New dough shop opens in Coeur d' Alene

 

Courtesy photos- Blackbird Digital

Quirky Dough is now open and isn't just a new business in Coeur d' Alene, it's a whole new type of business for the area and certainly something those with a sweet tooth will likely want to check out. Quirky Dough is Coeur d' Alene's first dough shop making creations with cookie dough. The shop is located at 2946 N. Government Way, just north of the UPS Store.

The business is locally owned and operated and allows customers to create a custom creation of their pleasing. One starts with choosing from numerous flavors of cookie dough, the cookie doughs are all egg free making them edible and safe. Then you can add scoops of ice cream and/or toppings. The owner tells me they plan to have 6 staple dough flavors, 6 rotating/seasonal flavors and 3 vegan flavors that will eventually be vegan / gluten friendly (they are currently still perfecting the recipe for this blend).

Because the cookie doughs at Quirky Dough do not contain eggs they cannot be cooked into cookies but are instead enjoyed out of a bowl, with waffle/bubble cones also coming soon. It's all like licking the dough off the mixer when you we're little only safe and with more dough and customization. The perfect way to "treat yo' self". For more information on Quirky Dough give them a follow-on social media via Instagram or Facebook

New paint your own pottery studio opens in Hayden

 

Art & Fire is a new paint your own pottery studio that's now open at 8160 N. Cornerstone Dr. Suite D in Hayden, next to Jimmy John's and a bit south of the Hayden Wal Mart. The new locally owned and operated business is great for all occasions and ages and offers hundreds of pre-made pieces of pottery ready to be painted in your own style. Also, just in time for the Holiday season they have some ornaments and seasonal items ready to be painted. Gift certificates are also available, making a great gift.

At the time of writing this, the business is open Wed - Sat. 10-6, and Sundays 11-5, but consult the business directly as hours are always subject to change. Art & Fire can also accommodate larger groups as long as prior notice is given to the studio. They are also able to make to-go bags for customers who would rather paint in the comfort of their own home.

They also plan to incorporate classes and events in the future. For more information on Art & Fire visit their website at https://artandfirepotterystudio.com/ , links to their social media sites are at the bottom of their website.

PNW Espressgo to open new cafe along Mirabeau Pkwy in Spokane Valley

 

PNW Espressgo has been a locally owned and operated food truck serving delicious espresso beverages at many events throughout the Inland Northwest. But the business is growing and will soon open their first brick and mortar location at 12709 E. Mirabeau Pkwy, Building B Suite 50 in Spokane Valley. The space is within the Pinecroft Business Park, nearby Mirabeau Park and was previously a location of Graze Craze.

The owners and their staff are currently hard at work getting the new space ready for their new coffee shop and indicated recently they will announce and official grand opening on their social media pages soon. In addition to the menu of coffee, espresso and energy drinks the new PNW Espressgo will also have some food items such as breakfast burritos, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and pretzel and bagel dogs from Seattle's Favorite.

PNW Espressgo says they also plan to keep their food truck visiting many area events and will likely add some of the food items to the truck's menu in the future as well. For more information on PNW Espressgo, including to watch for their new cafe's opening date follow them on social media via Facebook or Instagram

New bookstore to open in Liberty Lake

 

People say all Liberty Lake ever gets are new banks, dentist offices and other less exciting new businesses. While the argument can be made that it's still good growth, I think one new business coming soon to Liberty Lake will excite the many of the area's residents. That's because work is underway to open Paragraphs & Pages a brand new locally owned and operated bookstore.

Paragraphs & Pages is planned to join the NoLL development and will be located in the currently under construction mixed use building there. The new businesses address will be 21801 E. Indiana Ave. Suite C . The owners say it will be a traditional bookstore but will have a cozy seating area in the back surrounded by books and a faux fireplace. In addition to books Paragraphs & Pages will also carry some sideline items like candles, stickers, bookmarks, bags and the like. 

Currently there isn't an opening date for Paragraphs & Pages but they do hope to open sometime in early 2026. Once open they also plan to host author events, book clubs and other events. To keep track of their opening progress be sure to give them a follow-on social media via Facebook or Instagram and website is also currently a work in progress at https://paragraphsandpages.com/

Cup of Chaos opening soon on the South Hill

Courtesy photo of 2910 E. 29th Ave., the new home of Cup of Chaos.

 Not very long ago the coffee shop, Dane Joe Espresso on E. 27th in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood came under new ownership. And, after a bit of operating the business largely as is they have decided to make a big but exciting change, while still continuing to offer the South Hill neighborhood a delicious locally owned coffee and espresso offering.

Dane Joe is now officially closed but they will move to a stand-alone building at 2910 E. 29th, that was previously the South Hill location of the Bijou bar. They will be opening there under a new name, now being called Cup of Chaos. The new location will serve much of the same beverage offerings and some limited food offerings. However, Cup of Chaos will also allow the business to serve through the buildings existing drive thru.

But, if you're looking to take a moment to enjoy your coffee, Cup of Chaos will also offer some indoor seating as well. Work is already underway to prepare Cup of Chaos for opening day, which they will likely announce soon on their new social media pages. Give them a follow-on Instagram via https://www.instagram.com/cupofchaos_spokane/

Opening date set for new North 40 Outfitters in Mead

 North 40 Outfitters is now just days away from opening their newest store in Mead. The new 113,000 square foot store located at 14411 N. Newport Hwy. is scheduled to open on Wednesday, October 22nd, at 7:00am and replaces the smaller older North 40 Outfitters store nearby at 15228 N. Newport Hwy.

The company indicates in a press release that the new location is a significant milestone in North 40's commitment to serving farm, ranch, and outdoor communities of the Inland Northwest. The new location is also strategically located by the terminus of the new US 395/ North-South Freeway which is scheduled for completion in 2030. The new North 40 Outfitters store will serve as an anchor for a regional destination shopping center with a new 7/11 store also under construction on a pad site at the center and more to be announced in the coming months.

