keeping up with trends from other parts of the nation.

Spokane Downtown Daiquiri Factory to open in former Beignets space Downtown

A new business, with and interesting concept is planning to open up shop in Downtown Spokane soon. The concept is like no other Spokane business today and will open in a space that has a history of having issues with the " street kids " of Downtown.

Wollnick's General Store, a branch of Greencupboards.com, now open in Spokane

Earlier this year, Spokane based Greencupboards.com , formed a parent company called Etailz Inc. to operate the companies business divisions other then just the companies popular Green Cupboards e-commerce web site. And now, the newly formed Etailz Inc. has an all new off-line division with last week's opening of the companies first new brick and mortar retail store right here in Spokane.

Candy Works now open in Northtown Mall

After the recent closure of Northtown Mall's Sweet Factory chain candy store, the mall was left without a candy and sweets vendor. The Sweet Factory space was quickly filled with an addition of the now, newly remodeled Clare's store.But still the mall was without this category of business that had been a favorite for many shoppers. But, last weekend that all changed...

Geocaching specialty store opens in Spokane

While the weather at the time of my writing this may seem a bit too cold to get into any outdoor hobby. We, here in the Inland Northwest do have plenty of time each year too get out and about . And there is one newish hobby that is gathering quite the following, Geocaching. And fans of geocaching now have a new store, right here in Spokane , to help fulfill any of their needs. Or even novices to the hobby that are looking for something new to do.

Total Wine & More now open in Spokane Valley

Just in time for the holiday's and some of the heaviest drinking seasons of the year, Total Wine & More's newest store is now open. The new store is located in Spokane Valley and a big grand opening is planned for tonight, in fact it should be starting about now.

New restaurant to open in old Muffler Shop in Downtown CdA ( Photo )

The design work is ready and some construction work has already been started on Downtown Coeur d' Alene's next exciting new restaurant.

Francesca's coming to River Park Square

Inland Northwest Business Watch has learned what will fill the space that was The Sandwich Gardens in Downtown Spokane's River Park Square.

New event center opens in Hillyard

One spot I love reporting on new local businesses in is Hillyard. The neighborhood has gained a bit of a reputation but what most people don't realize is the quality of the many locally owned and operated shops and businesses that call this part of Spokane home. Hillyard has a lot of potential and there is one new local business in this Northeast Spokane neighborhood that will , most likely be a welcome addition to the entire community.

Local business to provide space for Small Business Saturday, Nov. 30th

Every year Small Business Saturday gets bigger and bigger. And just like in years past many small businesses here in the Spokane / Coeur d' Alene area will provide special deals and even open houses to coincide with this growing event. But a huge advantage for small businesses is having a storefront to sell from. Many locally, usually because they are home based, don't have that resource available. But this year that will change...

Sandwich Gardens closing in River Park Square

Today just seems to full of bad news, earlier I reported on the upcoming closure of The Display House in Spokane Valley. That closure will happen at the end of the year, but the INBW newsroom has just learned of another local small business closure that has a closure date a lot sooner.

The Display House to close

Adding to the several long time Spokane business that have closed their doors over the last couple of years. INBW has learned that The Display House in Spokane Valley will be going out of business.

Dutch Bros. planning new Spokane location.

Coffee is huge, and while there is a debate over which is better local coffee stands or the big chains. There is one chain that has proven itself quite popular locally in Spokane and Coeur d' Alene both. And now it appears Spokane will be getting another Dutch Bros. location in the near future.

Nudo , a new resturant to open in Downtown Spokane

The space that was Berg's Shoes sure wasn't empty long. Signs went up this week in the Downtown Spokane storefront for a new restaurant being planned that is currently scheduled to open in about 4 to 5 months.

Hotel Ruby owner buys 2nd Downtown hotel, has big plans

Well known local developer Jerry Dicker has purchased another hotel in Downtown Spokane. Dicker, who owns and operates GVD Commercial Properties,Inc. is the owner of the Hotel Ruby which is also Downtown only blocks from this newly acquired hotel property.

Coeur d' Alene Winco now open!

 The new Winco Foods grocery store in Coeur d' Alene is now open! The store is laid out much like the stores already in Spokane. Only a bit smaller and with a more warehouse like look. Here is what all we know of the store....

Spokane's first Canine Fitness Center opens

Every day crowds all over Spokane flock to places like Oz Fitness and other local fitness centers to stay and in shape. And the Spokane area has no shortage of fitness centers , with even more in the works. But up until now none have catered to the specialty of the Animal Wellness Connection. That's because Animal Wellness Connection is Spokane's first Fitness Center for Dogs.

Renovations coming for Masonic Center & Civic Building in Downtown Spokane

Downtown Spokane's historic W. Riverside Ave is going to be getting a few new tenants. But rest assured the neighborhood with it's booming old buildings and tree lined streets won't change too much.

Stone Horse at Wandermere , a new large rental community coming to North Spokane

Filling the growing need for apartments and rental housing in North Spokane's Wandermere area will be a new , quite large , complex to be called Stone Horse at Wandermere. The new development is a project of Harlan Douglass Inc. and will be operated Douglass Properties , an affiliated locally based company with an already extensive portfolio of rental properties all over Spokane.

Colbert Trading Company back open, starting today.

It isn't everyday a small business survives from 1885 till today. But that's exactly the case for the historic Colbert Trading Company a.k.a. The Colbert Store in the heart of the Town of Colbert,Wa .
And after a brief hiatus , mainly for renovations , the store is back in business.

Avista to aquire Alaskan power company, serve portion of Alaska.

Spokane based electric and natural gas utility , Avista Corp. made the announcement yesterday that the company will be acquiring a Juneau, Alaska based power company and entering into the Alaskan utility market for the first time in Avista's history.

Chairs Public House opening soon / Wearable Assets now open by Gonzaga

Back in February we reported on this site of plans made by Chairs Coffee Shop to open a new location in the former Bulldog Tavern building nearby Gonzaga University. ( That article can be found here- http://www.inlandnwbusiness.com/2013/02/chairs-coffee-to-open-location-at-old.html ) and that plan never went away, just got pushed back some. But now we are pleased to report that this new location , which will be called Chairs Public House , will be complete and open as early as next week.

Historic Downtown warehouse being renovated ( photos )

The large brick warehouse at 116 W. Pacific in Downtown Spokane has a very interesting history starting life as a cold storage warehouse undoubtedly for the trains on the railroad viaduct that sits directly behind the Pacific Ave. building. And while the building was used for a time a warehouse for the now closed Sylvan's Furniture store it has sat completely empty for sometime now. But all that is changing.

Parker VW opens, last major change at Parker

Parker is well known name for car buying in Coeur d' Alene and Post Falls, starting with Parker Toyota / Scion at the corner of US 95 and Kathleen in Coeur d' Alene. Also at that same site is the Parker Auto Credit Center who assists customers will credit issues but still need to get a car. And while the Parker complex on Kathleen is still going strong, in the same location as always. Other major changes have recently been completed to the rest of the Parker owned dealerships. Those changes even mean bringing a new auto brand to the Coeur d' Alene market. Here is a look....

Former Lower South Hill Nursing Home being repurposed as apartments. ( photo )

For the last few years the 4 story structure at 424 W. 7th Ave. on Spokane's Lower South Hill ( corner of 7th and Stevens ) hassat empty. But with the prime real estate overlooking the downtown skyline and the never ending need for new low income housing near Downtown has been much of the reason behind a new project there.

3 Huge Grand Openings coming soon! (Winco Coeur d' Alene , The Culinary Stone & Total Wine Spokane Valley )

While these are not the only new business openings planned soon in the Spokane and Coeur d' Alene area, here are 3 of the most requested opening dates...

Photos from Northtown Mall's planned massive remodel

Inland Northwest Business Watch has obtained a photo of the finished product of Northtown Mall's remodel. The remodel includes demolition of part of the mall and rebuilding back 60,000+ square feet of new space. The details of the project are in the link at the bottom of this article...

Renovations wrapping up soon at Spokane's Liberty Building

If you haven't been inside of Downtown Spokane's Liberty Building recently, then the time is now as you'll be in for quite a surprise with all the new renovations. While the renovations are still ongoing , one can now see most of the finished product which includes new layout for almost all of the landmark retail shops on the building's lower levels.

Selkirk Abbey Brewing Co. of Post Falls mentioned on Conan ( video )

Any publicity is good publicity, and while Post Falls based Selkirk Abbey Brewing Co. probably did not expect to be included in skit by Triumph The Insult Comic Dog on Conan O'Brien's Conan show. I'm sure that more then a few people probably looked up Selkirk Abbey after this mention.

Here is what happened...

Goldbay ,a Spokane based business to be featured in NatGeo's Meltdown reality show.

From Pawn Star's Gold and Silver Pawn Shop to American Pickers' Antique Archeology, small businesses are sometimes the stars of some of the nation's most popular TV reality shows. And beginning at the end of the month one local businessman and his Spokane based business will be one of the main characters on a new national reality show for the National Geographic Channel.

