Habit Burger Grill planning a location near Airway Heights

 Perhaps the third time will be a charm for the Habit Burger Grill chain's attempt at opening a location in the Spokane area. The chain has filed applications and backed out of two vacant lots on N. Division in recent years, one became a Maverik gas station and the other remains vacant. But now the California based chain of quick service restaurants has their sights set on a lot along US 2 near the Spokane and Airway Heights border.

Habit Burger representatives filed earlier this month for a pre-development application to construct a new stand-alone restaurant at 9558 W. US 2 , at the corner of US 2 and Lucas Dr. southeast of the North 40 Outfitters store and due west of the Circle K gas station. Plans call for the new restaurant to be a new construction 2,257 square foot building with 500 square foot outdoor patio area and a drive thru lane. The project is estimated to be have a cost of $900,000.

We reached out to Habit Burger Grill and we're told by someone working with their corporate PR that this new location is currently planned to open around the latter half of Q2 in 2025. But it's too early in the process to know exact logistics of construction and opening dates. Habit Burger & Grill is based in Irvine,CA and is operated as part of the Yum! Brands conglomerate. Their menu consists of chargrilled burgers, sandwiches, salads, kids meals and more. The company operates over 370 restaurants in 4 different countries. 

While this will be the first Habit Burger & Grill in the Spokane & Coeur d' Alene area, the chain already does have locations as close as the Tri-Cities and Yakima. For more information and a look at their menu visit https://www.habitburger.com

Chicken restaurant, Starbird secures franchise agreement allowing expansion into Spokane

 Another chain of quick service of chicken restaurants is likely on its way to Spokane in 2025. California based Starbird, which claims to be one of the nation's first super premium fast food concepts recently announced the securing of their second-ever franchise agreement to expand the brand into Washington State.

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The agreement was secured with Medford,OR based Mehta Investment Group with plans to open 17 total locations in Washington. 15 of these locations are planned in Western Washington but the press release issued by the company confirms two of the new Starbird restaurant's locations will be in the Spokane area. We reached out to a representative of the company, and we're told Starbird and Mehta are currently looking at sites and hope to have some open as soon as the end of 2025.

Starbird is a chef backed quick service restaurant, having been founded in 2016 through the collaboration of Aaron Noveshen and The Culinary Edge. The restaurant uses antibiotic-free chicken and hand breads it in a secret blend of gluten-free flour and spices. The menu features chicken sandwiches, tenders, wings, salads and more.

For more information on Starbird Chicken, visit their website at http://starbirdchicken.com

Liberty Sips Coffee & Soda now open in Liberty Lake

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Liberty Sips, a new locally owned and operated coffee and soda shop is now open for business. Located at 19311 E. Appleway nearby the Spokane Valley / Liberty Lake border is a drive thru with all the coffee and espresso drinks one would expect from a coffee drive up but there's even more here.

Liberty Sips also offers Lotus energy drinks, smoothies, Italian sodas and what has become known as dirty soda's coke branded soda's mixed with a variety of flavors. The new business also offers a small food menu with hand pies, egg bites, breakfast burritos, bagels, cake pops and cookies. Many gluten free offerings are also available.

As of my writing this Liberty Sips is open Mon-Sat. 5:30am - 5:30pm and 7am- 5pm on Sunday. For a look at their menu, visit their website at http://libertysips.net and give them a follow on social media via https://www.instagram.com/libertysips/

Pinot's Palette and new wine bar joining Sprague Union District

 Spokane's Pinot's Palette paint and sip franchise is expanding and will soon relocate to a new home, leaving Downtown Spokane. But they aren't going very far and will be located in a space that the business owner says is much larger than their current home. 

Pinot's Palette , along with a new wine bar called 1919 Wine Cellar will open after some remodeling in the historic building at 1919 E. Sprague Ave. in the Sprague Union District. The building, which is a little over 5,500 square feet was formerly used as a retail store called Blue Cat Vintage. I'm told the new businesses are tentatively planned to open in the Spring of 2025.

The Paint and sip business will occupy the back portion of the building with a new spacious main classroom. The space will also have two private party rooms, one larger and one smaller available to groups of various sizes. 1919 Wine Cellar will occupy the front portion of the building and will be owned and operated by the same local owner as Pinot's Pallette.