The new North 40 Outfitters store will feature:

-A spacious garden center with plants from local and regional nursery's

-A dedicated fly shop and an indoor archery lane, designed to serve outdoor enthusiasts year-round.

-West Slope Coffee, a coffee bar location inside the fly shop, serving up craft coffee from Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters from Ponderay,ID.

-A broader selection of outdoor power equipment and power tools from leading brands like Milwaukee, Dewalt, Stihl, Husqvarna, and Black Diamond. 

-Expanded apparel and footwear department with new brands and expanded seasonal selections for men, women and kids.

“This new location is more than just a larger store. It represents our ongoing commitment to the communities of Eastern Washington and North Idaho,” said Denise Schnider, Marketing Director for North 40 Outfitters. 

“We’ve designed this space to elevate the customer experience while honoring the lifestyle and values of the people who live here. With expanded product lines and a spacious, welcoming environment, the new store reflects our deep connection to the land, to craftsmanship, and to the outdoors — all while creating new opportunities for growth and community in Mead.” For more information on North 40 Outfitters, visit their website at https://north40.com

Five Below announces grand opening date for new store in Spokane Valley

If you haven't heard already, national discount retailer Five Below is coming to Spokane Valley. The new location is the only store planned in the Spokane market as of yet but will be one of a handful of stores coming to greater Northwest that will all opening at the same time. The new Spokane Valley Five Below store will also join new locations in Puyallup, Federal Way, Everett, Union Gap, Richland, Lynnwood,WA and Beaverton,OR with an official grand opening on Saturday, November 8th and doors opening the day before on Friday, November 7th at 10am. The grand opening celebrations will include free giveaways, exclusive product deals, games with prizes and exciting surprises for the whole family. Plus, the first 100 customers visiting the store on Saturday will receive a free $10 gift card.

Five Below is a Philadelphia, PA based company with a unique retail concept. Their stores offer sections like candy and snacks, beauty and style, toys and games, tech, home decor and much more. Most items are priced between $1 and $5 (hence the name Five Below) with some "extreme value" finds priced beyond $5. In addition to in store shopping, Five Below also offers flexible shopping options such as "buy online, pick up in store". Five Below was founded in 2002 and today has over 1,850 stores in 44 states and still growing.

For more information on Five Below, visit their website at http://fivebelow.com

New Domino's Pizza location coming soon to Mt. Spokane area

 

Regional Domino's Pizza franchise owner Pacific Pie,Inc. is working on a new location coming soon to the Mead / Mt. Spokane area. After renovations are complete Domino's Pizza will take over the former Your Mom's Soda Shop storefront at 14017 N. Newport Hwy Suite A in the Mt. Spokane Village shopping center. 

There isn't a set opening date for this new restaurant just yet as we're just told it hit a few delays and should be open before the end of the year. Domino's Pizza of course has numerous locations already around the Inland Northwest with the closest one to this site being over 4 miles away on N. Division. Work on the new location is being done by Spokane based Design Pro Construction, LLC. 

Indigenous Chic opening soon on River Park Square

 

The owners of Indigenous Eats have grown their small locally owned restaurant to two locations with numerous awards for their delicious menu of contemporary Native American comfort foods. But now they are branching out and investing in Spokane with another new business. 

A recent post by the business on social media announced that co-owner Jenny Slagle is expanding her vision for celebrating Native culture and creativity with the opening of Indigenous Chic. The new business will be a retail store in River Park Square in Downtown Spokane on the second floor of the mall where Made in Washington was previously located. Indigenous Chic will be a Native owned boutique with a selection of clothing, jewelry, accessories, and home decor made Indigenous artists and makers.

Work has already started to get the new store space ready, and they plan to open the store on November 1st. For more information on Indigenous Chic visit their website at https://www.indigenouschic.shop/ and give them a follow-on social media via Facebook or Instagram

New pad sites come available at a Trader Joe's anchored development

 

In the market for land to build your business in Spokane? Or just want a site to watch for new businesses coming to Spokane? One of the most prime spaces has just opened up as the owners of the parcel around the former Burlington store in the 5800 block of N. Division have divided portions of the parking lot into 3 three new pad sites. The sites are directly on N. Division and the parking area is connected with the Franklin Park Shopping Center that is home to Trader Joe's and a few other in-demand retailers.

The former two-story Burlington store will soon be redeveloped as a new Extra Space storage facility. Additionally, the former Rite Aid store on the site has re-opened as a CVS Pharmacy store. Spokane based Hawkins Edwards is marketing the space and says they have already had interest since opening them up. They are offering three separate pad sites for various types of businesses, but the site bodes well for restaurants and other drive through business with good visibility from the 41,000+ vehicles passing the site daily on Division.

The pad sites are being offered available for ground lease or build to suit, with more information on pricing and availability directly from Hawkins Edwards via Kevin Edwards 509-939-8828 or k.edwards@me.com or Ben Hawkins 509-951-1848 or bhawkins@me.com

What would you like to see open at these new pad sites?

Twigs Bistro & Martini Bar to open in Downtown Coeur d' Alene

 

The local favorite, Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar is coming over the Idaho border with a new location coming soon to Downtown Coeur d' Alene. The Spokane based restaurant is a small chain of seven locations with the new Coeur d' Alene store becoming their eighth.

Twigs Bistro and Martini bar offers a full bar including their famous craft cocktails and delicious menu of entrees, handhelds, pizzas and more with vegan and gluten free options also available. The new Coeur d' Alene Twigs will be smaller than their current locations but will offer both indoor and outdoor dining and will be located on the ground floor commercial space of the new Thomas George high rise building at the corner of 3nd and Front. The plan calls for the new restaurant to open in either late 2025 or early 2026.

Courtesy photo- Hayden Anderl

The Thomas George Building remains under construction but is already 85% sold out with only 9 condo units remaining for sale in the development. Once completed the Thomas George will be an 18-story building with 60 residential condos of varying floor plans. Another commercial space is also available on the ground floor but it's too early to confirm any other tenants at this point. 