New Business Openings & Closings- Oct 28th 2013

Maybe it's the upcoming holiday shopping season, but there is a huge rush of exciting new businesses opening around Spokane and Coeur d' Alene. Of course there are a few closures here and there as well but for the most part the local economy is looking up.

Here are just some of the highlights-

Patty's Taco's food truck opens full resturant in Spokane Valley ( pictures )

If you're like myself , with a deep interest in the happenings of Spokane's growing food truck base then the name Patty's Taco's is a business that you probably already know all about. In fact because of the quality Mexican dishes served up by Patty's even those who aren't " in the know " know of Patty's Taco's. But now that truck is more then just a food truck, it's an actually brick and mortar restaurant as well.

2 hip new business open in the area ( Bare Culture Kombucha & BEET It Up ) ( photos )

I think it's fair to say the Inland Northwest is not exactly the hippest spot in the nation. But the local scene is improving and 2 new business , 1 in Spokane and another in Coeur d' Alene might just break a bit more ice.

Washington Healthplan Finder call center in Spokane Valley hiring more staff

The Affordable Care Act , Obamacare , whatever it is you personally call it, this new universal health care option is now available to all. And in Washington State when you call the state's health insurance exchange , also known as Washington Healthplan Finder, the voice on the other end is actually right here locally in Spokane Valley.

Spokane Humane Society opens new pet adoption center inside Petsmart

Starting this weekend , there is a new place in Spokane to adopt a cat or a dog . That place is actually a joint venture of sorts between the Spokane Humane Society and Petsmart's not for profit Petsmart Charities division.

New stores opening in & around Silver Lake Mall in CdA

While a good percentage of the stores coming to Silver Lake Mall are surely seasonal stores for the upcoming holiday shopping season, it's still a great sight to see all that is now open or opening soon in and around the Coeur d' Alene shopping center.

Here is a look at what all we know is opening at the mall...

Northtown Mall planning massive remodel

It's been a huge rumor for the last few months, but today it became official. Northtown Mall IS planning a large construction project that would mean a partial demolition of the northern side of the mall building. Not all the details have gotten to Inland Northwest Business Watch as of yet but here is what we know....

Fellow opens, adds to the available coworking space in Spokane.

The coworking trend that I've spoken of a couple of times before continues to grow in the Spokane market. And only day's after writing about a new coworking space in Steam Plant Square , I'm pleased to announce another new coworking office space option in Downtown Spokane.

Small Business Shout-Out - Empire Auto, Boat & RV Storage

Empire Auto , Boat & RV Storage
800 W. 3rd Ave
Downtown Spokane,Wa

About Empire:

Located in a former Costco store, Empire is a prime provider of storage for most any vehicle , marine craft or RV. Empire is located just east of Downtown and has storage space still open.

Contact Empire Auto , Boat & RV Storage by calling - 509-926-0388

Green Bluff farm adding The 238 Brewing Co. microbrewery

Green Bluff is by no match the best place in Eastern Washington for family farm fun. With 30+ farms one can find everything from fruits and vegetable's to Christmas Trees depending in part on the season. But more and more the growers on Green Bluff , north of Spokane , and growing a new crop... "adult beverages".

Pete & Belle's Ice Cream Shop / Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory open in Spokane Valley

The newly reconstructed strip shopping center at 1330 N. Argonne Rd. is finally filling up and after grand opening festivities this weekend the center will get a bit sweeter. That's because 2 new businesses with a focus on all things sweet have joined the tenant list.

Mall contracts forcing Pretzelmaker to close at Northtown Mall.

It is very normal for a mall to have contracts with it's food court tenants to be sure that the mall doesn't have to much competition of one type of restaurant. Usually 1 pizza restaurant , 1 sandwich business and so on. But for some time now Spokane's Northtown Mall has been home to 2 pretzel businesses. And now Mall management is planning to do something about it.

Greater Spokane Incorporated hosting Business-to-Business trade show Oct. 23rd

Want to know more about what all your favorite Spokane area business are doing / selling ? Maybe even find a few new favorite businesses ? Then mark your calendars for the 2013 edition of Greater Spokane Incorporated's Business-to-Business trade show.

Holistic Veterinary Clinic opens near S. Perry District.

Looking for a new Vet's office in Spokane? Maybe a with a new take on Veterinary medicine? If so, there is a new clinic open south of Downtown Spokane that may be work a look.

Visit Spokane planning to move Visitor Center to River Park Square

Spokane's Visitor Center has been a hot button issue for the staff and volunteers of Visit Spokane , the city's Convention and Visitor's Bureau. That's, in part, because the Visitor Center which is at the corner of W. Main Ave and Browne on the eastern side of Downtown Spokane is not really near where the visitor's actually are. But soon that will change with an upcoming move.

NEW renderings of Walt Worthy's purposed Convention Center Hotel + What exactly is coming

With an entire block of Downtown Spokane now under construction it's hard to miss the site of the purposed new hotel tower being built directly across Spokane Falls Blvd. from the Spokane Convention Center and INB Performing Arts Center. But while many know of this project, few know what the hotel will look like.

Last month a rendering of the hotel was released , Inland Northwest Business Watch learned that photo was out of date and waited till a new rendering was released. And , I am now happy to say we now have that new rendering, and here it is...

ShareSpace , a new co-working space opens in Downtown Spokane

With co-working increasingly become the new way for small businesses to find a affordable office location and / or provide an alternative office space in the home. Co-working space is already available in a couple of places around the Spokane region. But a there is a new addition to this form of office space, and this time in a prime space in the heart of Downtown Spokane.

Small Business Shout-Out - CDA Realty Investment & Property Management

CdA Realty Investment & Property Management
1124 E. Sherman Ave. , Suite 5
Coeur d' Alene,ID.

Phone: 208-691-9197
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDApropertymanagement

CdA Realty Investment & Property Management is a new business in Coeur d' Alene. They provide full property management services , Services range from real estate to construction and general home repairs.

Einstein Bros. Bagels arrives in Spokane

It's happened again, another new national restaurant chain has set up shop here in Spokane. And this time it's Einstein Bros. Bagels turn at opening their doors to the Spokane market.

Rumor Mill - Will Silverwood get a hotel ?

The Rumor Mill page on here has been one of the most popular features on the Inland Northwest Business Watch site, so I figured it was time to address a few more rumors that have been around the Inland Northwest. And one of the business rumors that has been around the longest is today's focus:

Is Silverwood Theme Park getting a hotel?

Expansion and changes at Little Italy's Wine Bar / A to Z

It may not be the most known wine bar in the Spokane / Coeur d' Alene area , but thanks to a recently completed expansion / remodel at Little Italy's Wine Bar in Post Falls that may soon change.

Vote for Inland Northwest Business Watch as best local blog!!!

Recently we placed 4th on KREM 2 News Best of Spokane poll, but there is another best of poll out there, on a site called Spokane A- List ( http://spokane.cityvoter.com )

We are sitting in 4th place on there , but we are within range, PLEASE go and vote for us now! As of today there are 10 days left to vote. If you like getting to know all the new businesses and construction news on this site then do us a favor and vote!!!

http://spokane.cityvoter.com/best/local-flavor-in-Spokane

http://spokane.cityvoter.com

Center Partners expanding in the Spokane / CdA area

Chock it up to the good news column, because it was announced today that Center Partners has canceled most of the companies planned local lay offs. In fact, the company will actually be expanding it's operations here in the Inland Northwest.

Changes at Auto Credit Sales

Some changes have come to a Spokane area chain of used car lots . Auto Credit Sales , recently relocated one sales lot and opened a whole new location in Hayden. Here's what all has changed at Auto Credit-

Legacy Landing , mixed use development envisioned near Northern Quest Casino .

The Kalispel Tribe's Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Airway Heights is one of Spokane County's largest employers . In addition the sprawling resort draws thousands with it's Casino , Hotel , 14 Bars and Restaurants and shows / concerts in the on site event center. So it only makes sense that developers and business owners would want to build near the Casino.

St. Vincent de Paul opening new thrift store in Silver Valley

Known to many Coeur d' Alene and Post Falls area locals as St. Vinny's . The non profit St. Vincent de Paul program and thrift store is expanding to serve even more of North Idaho with a new thrift store location. This time in the Silver Valley town of Osburn.

New Resturant Openings & Closings - Oct 8th 2013 + Brewery News

While the amount of new restaurants and the like has slowed a bit the news contained in this update is much bigger then our normal updates. Today, we have a 4th new restaurant ( well, ice cream shop... ) announcement coming to Kendall Yards and a the first restaurant announcement for the development around the new Winco in Coeur d' Alene. Plus  much more, so check it out.....

Pinot's Palette coming to Spokane

You may have already heard of Pinot's Palette , since the business is a national chain. But soon even more people in the Spokane area will have heard of Pinot's. Because Pinot's Palette is planning on opening a new location soon in Downtown Spokane.

Bikini Barber Shop comes to Spokane

The "bikini barista" coffee stands have most of the Spokane and Coeur d' Alene area covered now, with locations all around stirring up more then a fair share of controversy. Currently the City of Spokane Valley has began addressing rules and regulations for said business and the City of Spokane has attempted to do the same.

