Small Business Saturday sales and events this weekend!

 It's that time again where we show some extra love to our local small businesses, Small Business Saturday is tomorrow Saturday, November 29th and many Spokane and Coeur d' Alene area businesses are making big plans. For those heading to Downtown Spokane, the Downtown Spokane Partnership has arranged the third year of its Small Business Saturday Swag Bag Giveaway event presented by STCU. On the morning of November 29th, the first 200 shoppers to enter Auntie's Bookstore will receive a free "swag bag" filled with goodies, coupons, gift cards and other fun items from a myriad of downtown businesses. An additional 25 bags each will be given away the same morning at Indaba Coffee (Riverside Ave.), Twenty-Seventh Heaven Bakery, People's Waffle and Shawn O'Donnell's Irish Pub. 

Following the swag bag giveaway event, Auntie's Bookstore will host a day full of Small Business Saturday celebrations, including local author book signings, pop-up shops, giveaways and more. For more information on these events and other events happening in Downtown Spokane throughout the holiday season, visit http://merrymagicaldowntown.org . So far in 2025, 27 new retail businesses have opened their doors in the Downtown Spokane Business Improvement District. Visit https://downtownspokane.org/celebrating-new-business-openings-in-2025/ for a list of new businesses that have joined Downtown Spokane this year. 

Elsewhere in the Inland Northwest, the Scale House Market has announced their first ever Winter Market at the Quarry. A two-day indoor/outdoor holiday shopping experience featuring local vendors, multicultural foods, Santa photos and festive activities. This new market will take place from November 29th-30th from 8:00am-4:00pm at 4422 E. 8th Ave. in Spokane Valley . Visitors can explore dozens of local vendors, offering handcrafted good, artisanal foods, gifts, decor and unique products made across the Inland Northwest.

Guests will also find their usual shopping needs conveniently available at Scale House Market, including locally produced food and grocery items, as well as a curate selection of beer, wine, cider, and more - making holiday shopping both festive and practical. To add a festive touch, 300 shoppers will have access to Charlie Brown- style Christmas trees, a nostalgic holiday favorite perfect for brightening any space.

This is just a sampling of the Small Business Saturday events planned this weekend around the Inland Northwest. For instance, Twenty-Seventh Heaven Bakery in Downtown Spokane is planning their own small market from 8:00am-1:00pm at their store which can be found at 105 S. Madison. Inland Cider Mill at 1020 W. Francis Suite A in North Spokane is planning an all-ages craft & vendor show from 11:00am-4:00pm and many more. And even if they aren't doing anything special, be sure to patronize your favorite small businesses in the Spokane and Coeur d' Alene area sometime this weekend if able.

Adams Tractor to build new dealership on the West Plains

 

A new tractor and equipment dealership is coming soon to the West Plains, well a relocation of one at least. Coeur d' Alene Tractor Co. which does business in the Spokane market as Adams Tractor has purchased an almost 9 acre parcel along US 2, a bit Northeast of the Spokane International Airport, at 8123 W. US 2 with the goal of building there.

The plans call for construction of a new full-service dealership to start work soon, with a potential opening during the Fall of 2026. The US 2 location will replace their existing dealership on Trent Ave. in Spokane that the company says they have outgrown. The new place will have a new construction 14,000 square foot building with indoor, outdoor and a covered display area for customers to view equipment. The new facility will include a showroom, parts department, diesel and small engine service shops, and much more.

The project is in permitting with the design phase not yet wrapped up so there are no renderings available just yet for the project. On the permitting records the architect is shown as ISG of Bloomington,MN. with the general contractor on the project being Hayden based Stancraft Construction Group. The project is estimated to cost $3.5 million. For more information on Adams Tractor, visit their website at https://www.adamstractor.com/

Golden Rule Brake expanding to Coeur d' Alene

 

Spokane based Golden Rule Brake is already well-known for being a trusted name in auto repair and for their cleaver and often humorous signs in front of their four locations. And now the company is working on a fifth store and second location in Idaho coming soon to Coeur d' Alene. The new shop will be conveniently located at 3627 N. Government Way, just north of Costco. Architect Paul Harrington of Romr Architects and Ginno Construction are leading the project. The Coeur d' Alene location reinforces the company's mission to make brake and suspension repairs easy, convenient and trustworthy.