For more information on sales at the new Thomas George Building, contact Hayden Anderl at 208-964-0234 , email hayden@cbinw.com or visit https://www.thomasgeorgecda.com/ And, for more information on Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar, visit their website at http://twigsbistro.com

Several new businesses now open at River Park Square

Downtown Spokane's River Park Square shopping center is alive and well with a few new places joining the center's roster recently. First of all, relocating from across the street in the Cresent Court building to a new larger store space is the fitness and active wear chain, lululemon.

The new River Park Square lululemon is located on the ground floor of the mall and opened on October 1st with a ribbon cutting celebration. "We are thrilled to welcome lululemon to River Park Square" said Rita Koefod, senior director of marketing for River Park Square. "The new store is beautiful and the brand fits perfectly with our always evolving mix of retail, dining and lifestyle experiences. Their team is passionate about forming local connections and hosting unique events, so we look forward to many partnership opportunities as we head into the busy holiday season"

In addition to lululemon, Gene Juarez Salon & Spa has recently opened their first ever location in Eastern Washington at River Park Square...

For decades, Gene Juarez Salon & Spa has been a destination for guests in Seattle and Bellevue, many of whom would travel long distances for advanced hair, skin and spa services. The new River Park Square Gene Juarez location is in a 4200 square foot space, also on the ground floor of the mall. It features 16 styling stations, two private spa treatment rooms, and a curated boutique of professional products. 

Additionally, a few other stores have also joined the mall recently including:

Trailbreaker Cider offering handcrafted locally produced ciders.

Simple Wildflower a women's clothing boutique that also features a permanent jewelry bar.

Cellaxs Professional phone and tablet repair.

Peak Sneaks sneakers and accessories.

For more information on River Park Square, including leasing information just in time for the holiday season, visit their website at https://www.riverparksquare.com/

Club Pilates opening new studio in Post Falls

 

Courtesy photo of the location of the new Club Pilates Post Falls.

Club Pilates, the world's largest premium Pilates brand recently announced it will open a new locally owned and operated studio in Post Falls. The new studio will be located in the River City Plaza shopping center at 950 N. ID Highway 41, Suite 8 and is currently planned to open on December 11th. In anticipation of the new studio opening, Club Pilates Post Falls is offering 20% off of the lifetime of the membership and no enrollment fee for their first 50 founding members. 

The Post Falls studio will be owned and operated by Salubre,LLC, which also owns Club Pilates South Spokane, North Spokane, Spokane Valley and Hayden. They say Post Falls was chosen as the next location for a local Club Pilates studio through customer demand, and it will bridge the gap of minimal Pilates studios located in-between Hayden/Coeur d' Alene and Spokane Valley.

Club Pilates is an international brand designed to with the vision of making Pilates more accessible, approachable and welcoming to everyone. Club Pilates was founded in 2007 and has over 1000 studios globally and continues to grow. For more information about how to become a member of the new Club Pilates Post Falls location, visit http://clubpilates.com/postfalls or call 208-626-2163.

Evergreen Refillery opens in Cheney

 

Courtesy photos provided by Evergreen Refillery

A new eco-friendly business, that even features some merchandise from other eco-friendly and/or local businesses is now open in Cheney. Evergreen Refillery, located at 502 W. 1st in Downtown Cheney is similar to other refillery style businesses and is helping customers eliminate single use plastics by bringing jars or using ones provided in the store to fill with an assortment of eco-friendly cleaning, laundry and other home liquids, lotions, bars, etc. Just pick a jar, fill the jar, weigh the jar and pay and feel better about your impact on the earth.

Some may recognize Evergreen Refillery already as they spent the summer as a vendor at the Cheney Farmers Market prior to opening their new storefront space. As of my writing this they are Wed-Fri 10-5 and Sat-Sun 12-4, closed Mon-Tues however consult the business directly to confirm their business hours. In addition to items to refill Evergreen also carries an assortment of other similar retail items.

For more information on Evergreen Refillery, give them a visit on social media via Instagram or Facebook

Couple of new multi-family developments coming to the South Perry District

 Soon there will be more places to live in Spokane's South Perry neighborhood. That's because two separate developments from two different developers are currently in the planning phase in the neighborhood and when built they will add over 130 new apartments to the in-demand area. First of all is:

1217 E. Newark Ave. 

Located on a recently vacated lot on Newark at the corner of Denver St and in the curve just north of The Bike Hub a local developer is working on a future four story building that will house 40 apartments with 43 surface parking spaces. This development recently cleared the SEPA application process and in the SEPA application they indicate they hope to begin construction during the spring/summer of 2026. 

The development is still in the planning phase so we have not been able to confirm if these will be market rate apartments or some other sort of tenancy. There also is no general contractor or renderings available on it just yet however according to documents filed with the City of Spokane the architectural work for this new project is being done by Trek Architecture.

819 S. Hatch St.

Mentioned as Hatch Garden Apartments in paperwork, this development will likely end up being called The Summit and will be built as two four story apartment buildings and a separate club house / leasing office building with a total of 94 rental units once opened. The project is being developed by CM Development & Construction and will be just north of the Wisconsin Burger restaurant.

Representatives with CM did not reply to our requests for more information, but they did recently speak with our friends and colleagues over at the Spokane Journal of Business where they indicated these new apartments will be market rate units geared towards students and young professionals. Actual construction on The Summit should start in the Spring of 2026. For more information, including a look at the renderings of what The Summit will look like once completed check out the Journal of Business' story about it at https://www.spokanejournal.com/articles/17479-the-summit-apartments

Sweet Tooth now open on the South Hill

Courtesy photo via Anna @Spokaneplayground

Do you often times find yourself with a bit of a sweet tooth? Same! Then you'll want to join me in checking out a new locally owned and operated business on the South Hill called Sweet Tooth. Sweet Tooth can be found at 1230 S. Grand in a space that was once a Baskin Robbins.