New Business Openings & Closing : October 2nd 2013

Here are some highlights of the many new business openings happening right now in the Spokane / Coeur d' Alene area.

As a reminder we are always looking for news on new businesses or businesses expanding / closing. Contact us anytime at-


inlandbusiness@yahoo.com

Nectar Tasting Room plans commercial kitchen, food menu

Downtown Spokane's Nectar Tasting Room has announced a major move forward for the popular and still growing local wine business. Nectar will soon add an on site commercial kitchen , and thanks to a partnership between Nectar and Just a Couple of Mom's the business will develop a new food menu.

Winter Ridge Natural Foods completes expansion in Sandpoint

In the market for some healthier food options? Or maybe you just want to try and find something new to eat? If so, then Sandpoint's Winter Ridge Natural Foods is just the place you've been looking for. Winter Ridge recently wrapped up a major store expansion is now open with all of the new and exiting improvements ready to go.

Spokane Valley Cancer Center now open

Promoted as Spokane's premier integrated multidisciplinary cancer care and research center , the new Spokane Valley Cancer Center has officially opened it's doors to the area's cancer patients .

New Spokane Chiefs team store opens inside Spokane Arena

The weather is cooling down fast and hockey is back in the Inland Northwest! Spokane's own the Spokane Chief's are off to a great start with many more games yet to come. But new this year , for the fans , is an all new team gift shop with a convenient location.

Large new apartment complex going in near Northern Quest Casino

In the last few weeks construction crews and equipment have convened on a site in Airway Heights just south of Northern Quest Casino and gotten attention. While as of right now blasting and general site development is all that is has taken place. Full construction should start in the near future for a large new apartment complex on the site.

3 new resturants coming to Kendall Yards

It's been known for a while now that the developers of the Kendall Yards development we're planning on adding more new local restaurants to the site. Three new restaurants in fact, and up until now there was no official announcement to say what restaurants they we're. And while technically there still hasn't been an announcement. Signs have gone up on the Kendall Yards site, bearing the names of the 3 new restaurants, so here they are....

The Bartlett , a new music venue opening in Downtown Spokane

Most of time in this day and age there are several local projects that can be found on the always growing indiegogo and Kickstarter funding web sites . And while not all of the ideas on those sites become reality in only a couple of months one of the success stories will open in Downtown Spokane , bringing with it a new all ages music venue and more.

Athleta opening at River Park Square

Another new chain is coming to River Park Square. That new business is a growing women's athletic store called Athleta.

Huckleberry Thicket to move to Post Falls

The big purple sign is already up and construction crews are hard at work on the interior of the new home in Post Falls for Huckleberry Thicket.

AutoNation Toyota building new showroom in Spokane Valley

AutoNation Toyota , which took on the AutoNation name earlier this year, and formerly known as Appleway Toyota is undergoing so big changes. But the dealership won't be leaving Spokane Valley.

Best Sandwich Shack in CdA awarded best sandwich in Idaho by Zagat

It's always good news when a local business wins a big award. And this is probably one of the biggest awards to be brought home for the Coeur d' Alene area in awhile . Best Sandwich Shack was recently awarded best sandwich in Idaho on Zagat's recent 50 states ,50 sandwiches feature .

Ridpath Club Apartments plan moves forward ( photo's and floor-plans included )

Looks like there is still hope for Spokane's long vacant Ridpath Hotel . Local development firm ,Wells and Company headed up by developer Ron Wells is moving forward with their plan for the historic high rise in the heart of Downtown Spokane.

STCU planning new branch in Coeur d' Alene.

STCU ( Spokane Teachers Credit Union ) is making plans to increase their presence in North Idaho with the upcoming addition of a new branch in Coeur d' Alene . The new branch will be the 4th location in Idaho for the locally based Credit Union.

Several big projects close to Geiger exit in the West Plains

The West Plains area west of Spokane is , just like it's been for awhile now , the place to be for new developments. And one West Plains area is taking off with 4 major construction projects in various phases of development . That area is the area with a short radius of the I-90 Geiger Blvd. / Grove Rd. and here is a look at what we now about what is coming....

Developing story- Remodeling work comes to Northtown Mall

We don't have much info on what exactly is planned however there are some exciting changes coming Spokane's Northtown Mall very soon. Construction work is already underway in the basement of the mall where Bumpers Family Fun Center once was, until they moved out last December ( more on the Bumpers move visit - http://www.inlandnwbusiness.com/2012/12/bumpers-family-fun-center-moves-to.html )

DownEast Basics moves , to replace Valley Mall store with sister chain

DownEast Basics , a fashion retailer in the Spokane Valley Mall has closed it's store on the mall's west side near the Thomas Hammer Coffee Shop. But fans of the chain don't have to worry because DownEast has not left Spokane entirely and the company will continue a presence in the Valley Mall just with a new name and branding.

The Culinary Stone opening in anchor space at Riverstone

That big vacant retail space at 2129 Main St. in CdA , that was originally built out to be a Barnes & Noble store that never happened will finally be filled soon. And while the sign in the front window actually reads " The Culinary District coming soon " the businesses name has actually been modified and will open soon as The Culinary Stone.

Inland Business Catalyst Magazine re-launches, and we're in it !

Earlier this year Spokane's Inland Business Catalyst Magazine stopped publishing on it's own and became a section towards the back of the Catalyst's sister publication , Spokane Coeur d' Alene Living Magazine . But after 3 runs inside the pages of Spokane Coeur d' Alene Living , the magazine's management has again broken out and as of this month has re-launched as a full and separate publication.

Natural Grocers to open on former Elmer's site in CdA

I've received a lot of questions about what is happening on the former site of Elmer's Restaurant in Coeur d' Alene. And until last weekend I unfortunately , despite many research attempts,came up with nothing. But a lead from Nils Rosdahl's column in the Sunday Coeur d' Alene Press has uncovered just what it will be. I've done my own checking to make sure it's correct and I can now say the site will be....

Liberty Mutual Insurance to expand in Liberty Lake, be new tenant at new office building

This is a follow-up post to a story covered on here earlier this week.

Not long ago we reported of a possible large expansion at Liberty Lake's Meadowwood Technology Campus that was only waiting on a lease signing for a large national office tenant. We are now happy to report that the pending lease has been signed and the expansion will now move forward. And that tenant is already quite familiar to the space.

Long awaited new restaurant opening dates annouced

There are several new restaurants coming to the Spokane / Coeur d' Alene area  , in various stages of construction but all soon. Here are some of the most talked about and when they are currently planning to open...

Included in this post are the current opening dates for- Buffalo Wild Wings, Café Rio and Mackenzie River Pizza Co.

New business openings & closings - Sept 10th 2013

Lot's happening business wise locally recently, here are some of the highlights!

Included in this post- Zanie's , Berg's Shoes, Danny Pleasant Gardens , Vintage Angel , Artworks Coeur d' Alene and The Culinary Stone

Small business shout-out: Timepiece Financial Planning

Timepiece Financial Planning
1312 N. Monroe St.  Suite 136
Spokane,Wa 99201

Phone: 360-687-0244

Web site: www.timepiecefp.com

Timepiece Financial Planning operates 2 other physical offices around Washington and provides fee-only financial planning services giving independent financial advice by the hour. For all the info on the services that Timepiece provides , including how fee-only services are different then other financial planning services, please contact them via the info above.

Large expansion possible soon at Meadowwood Technology Campus

Liberty Lake's Meadowwood Technology Campus may soon be the site of a large expansion with the addition of a new second office building.

CdA VA Clinic building new, much larger facility

Veterans make up a large part of population of the Inland Northwest. And with possible military action in Syria on the horizon, that group may even become larger soon. Hence, one of the main reasons behind the VA ( Veterans Association ) investing in both Spokane and Coeur d' Alene recently.

Over the last couple of years the VA has invested great amounts in it's VA Hospital in Northwest Spokane. But now it's Coeur d' Alene's turn for improvements to the local VA facility.

New local whisky and Mead from Mead, coming soon to the Inland Northwest

Spokane has been an up and coming wine region for awhile now and the Spokane craft beer scene has exploded lately with enough breweries now around the Inland Northwest for something called the Inland Northwest Ale Trail featuring 16 local breweries . With all of this and the wild success of Dry Fly the secret is out, Spokane loves it's local alcohol.

And now 2 more related businesses are opening in the area, bringing with them a new local whisky and for the first time, Mead.

Restaurant openings & closings - Sept 7th 2013

Here's a look at the latest restaurant openings / closings in the Spokane / Coeur d' Alene area...

Included in this post: Lucky Lab Coffee Co. , S & A Deli , Geno's , Port of Subs , Qdoba  and Wild Dawgz

2 exciting new stores open in The Garland District

Chain stores may have a place in the community but shopping small local businesses is a great way to keep your dollars from leaving the local area. And one of the best places to spend those dollars locally is The Garland District. And now there are 2 more new exciting businesses are open directly on Garland. They are...