"We're excited to bring the Golden Rule Brake promise -- honest repairs at a fair price -- to Coeur d' Alene," said Dallas Low, owner of Golden Rule Brake. "This new shop marks another milestone for our family business, and I'm especially proud to be working on the expansion with my son, Jeremiah Low, who has become an invaluable part of our team." 

Customers of the new Coeur d' Alene Golden Rule Brake location can expect free brake inspections and upfront, honest quotes with photos, expert technicians trained in the latest brake and suspension technology, family-friendly service built on trust and transparency and convenient service options, including drop-off and financing. Operating on the principle of the Golden Rule -- treat others the way you want to be treated -- Golden Rule Brake provides expert brake, shocks, struts, CV joints, ball joints and tie rod repairs, as well as alignments. The company continues to explore opportunities to expand its honest, integrity-driven service throughout the Inland Northwest.

For more information on Golden Rule Brake, visit their website at http://www.goldenrulebrake.com

Sahara Pizza is back in Hayden

 

Courtsey photo

At one-point Western Washington based, Sahara Pizza had locations in Post Falls and Hayden,ID but both locations were closed some time ago. But a different Sahara Pizza franchise owner who has says they have been with the company for over 20 years has brought the brand back to North Idaho, with a new location that opened this week in Hayden.

The new Hayden Sahara Pizza is located in the new construction "City Center Plaza" at 9627 N. Government Way Suite C, joining Jersey Mike's Subs as the first tenants to open in the new shopping center. The new Sahara Pizza offers pick up, delivery and some indoor dining. It will serve the menu of the Sahara Pizza chain including many specialty pizzas, salads, pastas, chicken wings, grinders, appetizers, desserts and Pepsi products. Gluten free and vegetarian options are also available. 

Sahara Pizza lists 18 other locations already open in Washington, Oregon and two in the nation of Bolivia. For more information on Sahara Pizza visit their website at https://saharapizzahayden.com/ and give the new Hayden location a follow-on social media via Facebook or Instagram

A Bird's Place is now open in North Spokane

 

Courtesy photo

Bird lovers will want to check out a new retail store that opened just last weekend in North Spokane. The new store is called A Bird's Place and is the latest new business to open in the Primer Pet Mall development about a block away from the corner of Francis and Monroe at 1028 W. Rosewood Ave. The business owner told me via email the shop is a pet store for exotic birds.

The new store carries avian supplies, food, toys, treats, cages and more. They also plan to include boarding and trimming of birds and will likely soon carry baby birds while primarily focusing on rescue birds. The shop joins a collection of pet related businesses in the pet mall, including Kraken Coral & Coffee, Priest River Pets, Sittin' Pretty Pet Spa and Mother Bear's Bakery all of which are locally owned and operated businesses that have all opened in recent months as the building was formerly an office building that new owners converted to the new use. 

For more information on A Bird's Place, give them a follow on social media via Facebook

Top Golf applies for building permit in Liberty Lake

 

In August of 2024, Dallas,TX based Top Golf, certainly a well-known name in golf, first expressed interest in coming to the Spokane area with government meetings over the land and site lighting. Now over a year later it looks like actual construction on a new Top Golf location is moving forward with the company filing earlier this week for building permits to start construction at the planned site in Liberty Lake.

The company itself has not yet confirmed the new location but permits we're applied for on Wednesday, Nov. 12th in the company's name at the site. The site is located at the corner of Country Vista Blvd. and Kramer Pkwy. nearby I-90 on the western edge of the City of Liberty Lake. As this news does not come directly from Top Golf there is no news about the construction timeline or estimated opening date just yet.