Sweet Tooth is currently in the soft opening phase with an official grand opening coming on October 1st. The store is launching with donuts (over 50 varieties that rotate daily), some other baked goods and a decent coffee menu with coffee coming from Spokane based Cedar Coffee as the owner of that business, former Ukrainian refugee Igor Anisimov is also the owner of Sweet Tooth. For those who don't drink coffee, Sweet Tooth also sells teas and a couple other options.

We're also hearing that in the future Sweet Tooth will also carry Eastern European Cakes, quiches and sandwiches.

New map showing what's being built where...

 I've finally re-done the Google Map showing construction projects in the Spokane, Coeur d' Alene and Post Falls area! There might be places I've missed so feel free to reach out to ask and let me know (matt.behringer@inlandnwbusiness.com). This will also be missing many residential subdivisions, educational projects and run of the mill apartment complexes as I've always tried to make this site more commercial and industrial focused, but because of that it should have the vast majority of those projects.

Also, feel free to reach out or search this site if you need more info about a particular project.

And, if this benefits you, we do welcome donations via Buy me a Coffee at-

https://buymeacoffee.com/inlandnwbusiness

Port of Subs to drop anchor in North Spokane

 

Port of Subs is coming back to Spokane as the Reno,NV based company recently reached an agreement with entrepreneur, Ben Pearson to act as a regional developer and open a several new franchised locations throughout our area. The first of which is already a work in progress in North Spokane at 7808 N. Division Ave. Suite 1 which was last used as an unrelated Firehouse Subs restaurant.

This new Port of Subs will occupy the 2000 square foot space with some remodeling being done before opening, construction will commence once the building permits are granted. The general contractor for said work is listed as to be determined on documents filed with the city. Currently Pearson hopes to open this new location in January 2026 and it will feature indoor dining, carry out and delivery of Port of Subs menu of delicious sub sandwiches.  The company also has a convenient rewards app for easy online ordering. The company operates 145 locations and growing as of 2020 and has been in business since its founding as "Sub Shop" in 1972 in Sparks,NV.

This will be the first of likely many Port of Subs restaurants coming soon to the Inland Northwest. Pearson is currently seeking qualified franchisees to join and open Port of Subs locations. They currently plan to open 10 or more new stores between the Tri-Cities, Spokane and North Idaho. No other locations are set yet as of my writing this, but they are actively seeking new spaces.

For more information about Port of Subs, visit their website at https://portofsubs.com/

Franchise deal likely bringing more Wienerschnitzel restaurants to Spokane

 

After many delays and a slow construction process, the first Wienerschnitzel restaurant in the Spokane area opened in early 2024 at 10220 N. Newport Hwy and still remains open. But now with a recently announced franchise deal Spokane will be able to get their wiener fix even easier with more new restaurants from the quick service chain coming in the near future.

Boise based entrepreneur, Del Bufalo has opened two locations in the Boise area with his second opening recently in Meridian and has now signed on to open Wienerschnitzel stores in our area as well. He explains via press release. "We've seen consistent demand and an enthusiastic customer base here in Idaho. Expanding into Spokane is the natural next step, and I'm excited to introduce even more communities to our unique menu and guest experience" . The agreement is for Bufalo to open four new locations in the greater Spokane, WA and Post Falls - Coeur d' Alene,ID area. 

However, this is just the announcement of a franchise agreement, and no exact locations can be announced yet, nor can their opening dates. Wienerschnitzel reports having 340 franchised locations in operation throughout 13 states and 50 more units in various stages of development across the United States. The company is based in Tustin,CA and hot dogs and other fast food style menu items. For more information on Wienerschnitzel visit their website at http://wienerschnitzel.com/

El Pollo Loco coming to Spokane

 

More chicken is on its way to Spokane, but this time it's El Pollo Loco a Costa Mesa, CA. based quick service restaurant brand that to date doesn't have any locations in the Spokane market. Work has been underway behind the scenes for some time by a local Entrepeneur to bring multiple new franchised locations to the area. The first of which will be located at 5102 N. Division, which had been a Taco Time restaurant.

Currently they hope to open the first new local El Pollo Loco in the Spring of 2026, however construction and permitting delays have been commonplace recently so an exact opening date will be unknown for some time. In the future they plan to open multiple franchised locations around our area with more possible locations coming to North Idaho, Tri-Cities, Yakima, Moses Lake and a "handful" more in Spokane. 

El Pollo Loco restaurants specializes in a menu of Mexican-style grilled chicken items. The company reported having around 500 locations as of 2019, the most recent info I can readily find. Most of the brand's restaurants are located in the Southwest, although brands by the same name also operate in Mexico and the Philippines. In fact, the brand was founded in 1975 in Sinola,Mexico. For more information on El Pollo Loco visit their website at https://www.elpolloloco.com/

The District Lofts starts leasing in the Garland District

 

Courtesy photo

We've been watching the new apartment building rise behind the Garland Theater for the last few months now. And, after much anticipation the building's 44 apartments are now available for lease under the name The District Lofts. The building is located at 951 W. Walton, at the corner of Walton and Monroe on a parcel that was previously a section of the Garland Theater's surface parking lot.

The District Lofts offer newly constructed apartments with studios, one- and two-bedroom floor plans. Apartments have open floor plans, high ceilings, Quartz countertops, LVP Flooring, walk-in closets, washers / dryers, private balconies and are pet friendly. And that's not to mention the new building is literally steps away from the Garland Business District, a walkable district of shops, restaurants, coffee shops and bars and the vast majority are locally owned and operated businesses as well.

Leasing for the new apartments is being handled by LT Property Mangement, and information can be attained by calling 509-315-8660 or emailing leasing@ltrealestateco.com . As of my writing this (9-15-25) they are also offering move in specials, but as these can change, please consult LT Property Management for current offers. 