Changes coming to the Garland Theater

Only a couple of weeks ago lawmakers OK'd a plan to allow some Washington State movie theaters to serve alcohol on site in their establishments. And one local independent theater is jumping at the opportunity to serve. That theater is The Garland Theater and alcohol isn't the only thing that's coming to anchor of Spokane's Garland District.

Value Village now open in new Spokane Valley location

This past Labor Day weekend while some we're out checking out the many local events, many we're also out and about checking out a big grand opening in Spokane Valley. That grand opening was for the new Spokane Valley Value Village store.

Small business shout-out : Monkeyboy Books , Spokane,WA

Our first " shout-out" goes to...

Monkeyboy Books
123 S. Wall St.
Downtown Spokane

www.monkeyboybooks.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Monkeyboy-Books/302954366489545

Monkeyboy Books is a uniquely named bookstore located Downtown Spokane's historic Atrium Building. The store specializes in used , rare and out of print books with thousands of books in stock.

Burger King delivery coming to Spokane

Yes, you've read this post's headline correctly. Burger King has chosen Spokane to be a site for the chain's delivery program.

Coeur d' Alene Summer Theater to close.

The final curtain call for the 2013 season at the Coeur d' Alene Summer Theater will be it's lasts as the community theater announced today that they plan to disband the well known local organization.

Former Ugly Bettie's building to become Borracho Tacos & Tequileria ( photo )

Only a few weeks ago it was announced that Ugly Bettie's a popular bar in Downtown Spokane would be closing and re-opening as something completely new with new owners. And now we know that the plans for the site call for a new Mexican restaurant to be called Borracho Tacos & Tequileria.

Peak Health & Wellness center building large indoor tennis center in Hayden

Tennis fans will have a new local business to check out later this year as Peak Health & Wellness Center , a small chain of health clubs is now working on a large new indoor tennis facility coming soon to Hayden.

Cafe Rio opening in Spokane Valley

Café Rio , a successful and rapidly growing chain of Mexican restaurants is opening a new location in Spokane Valley , marking the companies first entry into the Spokane market.

Work underway on new mixed use building at Kendall Yards (photo included )

Spokane's Kendall Yards development is transforming more and more into just what the project's developer, Greenstone Homes, planned. A brand new urban neighborhood unlike any other Spokane has today. And the latest piece of Kendall Yard's puzzle is now underway with last weeks ground breaking of the latest new commercial / residential building.

Nothing Bundt Cakes coming to Spokane

With Cupcake bakeries being all the rage in Spokane and all around the nation, specialty bakeries are news but not anything new. But one new specialty bakery coming to Spokane is new, that's because it will be Spokane's first Bundt Cake Bakery.

Changes at The Calm

Spokane's The Calm is closed, but fans of the popular South Hill business just need to stay "calm" as the business says it will move and re-open.

Mel's Nursery to stay open and move to new location.

About a month ago I reported on the impending closure of Mel's Nursery , a long time North Spokane nursery / greenhouse and gift shop. But I'm now happy to report Mel's will stay in business but in a different location and in a bit of a different form.

Spirit Halloween Stores returning to Spokane / CDA

Summer is nearing it's end yet again, and with schools starting soon around the area it's time to look towards fall and Halloween. Every year a few Halloween " pop - up" stores open their doors in various places around Spokane and Coeur d' Alene. The biggest of which is Spirit and here is a look at where to find their stores this year....

More then just Winco coming to the Crossroads at Coeur d' Alene

Signs are up and the building itself is going up for the new Winco Foods grocery store off of Ramsey Rd. in Coeur d' Alene. And by now most of Coeur d' Alene already knows that Winco is coming to town.

But the new Winco is actually part of a larger new commercial development called The Crossroads at Coeur d' Alene. And there is more then just Winco coming to the development, here is what else to expect in the next few months...

Local restaurant openings & closings - Aug 19th 2013

There are so many new restaurants coming and going from the area that there isn't even enough time to post them all. But here are some of the highlights, and keep checking back for more!

Iron Bridge Office Campus to build 2 new buildings

Spokane will soon get a big boost in office space with the planned major expansion work coming soon to the Iron Bridge Office Campus.

Bohme to open in Spokane Valley Mall

Spokane Valley Mall is set to get another new fashion retailer with the coming opening of Bohme Boutique , a Sandy, Utah based small chain of women's clothing boutiques.

New Health Insurance Call Center coming to Spokane Valley

This is an updated post of a news item announced in April 2013 on this site.

Teri Yaki Grill chain to open Coeur d' Alene location

The next new restaurant coming to Coeur d' Alene this year will be a new location of the Teri Yaki Grill chain of teriyaki restaurants. At this time, we don't know when the new business will open but it is expected to open to the public before fall. Hiring for the new store is already underway and table / chairs and equipment are being installed as we speak.

Is Chipotle Mexican Grill coming to Coeur d' Alene?

It's been one of the biggest rumors I've heard around the area. And even one I get asked about from time to time . So I figured I'd do some digging to see if the Chipotle Mexican Grill chain is planning to open a store in Coeur d' Alene.

And here is what I found out....

Local Resturant Openings & Closings - Aug 12th 2013

This summer there has been no shortage of new resturants opening in the Spokane / Coeur d' Alene area. Here is a look at some of what's new....

Maverik gas station chain coming to Coeur d' Alene

Site work is almost done and frame for the store and gas pump canopy are going up now for the first North Idaho location of the Maverik chain of Gas Stations and Convenance Stores.

The Blind Buck now open

Downtown Spokane's newest bar and nightclub is now open and after only a week it has people talking. That's because that club called , The Blind Buck isn't like the other Downtown bar's.

Spokane Cheesecakes to open in Spokane

Got a sweet tooth? Then one new Spokane business has just the thing , cheesecake, and plenty of it. The business is Spokane Cheesecakes and they recently announced their new retail location in Spokane at 1420 E. Sprague Ave. Suite B.

The Inlander is settling into their new home

Founded in the fall of 1993 , The Inlander , Spokane's alternative weekly newspaper has become a staple in the Spokane community. With award winning journalism and stories that aren't covered by the primary news sources.

And it's partly because of this that The Inlander continues to grow while other newspapers fail.

West side's Clear Chiropractic expands to Spokane

A small chain of Chiropractic clinic's from the Seattle metro area has expanded east of the Cascades with their first location in Spokane. The new Clear Chiropractic Spokane be located on the South Hill at 2503 E. 27th Ave and is now open.

VOTE FOR US IN KREM 2'S BEST OF SPOKANE!

IMPORTANT-

For the second year in a row, this blog, Inland Northwest Business Watch is in KREM 2 News's Best of Spokane contest for best local blog.

Please do me a favor and vote for us, there are a lot fewer blogs this year so we have a chance. On the main page click best blogger in the local flavor section.

Please vote us on-

http://krem.belovotes.com/site/index

If we win I might just have do something for you, the readers!

http://krem.belovotes.com/site/index

2 brick and mortar eateries hit the road with food trucks

Food trucks have been a hot topic in Spokane lately with the Spokane City Council working out new rules and regulations for this rapidly growing industry. But clearly the issues with the city aren't stopping some from opening up shop with new food trucks. In fact 2 of the newest in the Spokane and Coeur d' Alene area are new branches off of existing brick and mortar businesses.

Here's what's new-

URM Stores expanding it's North Spokane Distribution Center

URM Stores, Inc. is in the process of a major expansion at it's already large distribution center in North Spokane.

Healthy, local restaurant , Eat Good opens in Liberty Lake

Eat Good , a new locally owned and operated café is now open in the former Season Café space inside of the Meadowwood Technology Campus at 24001 E. Mission ( near the Mission and Molter intersection) in Liberty Lake.

West Corp. to hire 200 for it's Downtown Spokane call center

West Corp. a call center operator based in Nebraska has announced plans to hire on an additional 200 new employees to it's call center in Downtown Spokane. The company has already began actively hiring for the newly created positions. Info on how to apply for a job with West Corp. can be found at the end of this post.

Large layoff's planned at local Center Partners call center

" Changing business needs " is the only reason given behind a massive lay off planned for the coming months at the Liberty Lake Center Partners call center. Center Partners, a Fort Collins, Colo. based inbound and outbound call center operator plans to lay off 578 employees at it's center in Liberty Lake.

2 new McDonald's locations coming to Spokane and Coeur d' Alene

While there has been no shortage of success for the McDonald's chain's Inland Northwest locations. It has been awhile since a new local location has opened. But in August that will change as the first of 2 new McDonald's locations will open it's doors. Here's the scoop-

Local Business Profile- Inland Northwest Growlers

Inland Northwest Growlers is a new business in Spokane. The company sells and markets a new kind of beer growler. The product info and how to get in contact with them is all below. If you'd like your business on a profile like this contact me at inlandbusiness@yahoo.com

Ciao Mambo in Downtown Spokane closes.

Fans of the Ciao Mambo Italian Restaurant chain will now have to travel to find their restaurant's locations as the only remaining Ciao Mambo location in the Inland Northwest has gone out of business. The location which is at 818 W. Riverside Ave. , a block away from both the STA bus plaza and River Park Square made no announcement of the impending closure and only posted a sign on the now closed restaurant today.