The same owner also operates a second Pinot's Palette in Coeur d' Alene at 728 N. 4th, that location will stay open in its current location. The Spokane Pinot's Palette will also still remain open until the move at their current location at 319 W. Sprague Ave. in Downtown Spokane. For more information on Pinot's Palette Spokane and to book an upcoming class visit their website at https://www.pinotspalette.com/spokane

The Supper Club opening new location in Nine Mile Falls

Busy holiday season and don't have extra time to cook? Just love good food? If so, same here and this little piece of news is for you! Locally owned and operated meal service, The Supper Club is expanding and adding a new location for meal pickups and more. The new location is going into the building at 10013 W. Charles Rd, across from the elementary school in Nine Mile Falls. This will be the second location for the business as they also plan to keep their main location on Northwest Blvd in Spokane open as well.

The Supper Club will do some minor construction to the new space in January with hopes of hosting a grand opening celebration in or about February. In addition to being able to pick up meals (delivery is also available) from the new location they also plan to be able to host events and even classes there. 

For more information about The Supper Club, visit their website at https://letmarthamakeit.com

3D/4D elective ultrasound studio opens in Spokane Valley.

 The Spokane area's first licensed sonographer owned and operated 3D/4D elective ultrasound studio opened recently in Spokane Valley. The new business is called 4D Weeks and is located at 303 S. University Rd. within a wellness center that also offers massage therapy, brows and Botox, mental health counseling, and a financial advisor.

Courtesy photo taken in the 4D Weeks studio.

With six years of experience, local business owner and sonographer April Kelly decided to follow her dream of opening her own studio, opening 4D Weeks in September. The business offers pregnancy confirmations, gender determination as early as 14 weeks, and the ability to see the baby in amazing 3D/4D technology. 

For more information on 4D Weeks, visit their website at https://4dweeks.com

Squad 9 now open in Post Falls

 Squad 9, a new locally owned and operated indoor sports facility and gym officially opened earlier this month in Post Falls. The new facility is located at 726 N Creative Way, just south of Seltice Way on the city's west side. 

The new business features sport specific clinics, homeschooling fitness, classes such as yoga, kid fit, stretching and even facility rental on the terf for teams, personal training, birthday parties, etc. For more information on Squad 9, give them a follow on social media via Instagram or Facebook

New grocery & liquor store coming to a building on the South Hill

 A new grocery & liquor store combo is planned to take over the former home of Owens Auction Gallery on the South Hill. Located at the corner of 17th & Ray (3204 E. 17th Ave.) the 14,625 square foot building will be remodeled and turned into a new store called South Hill Grocery & Liquor. The project is being planned by GS Bains who also operates a few convivence stores in the area.

The new South Hill Grocery & Liquor however will have a full grocery store set up with a wide selection of items one would typically find in a grocery store. Meats and produce will likely even be added a later date after the initial opening. The new store is estimated to be planned to open in the late spring of 2025, after a remodel of the building is completed.

According to building permit date on file with the City of Spokane the remodel will cost an estimated $100,000, no general contractor is shown as of the permit filing, however architectural work is being done by Russell Page Architects. After opening the local owners plan to add a gas station, laundromat and some type of restaurant at the South Hill Grocery & Liquor store site as well.

Changes coming to Franklin Park Shopping Center in North Spokane

 The changes continue at the Franklin Park Shopping Center, located in the 5000 block of N. Division in Spokane. The development, which has been a part of the community for decades is home to major national retailers like Ulta Beauty, Trader Joe's, Guitar Center and others. But it's owners New York based Kimco Realty Corp. are investing in changes and bringing in a couple of new tenants.

A few weeks it was announced that a new Boot Barn and a Bath & Body Works would join the in-line space there. Taking up a portion of the strip that was vacated by the recent closure of the Bed, Bath & Beyond store. But now a new change is also on the table as the current Burlington store is planned to move from their own stand-alone building nearby into the remaining 22,800 square feet of space that was formerly the Bed, Bath & Beyond store. Powell Construction of Bellevue will be the general contractor for the new Burlington store with design work done by MCG Architecture of Cleveland,OH.