Wing Stop planning location in Downtown Spokane

 

Wing Stop, the Texas based chain of Chicken Wing restaurants is expanding it's presence in the Spokane market with a new franchise location coming soon to Downtown Spokane. This will be the chain's fifth restaurant in Spokane County, with another location also open in Coeur d' Alene. We reached out to the Utah based franchise owner and we're told they also are hoping to open more locations in our area but as of now the Downtown location is the only one in development locally.

The new Downtown Spokane Wing Stop will be located in the Gateway to Spokane building at 2 W. Third Ave Suite 104, which was formerly a locally owned home decor store. Plans call for a remodel of the space before opening with the general contractor still listed as TBD on building permit documents. The space is a little shy of 1500 square feet with the remodeling project estimated to cost $300,000. The space will include a small indoor dining area but like other Wing Stop restaurants orders will be available for carry out or delivery.

No opening date is set for the new location but is estimated to be sometime this Winter. Wing Stop was founded in 1994 and today has over 2500 locations with stores in 14 different countries. Their menu consists primarily of chicken wings and chicken tenders. For more information on Wing Stop visit their website at https://www.wingstop.com

New strip mall planned near Poleline & Hwy 41 in Post Falls

 

Courtesy photo

The Highway 41 corridor on the eastern edge of Post Falls continues to be white hot with new businesses and development projects. Located in the heart of this area is the North Point development from Hayden based Corhaven Properties on the northeast side of the Hwy. 41 and Poleline Rd. intersection.

Earlier new stand-alone 7-11 and Grocery Outlet stores opened there and just a few weeks ago they also announced the upcoming construction of a McDonald's fast-food restaurant with dual drive through lanes. But next up will be a new construction strip mall with 4 bays that should start construction in the Spring of 2026 on the vacant lot in-between the new McDonald's and Grocery Outlet.

They are currently planning to have the new strip mall complete sometime during the Fall of 2026 with four versatile retail units, with one including a drive-thru window. There are no tenants that can be announced for the project as actual construction hasn't even commenced yet but pre-leasing for the site now underway and there is already interest. For information on leasing space in this new development and growing part of Post Falls contact Jeff Ottmar with NAI Black at 509-385-8889 . The development site also has two more pad sites available, so we expect more new business announcements from this site in the future so stay tuned.

Gena's Mexican Kitchen coming soon on the South Hill

 

A new restaurant is coming soon to Spokane's South Hill as the locally owned and operated Gena's Mexican Kitchen is working on their new location at 501 E. 30th Ave., the place is a little under a block west of the Manito Shopping Center and might be a recognizable address for some as the place was formerly the long running Gordy's Sichwan Cafe, that recently closed down.

The new restaurant is hoping to open sometime within the next few weeks, but doesn't have an opening date set yet as they are still working and waiting on health department approval. Gena's Mexican Kitchen say they will have authentic Mexican food with a full bar with items for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Their website appears to still be under construction as of my writing this but watch https://genasmexicankitchen.com/ and give them a follow-on social media via Facebook

Jampod opens in Spokane

 

Courtesy photo- JamPod

Spokane's musicians might want to make note of a new business now open, just east of Downtown at 2012 E. Sprague. That new business is JamPod and is a locally owned and operated establishment offering premium, fully equipped music rehearsal rooms for bands and artists alike.  

JamPod currently offer four rooms (aka pods) available for bands or musicians to rehearse or collaborate. As before mentioned the rooms are fully equipped, meaning the musician only needs to bring their own sticks and instruments and then prepare to rock out (or whatever type of music you preform). JamPod also has three silent rehearsal rooms that even have the capacity to record within them. The new business also plans to have some retail merchandise as well, featuring local guitar builders over the major brands like Fender and Gibson.

In the future the owners of JamPod intend to add things like open mic and jam nights, with more plans to grow and add to their offerings. For more information and to see what's going on a JamPod, visit their website at https://thejampod.com and give them a follow on social media via Facebook or Instagram

Big Flipper, pinball bar coming to Coeur d' Alene

 

Courtesy photo- Big Flipper

There's something cool and new coming to Coeur d' Alene. Big Flipper is opening soon and is already hosting soft opening events in their new place at 312 E. Annie Ave., in-between 3rd and 4th, nearby Thai Bamboo in Midtown Coeur d' Alene. The new locally owned and operated business is small pinball forward bar with over 20 different pinball machines spanning five decades, including a few rare gems!

In addition to pinball, Big Flipper also offers classic arcade games and two Skee-Ball lanes. Pinball tournaments and leagues will also be coming soon, as well as private event rentals. In addition to all the games at Big Flipper the new business will also have beer, wine, canned cocktails and what they describe as a "tasty, curated menu". Their goal is "your new favorite hangout" and in a time where so called Third Places are missing this will likely be a welcomed addition to Coeur d' Alene.

For more information, and to watch for their upcoming grand opening, give Big Flipper a follow-on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bigflippercda/

Supa! Authentic Japanese Kitchen planning new location in Downtown Spokane

 

Courtesy photo by Supa! Authentic Japanese Kitchen.

Locally owned and operated, Supa! Authentic Japanese Kitchen is working on their new third location. This time they will open their doors in Downtown Spokane, taking over the storefront that was last Soulful Soups and Spirits at 117 N. Howard St. . Soulful Soups recently re-opened under new ownership at 111 S. Madison, still remaining in the Downtown area. 

Supa! also operates locations in Cheney at 321 First and in Post Falls at 3904 E. Mullan Ave. Suite K.  They haven't released an opening date for the new Downtown restaurant, but it should open within the next few weeks. Supa! serves sushi, poke bowls, ramen and various boba teas. At opening they plan to also offer beer as an option in addition their standard non-alcoholic beverages. They also indicated to me that one day they hope to have bar or something similar on the rooftop of the building, although that won't be at the opening.

The restaurant's menu is available for indoor dining, take away or delivery via DoorDash. For more information on Supa! Authentic Japanese Kitchen, visit their website at http://lovesupa.com

VOA to celebrate grand opening of new Crosswalk Youth Shelter

 Volunteers of America Eastern Washington (VOA) will celebrate the grand opening of the new Crosswalk Youth Shelter at the new shelter on Thursday, August 28th from 1-3pm with remarks and dedication of Crosswalk Youth Shelter and Cannon Hall at 1pm. 