The Surf Shack brings back Coeur d' Alene's famous Longboard Burgers

For years , tucked away as little more then small shop in the corner of a gas station / convenience store was Longboard Burgers. In many case a small local business like this would attract little attention , but not Longboard Burgers. The small shop became a favorite of many only to eventually close up shop a couple of years ago.

Sears opens new store in Deer Park

Sears is now open in the small town of Deer Park just north of Spokane. The new store is not as large as the other area Sears stores because the new location is part of the Sears chain's Hometown Store concept, where the store uses the Sears name and some of the same merchandise just in a more limited quantity and in stores not near the size of the mainstream Sears stores.

Nutrishop opens up shop in Coeur d' Alene

With over 100 locations throughout the United States and an aggressive plan for future growth , Nutrishop , is rapidly becoming one of the larger health and sports supplement chains in the nation.
 
And it's that success that has played a part in the chain's recent arrival here in the Inland Northwest. Nutrishop open it's doors on June 19th at a new location in Coeur d' Alene.

Kroc Center in Coeur d' Alene to expand

The Kroc Center only opened a few years ago, but the center is already a Coeur d' Alene landmark far outpacing the amount of members that the center was projected to have when it was originally estimated.

And now the Community Center has announced another new expansion to the building which is operated as a non profit venture by Salvation Army.

Auto Vue Drive In turns to the Internet to stay open

In December of 2012 , we here at Inland Northwest Business Watch along with many of the Spokane media outlets had the unfortunate news to report that the regions last Drive In movie theatre was set to close. The Auto Vue Drive In at 444 Auto Vue Rd. in Colville (along US 395, in between Colville and Kettle Falls)  is, as of right now scheduled to close it's doors after the 2013 Labor Day weekend.

For info as to why the Drive In theatre is scheduled to close, etc... visit this prior post about that topic-
http://www.inlandnwbusiness.com/2012/12/auto-vue-drive-in-by-colville-to-close.html

But the Auto Vue is not going down without a fight. The businesses owner , Steve Wisner, is turning to the Internet to see if he can raise the funds needed via a popular web site called gofundme.com.

So far support for the cause has been positive with over 2,000 dollars raised. However, the requirements to keep the Auto Vue in business past Labor Day are still a way's off. The theater is requesting $ 186,000.

But why $186,000 ? A lot of work will need to be done to keep the business open , including $82,000 to upgrade to a new digital projector. The new projector is a requirement because this year the film industry plans to stop distribution of movies on 35mm film, which is the size the current projector uses.

Also the screen itself will have to be replaced, at a cost of $94,000. The fundraising won't be easy but as Wisner points out on the Auto Vue's Gofundme.com campaign page they only need 4600 people donating $40 each.

If you don't have $40, that's OK too as the web site allows the visitor to enter their own donation amount. Many on the site have donated just $5.00 and of course more is welcome.

Also via the Auto Vue's Facebook page ( link to this page below ) the business is exploring the idea of a concert to assist in raising funds. Watch our Facebook page at ( www.facebook.com/inlandnorthwestbusinesswatch ) for a date and time for a concert should that plan progress.

To donate to keep the Auto Vue Drive In Theatre open visit-

http://www.gofundme.com/3nx3fs

For more info on the Auto Vue Drive In visit their Facebook page at-

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Auto-Vue-Drive-In-Theatre/120740527937813

Note: Inland Northwest Business Watch and / or the writer of this blog are affiliated with the Auto Vue Drive In Theatre . We are only attempting to assist in the effort to keep this locally owned and operated business open.

3 Downtown Bars ( The Blue Spark, Ugly Betties and the Marquee Lounge) all close.

The Bar and Club scene of Downtown Spokane is changing, and changing fast. Just in the last couple of weeks 3 bars have announced closures. 2 of the 3 however will return as new establishments , here is what's new....

After 40 years Mel's Nursery in North Spokane will close.

After 40 years in business , Mel's Nursery , will close it's doors for good this September. Mel's has been somewhat of a fixture in the Spokane area beginning as little more then a small fruit stand out front of a local drive in movie theater in the 1970's. Today Mel's is much larger with a sizable retail store and on site greenhouses.

Former Backroads bar, re opens as Rumrunners Bar & Grill in North Spokane

The Backroads Bar in North Spokane may have closed earlier this year ( February 2013) but like many commercial spaces around Spokane the space did not stay vacant long as today a new bar and restaurant is open and operating daily in the same space after taking over the buildings lease.

Opening shortly after the closure of the Backroads is the new Rumrunners Bar & Grill . Rumrunners is a new neighborhood style bar located at 2436 N. Astor, close by N. Ruby St. in North Spokane. The bar occupies the entire 3,000 square foot space and seats 69.

With 5 employees Rumrunners features a full bar as well a food menu with traditional bar fare such as burgers, sandwiches, fries ,etc...

For more info on the new Rumrunners Bar & Grill visit their Facebook page at-

https://www.facebook.com/rumrunnersspokane

Gem State Mint opens in Downtown Coeur d' Alene

If your a visitor to Coeur d' Alene or maybe a local that wants a new way to celebrate the beautiful State of Idaho. Then, look to Gem State Mint,  a new business now open in Downtown Coeur d' Alene. Gem State Mint's main stay merchandise is silver medallion's , most of which include designs of well known Idaho icons like wildlife, etc... with the Idaho name placed on the coin.

The silver coins are created by business owner / mint master Randy Kramer who also has an in store engraving machine so customers can see the processes required to create the small and unique medallion's .

Gem State Mint isn't just about the coins either, the store also sells locally produced painting and jewelry. The new business is located in the Coeur d' Alene Resort's Plaza Shops Shopping Mall at 210 E. Sherman Ave , the store occupies Suite 143, which was formerly Watches By Gosh a watch and timepiece retailer.

Gem State Mint is open daily from 9am till 7pm , for more info on the business visit their Facebook page at-

https://www.facebook.com/gemstatemint

Target confirms new Spokane store with official press release.

If you've been following our site for a while , or seen the mentions in other media outlets, then you probably already know that Target has confirmed it will open a new store in Spokane on the South Hill.

The new South Hill Target was confirmed back in April ( see this post for info on the new store, such as location ,etc... - http://www.inlandnwbusiness.com/2013/04/confirmed-target-to-open-store-on-south.html ) . And now thanks to Target's corporate offices in Minnapolis, Minn. we know more about what exactly is planned with the new store via a press release issued earlier this week.

Here are the details outlined by the Target official press release on the new South Hill Spokane Target:

Opening July 2014

Part of the Regal Plaza shopping center ( exact location in the post mentioned above)

Will have a grocery department , with produce , packaged meat and pre packaged baked goods.

Will have a in store Pharmacy

Will have a Starbucks Coffee Shop in store

The new store will employ about 200, Target will hold job fairs next year to hire the new workers or prospective employees can apply for jobs at the South Hill Target about 3 months before the stores opening via www.target.com/careers


To view the full press release click here-

http://pressroom.target.com/news/target-to-open-new-store-in-spokane-wash

To view the last post on Inland Northwest Business Watch about the new store click here-

http://www.inlandnwbusiness.com/2013/04/confirmed-target-to-open-store-on-south.html

What do you think about a new Target store opening on the largely residential / mid to upper class South Hill? Tell Inland Northwest Business Watch on-

www.facebook.com/inlandnorthwestbusinesswatch  or by using #inwbusiness on Facebook or Twitter

Hospice of Spokane building new facility in North Spokane

In an effort to better address the growing need for Hospice care in the Inland Northwest, Hospice of Spokane , is now in the process of building a new 2nd Hospice House care facility in North Spokane.

Construction on the new facility is underway and the building's opening is currently scheduled for April of 2014. This will be the second Hospice House for Spokane as Hospice of Spokane opened it's first facility back in 2007 on the south side of the city at 367 E. 7th Ave. That facility has continued to operate near full and at times with a waiting list which is the primary reason behind the new North Spokane facility.

The new North Spokane Hospice House will be located at 102 W. Rhodes Ave , by the corner of Rhodes and Atlantic St, just a couple of blocks off of N. Division.

The new building will be 13,000 square feet with 12 private bedrooms for patients as well common areas, gardens and a kitchen. Once completed the new building will carry an approximately 3.3 million dollar price tag.

Hospice of Spokane is a full service hospice serving the Spokane area since 1977 .  Hospice care is geared towards those who are terminally ill and addresses both the physical and emotional needs a patient and the patients family may come upon.

For more info on Hospice of Spokane visit their web site at-

www.hospiceofspokane.org

Carmax to open a new location in Spokane Valley

CarMax , a nationwide chain of used car dealerships , billed as the nation's largest auto dealer with over 120 dealership locations, is planning a new location Spokane Valley.

Grading and site work are already well underway and full construction should start in the near future for the new Spokane Valley CarMax that will be located nearby Dishman Dodge at 7814 E. Sprague Ave. . The new dealership will occupy an approximately 9 acre site and is currently scheduled to open during the spring of 2014.

The new Spokane Valley CarMax will be the companies first location in Washington State however the company admits to looking into opening in the Seattle market in the future. The new local facility will be 44,000 square feet and employ between 50 and 100 in various positions.