The public records on the building permit filing show that Top Golf plans to construct a 35,000 square foot "golf entertainment facility" with full-service restaurant and bar. The general contractor for the project is listed as ARCO/Murray who has offices all over the United States including one in Bellevue,WA. A quick look at their website show they have partnered to build Top Golf locations in the past. Top Golf has about 80 locations but has been growing and developing several new locations recently and already has operating locations in Renton,WA and Boise,ID. For more information on Top Golf, visit their website at https://www.topgolf.com

Building permit applied for new Trader Joe's in Spokane Valley

 

We've heard rumors for some time, but today's commercial building permit filing basically confirms that the grocery store chain Trader Joe's is coming to Spokane Valley. The company has filed for a commercial tenant improvement permit to build out a new store at 13414 E. Sprague Ave, Suite 101.

This is the building that was formerly a Shopko department store. A Tractor Supply retail store opened a portion of the building earlier this year. According the permit filings the Spokane Valley Trader Joe's will be store number 296 and it will occupy a little more than 21,500 square feet of space with the general contractor still listed as TBD.

No opening date or construction timeline is available as of my writing this as it is a developing story.

How to Spot a Scam—And What to Do If You’ve Been Targeted

 

Guest column by Kinsey Hiett, Branch Manager, Spokane WaFd Bank

When people think of scams, they picture elderly relatives getting a suspicious phone call. But

the truth is, fraud can happen to everyone. Younger adults have reported falling for scams more

frequently than older generations. Whether you're 18 or 80, it pays to stay informed and know

there are resources in your community to help.

Here in Spokane, we have seen a few ‘sweetheart scams’. In most cases, the client truly

believes they are in a real relationship. The scammer slowly gains their trust before asking for

money or personal information. Our team has been able to stop large wire transfers before they

happen but each time we are surprised by how patience and convincing these scammers can

be. It’s really reinforced how important it is for us to have open, judgment-free conversations

with clients and keep spreading awareness about how these scams work.

Not only are they patient, scammers also create urgency, confusion, or fear—conditions that

make it easier for them to manipulate people into taking actions they normally wouldn’t. The

best defense is knowing the red flags.

Here are seven of the most common warning signs of a scam:

1. They pressure you to act immediately.

Fraudsters don’t want you to think. They’ll insist the matter is urgent—whether it’s your account

being locked, a missed jury duty notice, or a “limited-time offer.” Hang up, take a breath, and

contact the company directly using information from their official website.

2. The sender’s email address doesn’t look quite right.

Scammers often imitate legitimate companies. Look closely at email addresses, if something

seems off it’s probably a scam.

3. They ask for private financial information.

No bank will call or email you asking for your username, password, or verification codes. If

someone does, it’s time to walk away—or better yet, report it.

4. You weren’t expecting the contact.

Did you suddenly “win” a contest you never entered? Get an urgent warning about an account

you didn’t know had issues? If something feels out of the blue, it probably is.

5. They want unusual forms of payment.

Gift cards, cryptocurrency, and wire transfers are all red flags. Government agencies and

reputable companies will never ask for payment this way.

6. They “accidentally” overpay and want a refund.

This is a classic scam. A fake check gets deposited, looks real at first, and then bounces—after

you’ve sent money back. Don’t fall for it.

7. It seems too good to be true.

Job offers that require you to pay upfront, lottery winnings with strings attached, and

unbelievable investment returns all fall into this category.

If you ever find yourself unsure, don’t go it alone. Talk it through with a trusted friend, family

member, or someone at your local bank branch. A second set of eyes can help you spot

something suspicious before it’s too late.

And if you do fall victim to a scam, take action. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission

at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and visit their site for next steps and tools to protect yourself from future

harm.

A Few Simple Ways to Stay Ahead of Scammers:

- Block unknown callers and texts.

- Use separate email addresses for personal and promotional use.

- Create strong, unique passwords and consider a password manager.

- Verify websites before entering personal info.

- Keep your devices and software up to date.

At community banks like WaFd, as well as many other trusted financial institutions, resources

are available to help you stay informed and protect your finances. Whether it’s learning how to

spot a scam, strengthening your passwords, or simply having someone to talk to when

something doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate to reach out. Staying safe starts with staying

informed—and there are people and tools ready to help.