Courtesy photo- VOA

Since 1985, Crosswalk has been more than just a shelter it's been a lifeline says VOA but as Spokane has grown and changed so have the challenges faced by its youth. The Downtown shelter at 525 W. 2nd Ave. had become a place that did not meet the needs of the youth and could no longer support the full range of services youth need to thrive. When invited to help design their future shelter, youth described a fresh start - "a home in a neighborhood away from the stress of downtown, surrounded by green spaces and close to schools." The new facility is bright, modern, and filled with natural light, was designed with the youth it serves, offering not just safety, but dignity and belonging.

The new Crosswalk Youth Shelter stands next to Spokane Community College, Chief Garry Park, CHAS Health, and VOA Young Adult Shelter at 1440 N. Haven. The new Crosswalk Shelter features a welcoming shelter space on the first floor, the second floor is named Cannon Hall and hosts dorm style rooms for youth enrolled in education or employment programs. And the third floor is home to the VOA administration team.

The grand opening event will take place inside the new building with a ribbon cutting ceremony, and tours and refreshments available to all after the ceremony. To learn more about the works of VOA, visit their local website at http://voaspokane.com

Wings Pan to open new location in North Spokane

 

Courtesy photo- Wings Pan

Las Vegas has "The Strip" with numerous Casinos and other entertainment venues, while we in Spokane have "The Chicken Strip" and area of North Spokane where multiple chain chicken restaurants have set up shop. And the Chicken Strip is now expanding southward but also gaining a locally owned and operated chicken option. One that actually does have a somewhat different spin compared to what's there. I know I for one would love to see the crowds Chick-fil-a or Rasing Cane's bring at a new local restaurant.

That new local restaurant is Wings Pan and currently has its original restaurant at 401 1st St. in Cheney, which will also remain open as this will be their second store. The new location will be at 7115 N. Division Suite A, the space formerly occupied by Jalisco's Mexican Restaurant. Wings Pan is owned and operated by a Korean-American family and serves hand crafted Buffalo Wings, Korean Fried Chicken and Bulgogi Bowls. 

Currently Wings Pan is planning to open the North Spokane location sometime in September after they complete some renovations. In coming months, they also plan to build out a patio area for use once the warm weather returns next year. Some new menu items will likely also be added with the new location, and they will continue to be all gluten free.

For more information on Wings Pan, pay them a visit at their original location in Cheney, visit their website at https://wingspaneats.com/ , and give them a follow-on social media via Instagram or Facebook

Active & outdoor retailer Sierra opening Spokane Valley store this weekend

 

Courtesy photo- Sierra

Part of the TJ Maxx family of brands, Sierra, the off-price retailer known for offering high quality active and outside products at low prices will open their newest store at Evergreen Crossing Shopping Center in Spokane Valley on Saturday, August 23rd. The store is within a 19,000 square foot space at 13814 E. Indiana Ave, and is the second Sierra store in the Inland Northwest as another opened earlier this year near the corner of US 95 and Wilbur Ave. in Coeur d' Alene.

The new Spokane Valley Sierra store will open its doors with a grand opening celebration Saturday starting at 8:00 am, including music from a local DJ, Sierra branded giveaways, and a hidden tag activity offering shoppers a chance to win a Sierra gift card. The store will offer a wide selection of active and outside apparel, footwear, and gear - all from top-tier brands at prices the fit every budget. To support the local community in Spokane Valley, Sierra has made a $10,000 donation to the non-profit organization, Our Place Spokane .

"We're excited to be returning to Washington, bringing Sierra's off-price shopping experience to the residents of Spokane Valley,"  said Amanda Johnson, Assistant Vice President, Marketing Director with Sierra. "Our goal at Sierra is to support and active lifestyle for everyone by providing access to premium apparel, footwear and gear. We're committed to helping people find everything they need to stay moving year-round, doing the activates they love the most."

Sierra was founded in 1986 and is part of TJX Companies,Inc. the leading off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions in the US and worldwide. The brand reports currently having 132 stores and also sells via its website https://sierra.com

New Planet Fitness coming soon to North Spokane

 

The national fitness club chain, Planet Fitness is expanding and adding to their Inland Northwest presence with a new location now in the permitting phase in North Spokane. The company, operating under Fit SpokNorth,LLC filed for a change of use permit for a new location at 9534 N. Newport Hwy. This will be located in the southern end of the building that was once a Shopko store, just north of The Y in North Spokane. This will be the last vacant space in the building as the other spaces are already occupied by a Ross and HomeGoods stores.

Building plans included in the permit filing show the new Planet Fitness will take a 24,501 square feet space for a gym, storage area, tanning/massage and locker rooms/showers. As the information for this new location is coming from a source other than Planet Fitness or its franchise holder no opening date is available just yet. The tenant improvement project is expected to cost $1.2 million and while the general contractor is shown as TBD, the architect on the project is DKMullin Architects of Moscow,ID.

This will be the fourth Planet Fitness location in Spokane and Kootenai County as others are already open at 1617 W. Northwest Blvd in Spokane, 13112 E. Sprague Ave. in Spokane Valley and 200 W. Hanley in Coeur d' Alene. Planet Fitness is a New Hampshire based company with around 2800 locations in North America, Australia and the Dominican Republic, for more information, visit their website at http://planetfitness.com

You read us, now help us!

 

Nice to meet you! I'm Matt Behringer, writer, editor, CEO and all-around good guy at Inland Northwest Business Watch.