CarMax is a Richmond,Va. based company that was founded in 1993 by then executives of the Circuit City electronics chain. CarMax is a Fortune 500 company and has also been on Fortune Magazine's "best companies to work for" list's every year since 2005.

For more info on CarMax and once it get closer to opening , the new Spokane Valley location visit their web site at-

www.carmax.com

Coeur d' Alene Massage School moves to new home

Ever been curious about a career as a masseuse ? Massage continues to be a big business and as the local economy improves more new spa's and medical offices are opening up and looking to hire trained massage therapists.

And one local Coeur d' Alene business is getting those interested in the massage industry the training that they need. That business is the Coeur d' Alene Massage School and the school recently relocated to a new larger space in midtown Coeur d' Alene.

The Coeur d' Alene Massage School is now located on the 2nd floor of the professional building at 1625 N. 4th St just north of the middle of Midtown. Classes are current underway now and the next class group begins September 4th. The training is offered in a 625 hour program with classes in Swedish massage for new students and for more experienced students, classes in Eastern & Energetic Theory and Massage Sciences are also offered.

Coeur d' Alene Massage School also offers massages to the general public done by the school's students. For more info on this visit their web site which is listed at the end of this article.

Coeur d' Alene Massage School opened in Coeur d' Alene in 2010 and moved to Midtown from Riverstone. The school boasts small class sizes , affordable tuition and an emphasis on hands on training.

For more info on the Coeur d' Alene Massage School visit their web site at -

www.cdamassageschool.com

Or find them on Facebook at-

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Coeur-dAlene-Massage-School/169539706446861

Wallace District Mining Museum to be featured on Travel Channel TV show

The small town of Wallace, Idaho , about 45 min. east of Coeur d' Alene along I-90, is probably the last spot on earth you'd expect to run into a television film crew, but just a little over a month ago, you might have. That's because crew's from the Travel Channel we're in Wallace to film for an upcoming episode of the TV show , Mysteries at the Museum.

Mysteries at the Museum is an newer TV show for the Travel Channel where each episode goes to various museum's around the United States and looks into the history of a particular item of interest in that museum. In the case of Wallace that museum was the Wallace District Mining Museum, located at 509 Bank St. in Downtown Wallace.

The Wallace District Mining Museum is small storefront museum that takes a look at rich silver mining history of the town of Wallace and Silver Valley area. Also the museum highlights local history with such items as a stoplight, that was the only stoplight on I-90 when I-90 still came directly thru the middle of the small town.

While there is plenty in the mining museum to keep a history buff fascinated , the Mysteries at the Museum crew focused on the museum's original Pulaski firefighting tool. The tool was developed in the early 1900's by Ed Pulaski and was instrumental in helping save the town during the Great Fire of 1910.

The episode will also feature scenes from around the Wallace area to help build a back story on the tool. As of the time of this post an air date for the episode featuring the museum has not yet been announced but it is expected to air sometime in August. Keep watching this page for an air date...

The Wallace District Mining Museum was founded in 1956 and is still open today. The museum is open 10am till 5pm daily and admission prices are $3 adult, $1 children and $7 family. The museum also has a store that is open to the public that sells various Idaho souvenirs , local books and maps.

For more info on the Wallace District Mining Museum visit their web site at-

www.wallaceminingmuseum.org

Or find them on Facebook at-

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wallace-District-Mining-Museum/452714108150681

Gonzaga breaks ground on it's new University Center

Tonight , July 11th 2013 , Gonzaga University will hold a official ground breaking for one of the largest, and most talked about construction projects in the school's 125 years of existence. That new project is the construction of a new building to be called the University Center.

The Gonzaga University Center project has been in the works for sometime now. In fact, Inland Northwest Business Watch even mentioned the project back in April of 2012. At that time nothing was set in stone, but now it is and construction is scheduled to start in the very near future.

The University Center will replace another on campus structure called The COG . The COG was a student union type building that had been a part of the campus at Gonzaga since the mid 1950's. The COG has since been demolished to make way for the massive new University Center which will occupy to same site by the corner of DeSmet Ave. and Dakota St. directly on campus.

Student Dining , offices and some of the transplanted parking spaces that we're a part of The COG have been relocated to another new building that opened on campus only a few months ago called the BARC or Boone Ave. Retail Center. Those services will move back into the University Center once it is completed. Also the Zag Shop retail store has also set up shop at the BARC . However, The Zag Shop's move is to be permanent.

The University Center is currently scheduled to be completed by the Summer of 2015. The building will be massive with 3 floors and over 167,000 square feet of new space included. In all the new building is expected to cost around $60 Million.

Services / shops/ offices to be in the new University Center include....

Various student clubs and organizations

Gonzaga's Student Body Association

Dining services, restaurants and a pub

Retail space

University Ministry

Center for Community Action and Service Learning

Center for Experiential Leadership

Center for Global Engagement and global initiatives workspace for international students

Unity Multicultural Education Center

An 800-plus seat multipurpose gathering space

 Many lounge and common area's

Also , INBW has heard that the new building will have an on site Starbucks location as well as an Einstein Bros. Bagels eatery . This would be the first location for the Einstein Bros. Bagel chain in the Spokane market if and when it opens along with the University Center in 2015.

Photos and more info on the University Center at Gonzaga project are available from this web site-

http://www.gonzaga.edu/beinspired/universitycenter/

Gonzaga is also taking donations to go towards this project. Naming rights for the building and various portions of the building are available. Info on naming rights is also available at the link above.

Flavor Cafe opens in Spokane

Spokane chef Jamie Lombardi has branched out and opened a new café style restaurant in East Spokane's Tapio Office Center complex at 104 S. Freya St. nearby the intersection of Freya and E. Sprague Ave.

Lombardi , has worked in several restaurants around Spokane, including the 9th St. Bistro inside of Huckleberry's Natural Market on S. Monroe St. The new café opened in May and goes by the name Flavor Café. Flavor Café is easy to find located in Suite 109 of the Tapio Office Center.

Flavor Café features coffees from Roast House Coffee and has selection of breakfast items on the menu as well as sandwiches, soups and salads for the lunch crowd. Flavor Café also has space for groups up to 35 people with advanced notice.

Flavor Café is open Monday thru Friday 7am - 3pm . For more info visit their web site at-

www.flavorcafespokane.com

Or find them on Facebook at-

www.facebook.com/flavorcafe

Changes to the Montvale Hotel in Downtown Spokane

Most likely due in part to the struggles of the Montvale Hotel's former owner and former Spokane based developer Rob Brewster the small but classy Montvale Hotel in Downtown Spokane fell into chapter 11 bankruptcy in February of this year. However thru out the hotel's money struggles the property never closed it's doors and now to assure it doesn't a trustee with the Spokane law firm of Winston & Cashatt have transferred the hotel to a new management firm.

Hotel Market Solutions , also of Downtown Spokane, have assumed management responsibilities  of the boutique hotel and it has yet to be determined if the company will take over the property permanently. Hotel Market Solutions operates a few other lodging properties around the Greater Spokane area, including the Howard Johnson on the Division St. Hill.

Along with the management changes,  changes have also come to the hotel's 2 restaurants, which in turn also greatly affects the Downtown Spokane dining scene. Upon the takeover by the new management firm Catacombs Pub which had been located in basement of the hotel's building was closed due to licensing issues. The new firm however is seeking a new owner for the former Catacombs Pub space but as of this post no new owner's have re-opened the restaurant.

Also in the Montvale's building was Scout . A restaurant owned by hotel owner Rob Brewster. Scout was open upon the management firm's take over but went out of business shortly there after. At the current time a new restaurant operator is now being sought out for this space as well. Scout had been in space that was long time Downtown business , Far West Billiards . Far West closed a couple of years ago.

The Montvale Hotel continues to operate and despite  the legal battles the hotel shows no sign of closing. The Montvale is a 36 room boutique style hotel located at 1005 W. 1st Ave in Downtown Spokane. The hotel itself is a fully renovated 19th century hotel listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. It is also conveniently located within the Downtown Spokane theater district.

For more info on the Montvale Hotel visit their web site at-

http://www.montvalehotel.com/

Freedom RV undergoing expansion, recently opened second RV dealership

Freedom RV & Marine in Liberty Lake / Spokane Valley is continuing to grow, and grow rapidly. Freedom RV is located on a currently 5 acre site at 19605 E. Cataldo Ave in Liberty Lake ( by the I-90 Barker Rd. exit) . And to remain competitive and provide a positive customer service experience Freedom RV is undergoing a major expansion directly next door.

The dealer is adding a additional 4 more acres to the current site on land direct to the north. The new expansion will bring 7 new RV service bays , an additional acre of space for service department parking and even 6 on site outdoor camping sites. The new expansion area is expected to be done before the end of July.

Only a couple of months ago the owners of Freedom RV also opened a new second dealership called Spokane RV Liquidators . The RV liquidation dealership is located on the opposite side of I-90 from Freedom's main lot. The address of the new location is 19117 E. Broadway Ave in Spokane Valley. The new dealership site was last a manufactured housing sales center that had closed some time back.