We're also getting a peek at the plans for the soon to be vacated Burington Store as pre-development plans we're recently filed the City of Spokane to convert the 141,666 square foot structure at 5830 N. Division into a large self-storage development. The new storage facility isn't permitted yet and won't be able to be built out until the new smaller Burlington store opens but currently the plans call for adding a 1,000 square foot office on the north side of the building. Then building out 926 storage units of various sizes on both the first and second floors. No business name or contractor is included in the plans however design work for the project is being done by Seattle based Jackson Main Architecture.

New commercial project developing in Hayden's City Center

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 A new strip mall style building is now under construction on the northwest side of the intersection of N. Government Way and Hayden Ave. in the growing city of Hayden,ID. The new building is a 10,382 square foot building bringing upwards of six new businesses with many types of businesses possible from restaurants to retail to offices,etc.

The development is planned to be completed in the Spring of 2025 with no tenants able to be announced just yet. However, I'm told there has already been offers and a lot of interest in opening a business in the development. Leasing is actively underway with more information available from Mary Kienbaum (208-770-2589) with Kimele Hagood or Chad Burd,SIOR (208-770-2597) also with Kimele Hagood.

Bakery with French inspired pastries & chocolates coming to Hayden.

 Work is underway to for a new local business called B. Boulangerie to come to a storefront in Hayden. This would be the first brick and mortar location for what was previously "cottage bakery" doing custom orders. B. Boulangerie makes and sells French inspired pastries & chocolates and is currently planned to open at 8214 N. Government Way sometime in January.

Courtesy photo of the new home of B. Boulangerie

The bakery's new location will be a retail grab n' go type establishment with just a very small seating area. Among the offerings will be croissants, Danishes, macarons, handmade chocolates, cinnamon rolls, napoleons and tiramisu. The business owners have been in the food industry since 2010 with one of the one of the owners having gone to pastry school and the other to culinary school. Both have worked in numerous restaurants from Colorado Springs to Manhattan and then back to North Idaho. Opening this bakery has been a dream of theirs for some time. 

For more information on B. Boulangerie follow them on social media via Facebook or Instagram

Uncle Rusty's Diner relocating to North Spokane

 Locally owned and operated, Uncle Rusty's Diner is moving from their current location on the western edge of Downtown Spokane to a new place in North Spokane. And, with the move they plan to expand the menu to include to dinner as well their current breakfast and lunch items. Exact menu details are still being worked out, however.

The new Uncle Rusty's Diner will be located within the former home of Spikes at 718 E. Francis Ave. . As of now there isn't a set opening date as they will need to do some work to prepare for the new restaurant. For more information on Uncle Rusty's Diner, including to place an order online visit their website at https://www.unclerustysdiner.com/

New Syrian restaurant coming to Spokane Valley

A new restaurant is in the works in Spokane Valley bringing an underrepresented type of cuisine to the area. Construction and planning are underway to open Arabian Palace a new restaurant from local owner Abdulkareem that will feature Syrian dishes.

Arabian Palace will be located in a storefront at 4902 E. Sprague Ave , a couple of blocks west of the Spokane Valley Costco store. We reached out to the owner but have not heard back as of my writing this for more details on the new business or an opening date. What we do know is that the business owner has been one of several chefs that occasionally cooks his delicious Syrian dishes at the Feast World Kitchen in Downtown Spokane.

Currently Arabian Palace doesn't appear to have a website or social media pages set up but follow Inland Northwest Business Watch's socials as we hope to share more as they progress towards opening.

New strip mall planned on Cecil Rd. in Post Falls

Planning and pre-leasing is underway for a new strip mall style commercial building coming soon to 910 N. Cecil Rd., just north of Mullan Ave. (corner of Cecil and Quad Park Ct.). The building will be slightly over 10,600 square feet, with spaces delivered in a "vanilla shell" for up to five different tenants.

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No tenants are signed on to open here as of yet with it still early in the development process. But, like most commercial projects currently in the Inland Northwest there is already interest. I'm told the building is likely at least 12 months away from completion.

For information on leasing space in this new development, contact Craig Hunter with Kiemle Hagood's CCIM Team via http://ccimteam.com