Inland Northwest Business Watch is not a large company with a newsroom, agenda, big high paid staff or really much more than a 40-year guy with an a somewhat unusual obsession with finding and supporting new local businesses. But now that I've built this site many in the Spokane and Kootenai County area do turn to me to find out what's going in there. Sure, I miss a bit, and I misspell somethings or use bad grammar occasionally (and you all love to call me out on those!) but I still love what this site has become. But, despite its small size it's not free to run so it's that time I get to join the crowd of people asking for a bit of your money as a thank you or as a tip.

Donating to Inland Northwest Business Watch is not now, nor will it ever be required but it does help pay the bills that lately have been increasing. For those of you familiar with me , Matt Behringer, that 40-year guy who runs this site you know I relocated at the end of 2023 to Ohio but do the site remotely and with the assistance of Spokane based connections. But my goal is to return to the area more frequently to meet in person with local business owners and those making a difference in the Inland Northwest and donations do assist in this. I want to tell more businesses stories!

Donations will always be available by clicking the "Support us" link at the top of the page. But I also recently added a "Buy Me a Coffee" link as well at the URL listed below. Want to give $2 as a thank you? You're awesome and thank you. Have I helped you find leads and want to make sure this site doesn't go anywhere and toss a larger monthly amount my way? You're also awesome and thank you. Just can't give anything but want to keep checking the site periodically because you want to impress your friends with knowing when a new restaurant is coming to Spokane? You're awesome too and thank you!

Donate via Buy Me a Coffee-

https://buymeacoffee.com/inlandnwbusiness

Photos and leads are welcome!

Another way to support Inland Northwest Business Watch is by being our boots on the ground. As I mentioned, I now live in a small town north of Columbus,OH and do this site remotely from there. I plan to make frequent visits to the Lilac City and might end up living there again in the future but for now this can be a site partially ran by the community. If you know of something opening, even if it's your own business, send me an email and tell me what you know. 

See construction starting somewhere, snap a picture and email it to me! I can and will give you credit, unless you don't want it. 

My email (which I also have to pay for!)-

Matt.Behringer@inlandnwbusiness.com

Thank you for your time! 

New Rum & Tapas Bar coming soon to Downtown Spokane

 

Work and licensing is under way for a new Rum & Tapas bar that is coming soon to Downtown Spokane. Local business owner Brian Harkey, who owns Cease and Desist, also in Downtown Spokane is planning to open a new business called Plunder which will be located at 108 N. Washington Suite 105. The space was last used a long running business called Left Bank Wine Bar.

Plunder doesn't have an opening date as of yet, but they do hope to open with the next couple of months. The place is described as a Rum/Taquila/Mezcal bar with tapas style bites. Food items will be from Latin America with things like Ceviche, Cubano sliders, Empanadas' and similar with many exciting drink options.

A website and social media for Plunder are also coming soon. Keep and eye on the Inland Northwest Business Watch social media in lieu as I plan to include updates as this exciting new eatery progresses.

Avenue29 Apartments now open on the South Hill

 

Courtsey photo - Avenue29 Apartments.

Avenue29 Apartments, a newly constructed 21 unit apartment building is now open and welcoming new residents on the vibrant South Hill. Located off of the intersection of 29th Ave. and Grand Blvd. (717 E. 29th) the property offers convenience and accessibility in one of Spokane's most desirable neighborhoods. Within a one-block radius of Avenue29 is a grocery store, pharmacy, banks, restaurants and medical offices. With schools ( Hutton Elementary and Sacajawea Middle School ), coffee shops and fitness centers also located just minutes away, eliminating the car for most day-to-day needs. "We always envisioned this project as a gateway for moving into this part of town"  said Ross Blevins, a member of Avenue29, LLC and neighborhood resident. "We are excited to further strengthen the community with a diverse array of folk who will call Avenue29 home and hopefully become permanent residents of the neighborhood."

The community features a mix of modern studio, and one-bedroom apartments designed with spacious floor plans, abundant natural light through large windows, and in-unit appliances residents know and trust. Select units include enhanced accessibility features, making the community a welcoming option for residents with varying mobility needs.  Public transportation is also readily available, with a major STA bus stop located adjacent to the front of the property.

For more information on Avenue29 Apartments, including who to contact about leasing an apartment in the community, visit their website at http://www.avenue29apts.com

Mallory Paint Store planning new location on the South Hill

 

Mallory Paint Store, a regional chain of Benjamin Moore Paint retail stores is planning a new location on Spokane's South Hill. This will be the company's fourth location in the Spokane area, with two more stores located in North Idaho. 

The new South Hill Mallory Paint will be located in the same shopping center as Target at 3104 E. Palouse Hwy Suite A2, which was formerly used as a mattress store. Like the other locations this new Mallory Paint Store will carry all colors of the Benjamin Moore Paint brand including paints, stains and primers and an array of painting supplies. Currently the store is planning to open at the beginning of September.

For more information on Benjamin Moore Mallory Paint Store, visit their website at https://mallorypaint.com

Miniso & Urban Planet opening at Spokane Valley Mall

 While other malls, especially those in more rural areas are dying off and turning to other non-retail uses, Spokane Valley Mall continues to pull in shoppers and even new businesses. The mall recently announced on their social media pages that Minso, a rapidly growing and trendy chain of Chinese based retail stores will host a grand opening celebration on Aug 9th at their new location on the lower level of the mall in-between Victoria's Secret and Box Lunch. The new store carries toys, plushies, collectables, beauty essentials and more.

Additionally, Spokane Valley Mall also recently added a new location of the Urban Planet chain. Urban Planet is a newer brand for the US the claims to be where "streetwise fashion meets bold attitude". the Spokane Valley Mall Urban Planet store is located on the second floor of the mall nearby the food court. Areas nearby the mall are growing too with the Evergreen Crossing shopping center across Evergreen Rd. from the mall will soon be home to a new Sierra and Five Below store and the new Dave & Busters opening August 11th along E. Mansfield just northwest of the mall. 

What would you like to see come to the Spokane Valley Mall?

Konala planning new location nearby Gonzaga

 Konala, the growing North Idaho based chain of quick service restaurants serving an array of protein packed bowls, salads and more is continuing their expansion in the Spokane area. The company recently opened their first Spokane location at 6740 N. Division in North Spokane. And one more can be confirmed to be coming soon.