For more info on Freedom RV in Liberty Lake visit-

www.freedomrvusa.com

For more info on Spokane RV Liquidators in Spokane Valley visit-

http://www.spokanervliquidators.com/

CONFIRMED- Harbor Freight Tools to open a store in Coeur d' Alene

Because we just confirmed it we haven't gotten all the details as of yet but Inland Northwest Business Watch has learned that Harbor Fright Tools will open a new store location in Coeur d' Alene . The new store location was confirmed by a post on the chain's Facebook page.

The new store will be located in the Mountain View Shopping Center at the corner of US 95 and Neider Rd. behind the Texas Roadhouse restaurant ( the plaza with Dollar Tree ). Work is being done on the store already however we don't have a opening date as of yet. We are also looking into the size of the new store and how many it will employ, we hope to have more on that soon and will update this post once we do.

Harbor Freight Tools is a national chain of hardware / tool stores that operates about 400 locations with each location selling around 7,000 different related products. The company was founded in 1977 and the headquarters is located in Calabasas, California. The Coeur d' Alene Harbor Freight is just one of many recent openings for the rapidly expanding company.

Locally Harbor Freight is already a well known store with 2 Spokane area locations. One in Spokane Valley at 15312 E. Sprague Ave Suite A and in Spokane at 6506 N. Nevada St. Suite 300.

For more info on Harbor Freight Tools visit their web site at-

www.harborfreight.com

Featured local business - All Bright Cleaning Services

Business Name: All Bright Cleaning Services

Address: 4925 E Handy Rd Colbert, WA 99005

Phone: (509) 238-2148

Web site: www.MyAllBrightCleaning.com & www.LetUsOrganizeIt.com

Social Media: www.facebook.com/myallbrightcleaning (FACEBOOK)

www.twitter.com/AllBrightClean (TWITTER)

Info about your business, anything you want people to know about you: 

If you are looking for a company that provides quality work, at an affordable rate, look no further! We pride our selves on going above and beyond what other cleaning services often overlook or miss.

We customize our services to fit your needs. Providing Janitorial, Housekeeping & services to accommodate the special events happening in your life. We also provide a discount for residential clients that are living on a fixed income.

First impressions are everything ! We want to provide you with one of the most important impressions you can leave with your friends, family, and clientele, cleanliness! All Bright Cleaning Services provides cleaning services for home owners / renters, local businesses, building contractors, and apartment communities. We provide you the services that you want, and leave out all of the things you don't. We will tailor our services to fit your needs. Serving the Spokane, King, and Snohomish counties.

 

Any special deals, etc...?

 

We have a very popular package right now called "The Quick & Clean" package. You get 2 hours of cleaning service 1x per week, and we are able to alternate services that you request, each visit! 

Appleway dealerships become Autonation

Appleway Chevrolet and the other Appleway automotive dealerships along E. Sprague Ave. in Spokane Valley are some of the most well known places to buy a vehicle in the Greater Spokane Area. But in case you haven't heard via a large marketing campaign , Appleway has transformed into Autonation and all former Appleway dealerships are now operating under the new Autonation name.

Appleway has actually been a part of the Autonation network for some time even though the company choose now to change the name, Autonation is a national automotive retailer headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida . The company operates a total of 263 dealerships around the nation. The affiliation with Autonation also allows dealerships better buying power and in some cases a lower price then competitors.

Little or no impact is expected other then the name change as all former Appleway dealerships remain open, no new locations are planned and no layoffs have been reported as of this time.

The new Autonation Spokane car dealerships are-

Autonation Chevrolet 8500 E. Sprague Ave. Spokane Valley

Autonation Scion  8600 E. Sprague Ave. Spokane Valley

Autonation Audi 10006 E. Sprague Ave. Spokane Valley

Autonation Mazda 10000 E. Sprague Ave. Spokane Valley

Autonation Subaru 10000 E. Sprague Ave. Spokane Valley

Autonation VW 10006 E. Sprague Ave. Spokane Valley

Autonation Toyota 8600 E. Sprague Ave. Spokane Valley

Autonation Mitsubishi 8400 E. Sprague Ave. Spokane Valley.

For more info on the new Autonation Spokane visit their web site at-

www.appleway.com

NoEpi Wellness Center opens at Northtown Mall , brings NuCalm to Spokane

A new business has opened in Northtown Mall that promotes reducing stress as well as overall wellness . That new business is called NoEpi Wellness Center and it's now open on the 1st floor of Northtown Mall ( 4750 N. Division St. , Spokane ) .

NoEpi Wellness Center's primary product is a system called NuCalm that is designed to interrupt stress at mid brain level. NuCalm is actually a 4 step process that involves the following steps, that we're provided to Inland Northwest Business Watch by NoEpi .


The 4 steps are as follows:

Step 1- Chew All Natural dietary supplements containing a proprietary formulation of amino acids. They will NOT counteract or interfere with any medications or dietary restrictions

Step 2-FDA Cleared micro-current stimulation to rapidly facilitate the relaxation process.

Step 3-Headphones with soothing music. Layered in the soothing music is proprietary neurocoustic software to facilitate deep relaxation

Step 4-Light blocking glasses to block visual stimuli.

 

The NuCalm system is said to promote better sleep and better health. Along with the stress relieving system NoEpi Wellness Center as offers a variety of Natural Supplements, heat packs , Imagery Cd's, Isagenix products, and much more.

 

NoEpi Wellness Center is already looking forward to future expansions and new locations. Also they plan to give 5% back each quarter to uninsured dental recipients and 5% back to charity of the center's choosing.

 

For more info on NoEpi Wellness Center and their new location now open at Northtown Mall visit their website at-

www.noepiwellnesscenter.com

Or find them on Facebook at-

https://www.facebook.com/noepiwellnesscenter

 

 

 

 

Inland Northwest Booze News - July 3rd 2013

So much is going on business wise with the Spokane / Coeur d' Alene area's beer / wine / spirit industry that the only way to keep up is the put it all in one post, so here it is, the first ( and hopefully not the last ) Inland Northwest Booze News.

Sante

Quite a while ago I asked the Inland Northwest Business Watch Facebook followers what their favorite local restaurant was, and one of the responses that came up more then once was Sante. So it only makes cents that this mid size restaurant in Downtown Spokane would expand and add to it's menu.

Sante plans to open a bar in the restaurant called Sante Lounge , the new lounge will feature occupy a presently unused portion of the space and will sell primarily locally sourced drinks. A deli counter for a new lunch pick up option is also planned. The new offerings at Sante are expected to be complete by mid - summer.

Sante is located at 404 W. Main St. in the Liberty Building which is also home to the well known Auntie's Bookstore.

Golden Hills / Orilson Brewing

Craft brewery Golden Hills Brewing Co. , which is based at 12921 W. 17th Ave. in Airway Heights has changed it's name and re branded as Orilson Brewing Company.

The company also plans to ramp up it's beer production and is looking for new locations to place their beers on tap. Although the name and some marketing changes have occurred the beers at Orilson will remain the same.

MarQuee Lounge

With a 5 year run as a Downtown Spokane nightclub has now closed. The club's owners site the ending of the businesses lease as a reason for the closure.

The Marquee Lounge was located at 522 W. Riverside Ave.

Idaho Pour Authority

Idaho Pour Authority officially opened in Downtown Sandpoint in the spring and has been getting noticed ever since. Idaho Pour Authority is a full service beer store of sorts. The business features beer on tap as well as growlers and growler filling.

But the tap is not the only business at Idaho Pour Authority as the business features a large retail beer selection with craft beers from around the local region to around the world.

Idaho Pour Authority is located in Downtown Sandpoint at 203 Cedar St.

Twilight Cider Works

Beer is everywhere in Spokane and Coeur d' Alene with new microbreweries popping up almost as fast as coffee drive ups these day's. But the hard cider scene in Spokane , while not non existent , is not near as big. So it's big news that a new cidery , called Twilight Cider Works , is now open at Green Bluff just north of Spokane.

The new hard cider business plans to sell it's cider's bottled at stores around the Inland Northwest but also features a new tasting room at Green Bluff, the tasting room is located at Twilight's facilities at 18102 N. Day Mt. Spokane Rd.

Geno's

As mentioned on the Inland Northwest Business Watch Facebook page, a large fire ripped thru the back end of the popular Gonzaga area restaurant and bar , Geno's.

The fire has closed the restaurant , but owners now say they hope to re-open in about 1 month.

Geno's is located at 1414 N. Hamiliton Ave. in Spokane.

Perry St. Brewing Co.

Perhaps the biggest news on this post is the official announcement of the new Perry St. Brewing Co. which is expected to open sometime this fall in Spokane's booming South Perry District.

The Perry St. Brewing Co. is opening a new building that is now under construction at the corner of S. Perry St. and 11th St. . The building and the brewery are relatively small, coming in with around 5,000 square feet , but are one of the most talked about new craft breweries opening in the area.

The brewery is owned by Ben and Christy Lukes and Ben once worked for the Missoula,Montana based Big Sky Brewing Co. .

The new building that Perry St. Brewing Co. will occupy also has some additional office space, that is currently still available and will not be used by the brewery. Completion of the building itself is planned for September.

Hopped Up Brewing Co.

Hopped Up Brewing Co. will soon be the newest microbrewery to open in Spokane. Well, actually Spokane Valley. Hopped Up Brewing is located in the former IHOP restaurant space at 10421 E. Sprague Ave.

The craft brewery features an on site tap room, according to the Washington Beer Blog , Hopped Up uses much of the same equipment that Northern Lights ( now No-Li Brewing Co. ) once used when they we're located in Airway Heights ( No-Li is now located nearby Downtown Spokane).

Hopped Up Brewing Co. will officially open to the public on June 12th.

Nu Home Brew & Bottles

Nu Home Brew & Bottles is a new retail beer store that will sell both bottles of beer and growlers.

As of last check Nu Home is remodeling their store space for a opening in the near future. Nu Home Brew & Bottles is located in Spokane Valley at 14109 E. Sprague Ave Suite 8.

The XP Bar & Grill

We know only a little of the plan for this new Spokane bar. However XP Bar & Grill is planned to be a gamer themed bar.

As of the time of this post we are working on getting info on this proposed bar.


Know of a new bar, brewery, winery, etc... opening,closing or expanding in the Spokane and Coeur d' Alene area? We want to know, e-mail us anytime at inlandbusiness@yahoo.com

INBW is looking for local businesses to feature on our homepage.

Over the last almost 2 years since I founded Inland Northwest Business Watch, I've wrote several features on local business in the Spokane and Coeur d' Alene area. But I want more, the Inland Northwest is great place for local businesses and I want to help yours. If you own a business in the area simply fill in this new form below and e-mail it back to inlandbusiness@yahoo.com

I can't promise I will be able to get all businesses that e-mail me on the site but I will do my absolute best! I do ask too that if I post your info that you share the post on your businesses social media pages. But that is all and it's 100% free and your info will not be sold.


Business Name:

Address:

Phone:

Web site:

Social Media:

Info about your business, anything you want people to know about you:

Any special deals, etc...? (Optional)



Note: New businesses get top priority, if your business is new I encourage you to mention this in the profile.

E-mail to-

inlandbusiness@yahoo.com

Spokane Valley icon, Halpin's Pharmacy & Treasure Room to close.

In business since then 1940's and locally owned & operated the entire time , Halpin's Pharmacy & Treasure Room has announced it will go out of business before the end of this Summer. The store which is located at 11406 E. Sprague Ave in Spokane Valley, by the intersection of Sprague and Bowdish ,opened it's doors at the current location back in 1949 and will now close those same doors sometime in August.

Halpin's owners have already started to sell off the remaining merchandise and the pharmacy portion of the business has already closed after Rite Aid approached Halpin's to take over the pharmacy's customers. The store will remain open until August with it's selection of gifts and other general merchandise items.

The store had employed 22 but due to the relocation of the pharmacy the store now only employs about 10, all of which will be laid off. No word as to what business make take over the space later this year once Halpin's leaves but the building owner is said to be looking for new tenants.

Halpin's officially opened in 1940 and is one of the last remaining independent local pharmacies in Spokane area.

For more info on Halpin's Pharmacy & Treasure Room , including hours and contact info visit their web site at-

https://stores.healthmart.com/halpinspharmacy/

Tree of Life Organic Deli & Bakery opening in Post Falls

Due to it's highly visible location along I-90 just before the Hwy 41 ( Exit 7 ) exit in Post Falls chances are you've probably noticed this new business. But what Tree of Life Organic Bakery & Deli is , is sure to get it a lot of attention itself. Tree of Life is an all organic cafe , set to open sometime around July 7th. All menu items at the new eatery are to organic with no GMO ingredients.

Tree of Life will feature a wide menu that includes burgers, hot and cold sandwiches , salads , soups , desserts and even breakfast items. An keeping true to remaining organic ,even the beverage menu is organic with soda's from Blue Sky Soda ,lemonade , tea , drip coffee, etc.

Side dishes are also health conscious with kale chips and steamed vegetables joining the traditional regular potato chips on the menu. A small dessert menu is also available the features an organic cheesecake.

Tree of Life Organic Bakery & Deli is located at 565 Vest St. in Post Falls , 1 block north of Seltice Way and directly across the street from the former Hot Rod Cafe. The cafe is the first new tenant it was last the Post Falls branch of Horizon Credit Union.

For more info on Tree of Life visit their web site at-

www.tolorganics.com

Or find them on Facebook at-

https://www.facebook.com/Tolorganics

Changes coming for a few area manufacturing plants.

Major factory expansions and a factory that's planning a move are among the biggest news from the manufacturing sector in the area right now, here is the latest....

Outotec

In late 2011 Outotec acquired the Coeur d' Alene based Energy Products of Idaho and now Outotec finds itself investing in Coeur d' Alene once again with a major expansion by adding a new manufacturing / fabrication facility .

The company, which does business locally as Outotec Energy Products will build the new facility by it's current operations in the Coeur d' Alene Industial Park off of Atlas Rd in the northwestern section of the city.

No notice as too how many people the new expansion will employ but Outotec does plan on hiring additional staff. Currently the company employs around 70 locally. The company builds products used for the renewable energy field.

Romney Motion

Romney Motion , a contract manufacturing that designs, tools and creates metal parts and molds for other manufacturing companies, is on the move. Romney Motion has operated on Wellesley in Otis Orchards from some time and will move to a new factory, in Post Falls.

Romney Motion expects to make the move in August after purchasing an existing building at 1111 N. Innovation Way in Post Falls' Expo development on the cities far west side.

No immediate hiring of additional employees is expected but could happen in the near future.

Spokane Industries

Spokane Industries , a castings and metal fabricated product manufacturer , has expanded into formerly vacant space next to the companies large facilities at the Spokane Business & Industrial Park in Spokane Valley ( 3808 N Sullivan Rd ).

The company now occupies about 250,000 square feet in 3 separate buildings at the Industrial Park. Spokane Industries is said to employ about 300 total and growing.

Ground Force / Underground Force

Construction is expected in the next few months on another expansion at the Underground Force side of the large Post Falls based company that manufactures heavy equipment from the mining industry.

Two new buildings are planned to be built, the first of which will be a new 8,200 square foot building to house the companies corporate offices, work on that building is expected to be first. And the second building will be a new 45,000 manufacturing facility to be built directly next door to the current Underground Force building at 6001 E. Seltice Way in between Post Falls and Coeur d' Alene.

With the new expansion the company says they will hire 100+ new employees.



Know of another local manufacturing facility expanding ,moving or maybe even closing. We want to know, e-mail inlandbusiness@yahoo.com

Big changes for Launchpad INW

Big things are happening at Launchpad INW ,for those who may not be familiar with Launchpad INW, The business/ web site is a Spokane based operation that was Spokane's first online professional business networking community. At one time Launchpad INW operated a website , a co working space and even had a special segment on KHQ's Invest Northwest TV show called Launch Spokane.

But overtime the site and business have gone somewhat by the wayside. Both of the owners of the site have moved on to other employment with large local firm's. But a recent e-mail to members has uncovered a new plan for Launchpad INW.

Last Friday was the last day online for the former web site and now, with thanks too local web site developer Zipline Interactive, the website will re launch as an online local news source for " innovation , leadership and entrepreneurship " . The site will use the wordpress blogging format.

The new site is set to be live now and will also include a weekly e-mail newsletter called Launchpad News.

For more info on Launchpad INW visit their web site at-

www.launchpadinw.com

Note: Although our formats and goals are now similar, Inland Northwest Business Watch is in no way affiliated with Launchpad. We at INBW are not here to compete only to inform the Spokane area on local business happenings.

Construction at former Burgan's Furniture building to begin soon.

After 5 years of waiting for a more prime local economy, and planning out the best uses, Spokane businessman Gerald Dicker is ready. Ready to begin construction on a massive remodel of the former Burgan's Furniture store and warehouse on Division St just blocks north of Downtown Spokane.

Dicker, who is well known in the Spokane business community due to other developments acquired the large vacant building in 2008 and at one time even considered moving forward with a plan for a large hotel on the site. Plans for the hotel have since gone by the wayside. No doubt in part due to Walt Worthy's massive hotel tower project proposed for the parking lot across from the INB Performing Arts Center nearby.

Construction work at the former furniture store site is expected to begin within 2 months and cost between 9 and 12 million dollars to complete. A tentative completion date is set for the Summer of 2014.

The remodeling project will transform the building into 46 1 bedroom apartment units in the upper floors and a ground floor commercial area with 2 restaurant spaces and another space for a retail tenant. Also the project will have a conference area, meeting rooms and a fitness center. The apartments will be geared towards and extended stay for corporate and other's who may be around to long for a hotel but not long enough for a full residence.

The project is located along N. Division in between Division and Ruby and just south of Boone Ave. The project is actually made up of 2 buildings that we're both once used by Burgan's Furniture, a skyway will connect the 2 buildings and the remainder of the block will be filled by parking for the site.