The newest Konala restaurant will occupy the former home of Forza Coffee on the ground floor of the mixed-use Matilda Building at 1021 N. Hamilton, in the Logan neighborhood across the street from Gonzaga. The company is working on the plans for this new location, but an exact opening date won't be known for a little while due to possible construction and permitting delays. However as of right now we're hearing this new location should open sometime around January 2026 as remodeling will be necessary to the space.

Konala founder and CEO, Trace Miller confirmed for us that they also have a couple more locations in the works in Spokane and Kootenai County but nothing that is far enough along to confirm just yet. The company has also been in the news lately for securing multi-unit franchise deals in Montana, Utah and New Jersey with new corporate owned locations also in the works in Nevada. With this level of growth, it might not be very long before Konala's healthy fast-food locations are found nationwide, for more information about their brand, visit their website at https://konala.com

After repairs, Petunia & Loomis is celebrating a grand re-opening in Downtown Spokane

 

After months of cleanup, construction and even some creativity, the curiosity shop Petunia & Loomis recently announced their grand re-opening beginning today (Aug. 1st) thru Aug. 3rd. The extensive repairs come on the heels of two devastating floods that hit the store in December and February. "Two floods in two months nearly swept us away" said Manager Jesse McCauley. "But like any good gothic ghost story, we came back stronger - and spookier - than ever."

The store now boasts brand-new floors and an upgraded layout that enhances the immersive, eerie experience customers have come to love. With expanded product line, returning fans and new visitor alike can look forward to curated oddities, magical supplies, antique curios, and haunted home decor that reflect the store's signature dark charm. Additionally, Petunia & Loomis is rolling out a calendar of creepy and creative events, including: 

Bug Pinning classes

Tarot classes

Tattoo pop-up's

Kids classes

and of course, their annual Krampus event in December. Petunia & Loomis is located in Downtown Spokane at 224 N. Howard. As of my writing this the store is open Mon-Sat 11-6 and Sun. 11-5, for more info on the store visit their website at https://petunialoomis.com/

Fresh Today Cafe opens in Northtown Mall

 

A new restaurant opened recently within the Northtown Mall in Spokane. The owners of Fresh Today Catering,LLC have opened a new place called Fresh Today Cafe in the food court area on the second floor of the mall. 

Fresh Today Cafe officially opened in June and will serve sandwiches, flatbreads, soups, salads, comfort foods, grab and go items, breakfast, cakes, pretzels, cookies, brownies and more. They also will routinely post specials via a "fresh sheet". Fresh Today does also plan to continue their original catering and bakery side of the business. Indoor dining is provided in the mall food court and menu items are also available for delivery via Doordash.

For more information on Fresh Today Catering visit their website at https://freshtodaycatering.com/ and give Fresh Today Cafe a follow-on social media via Facebook

Veteran duo introduces D1 Training to Coeur d' Alene with new location

 

Courtesy photo

In June local entrepreneurs and veterans Richard Smith and Kyle Parkinson opened a new D1 Training location at 8632 N. Government Way.  D1 Training is a leading fitness enrichment concept utilizing the five core tenets of athletic-based training. The new group fitness facility employs a sports-science backed training regimen led by certified trainers to help people of all ages achieve their sport and fitness goals.

D1 Training offers four age-based programs including Rookie (ages 7-11), Developmental (ages 12-14), Prep (ages 15-18) and D1 adult. Each fitness program is based on the five athletic-based tenets: dynamic warm-up, performance, strength program, core and conditioning, and cool down. Outside of group workouts, D1 Training offers group, semi-private, and one-on-one training with world class coaches. D1 Training has been expanding across the nation though franchising, D1 Training has more than 100 performance centers open with over 100 more centers currently in various stages of development.

For more information on D1 Training in Coeur d' Alene, visit the CdA location's webpage at https://www.d1training.com/cda/

New Blvd Doughnut Co / Union Roasters co-branded shop opening in Coeur d' Alene

 

What's a better combination then coffee and doughnuts? Go ahead, I'll wait...

Well, maybe there's a couple others that are close but it's that combination that is coming next week to the new location of Union Roasters, with their newest venture Blvd. Doughnut Co. at 1515 Northwest Blvd. in Coeur d' Alene. The owners claimed in a recent social media post that the doughnuts will be the PNW's holiest donuts made in small batches made fresh every morning. Additionally, the new shop will also have the full menu of the local coffee company Union Roasters who also has locations already open in Midtown Coeur d' Alene and on Tea Olive Ln. on Coeur d' Alene's northwest side. 

The new shop is scheduled to open on Monday, July 28th at 6am. Another new Union Roasters shop is currently in the planning phase to eventually open on the ground floor of the new Thomas George high rise in Downtown Coeur d' Alene. For more information on the company, visit their website at http://unionroasters.co and for more information on Blvd Doughnut Co., check out their page on Instagram

Back 40 Meadery opens on Newport Hwy in Spokane

 

Courtesy photo- Back 40 Meadery's Facebook page.

Claimed as Spokane's only honey wine tasting room, Back 40 Meadery is celebrating their grand opening this weekend at 10403 N. Newport Hwy. in the Whitworth Square shopping center. The grand opening is being called "Christmas in July" with an indoor market also included highlighting local artists and artisans. Families and non-drinkers visiting during the opening event can also partake in mocktails and other non-alcoholic beverages.

However, those wishing to partake will be able to sample mead's made locally by Back 40, who is a small batch meadery that focuses on using locally sourced honey and fresh fruit to create unique and delicious honey wines (mead).  Additionally, the new tasting room also offers a few local beers from Spokane's Bellwether Brewing. The business has operated in Elk,WA for some time before opening this new Spokane tasting room. 

The Christmas in July grand opening event is being from July 25-27th. For more information on Back 40 Meadery visit their website at http://back40meadery.com