Kinsey Hiett has been the branch manager at the WaFd bank branch on Division Street in

Spokane since May of this year.

Construction starts for new warehouse and hotel in Liberty Lake

 

Courtesy rendering provided by Daines Capital

Construction work has commenced for a new development adjacent to the Liberty Lake Business Park complex nearby the corner of E. Appleway and Liberty Lake Rd in Liberty Lake. Once complete the project with be home to over 50,000 square feet of new warehouse space and a new hotel on a three-acre site.

The project will be built out in two phases with the first phase being the warehouse building. The new warehouse can be demised into as many as 10 units or could be leased in its entirety depending on what the business needs. Although no tenants can be announced for the new warehouse there is already interest. The new development benefits from easy access to major roads including I-90 via the Liberty Lake Rd. exit, overhead doors and dock access, 30' clear height and each unit has to potential for a second floor or a mezzanine. Delivery on the new warehouse space is planned for some time in 2026.

While a construction start date isn't available just yet, this new development site will be filled in with a second phase in the near future. That phase will be a brand new 100 +/- room Home2 Suites hotel and affiliated surface parking area. This will be built directly to the west of the new warehouse and all accessed via the existing private street around the Liberty Lake Business Park. We'll keep an eye on the project for more in the future on this planned new Liberty Lake Home2 Suite Hotel.

Pre-leasing of the new warehouse spaces is already underway also with it listed via Daines Capital. For more information contact Steven Daines of Daines Capital at steven@dainescapital.com or 509-590-9114 or https://www.dainescapital.com/

Nordstrom Rack to open in North Spokane

 

Seattle based fashion retailer Nordstrom announced this week that they intend to open a new Nordstrom Rack store in Spokane, sometime during the fall of 2026. Nordstrom also operates a full Nordstrom branded store in the anchor position of Downtown Spokane's River Park Square mall and another Nordstrom Rack in the shopping center adjacent to Spokane Valley Mall. The Spokane Nordstrom Rack appears to be a new location based off of information in a recent press release from Nordstrom corporate.

The new 31,000 square foot store will be located at Northpointe Plaza along N. Newport Hwy in North Spokane, the exact space there is not shown in the press release, however. The store will join that shopping center's already strong roster of tenants with big names like Target, Dick's Sporting Goods, Safeway and Total Wine and More. The plaza itself is owned by Kite Realty Group (NYSE:KRG). "We're thrilled to welcome Nordstrom Rack to Northpointe Plaza" said Karly Kilroy, Vice President and Senior Leasing Director at Kite Realty Group. "As one of the most recognizable and trusted names in retail, Nordstrom Rack will enhance the visitor experience and strengthen Northpointe Plaza's position as a go-to shopping destination."

Nordstrom Rack is the off-price retail division of Nordstrom,Inc. Nordstrom Rack offers customers up to 70 percent off of on-trend apparel, accessories, beauty products, home decor and shoes from many of the top brands sold at Nordstrom stores as well as core services like online order pickup for https://nordstrom.com and https://nordstromrack.com , easy returns and alterations at select stores. Nordstrom Rack is the largest source of new customers to Nordstrom. The new location also expands the company's physical and economic impact in Washington, it currently operates six Nordstrom stores and twelve Nordstrom Rack locations, generating more than 3,100 jobs statewide.

Tagliare Delicatessen coming soon to Airway Heights

 

An exciting new quick service restaurant is coming soon to the West Plains. Tagliare Delicatessen, is a unique business with two locations in the Missoula,MT area that has its sights set on the Spokane market with a new location planned to open soon in Airway Heights. The new location is planned to open in the Hazelwood Square shopping center at 10219 W. Sunset Hwy Suite B. There is no set opening date for the shop just yet as construction will have to take place on the suite first to prep the space for the new eatery.

Those familiar with the business's locations in Missoula will already recognize it as the new Airway Heights locations will be the same as their locations there. Tagliare Delicatessen says they will serve award winning sandwiches named after mostly classic rock bands, Wine, Charcuterie boards and more. They offer some delicious sounding options for sides items also including Tim's Chips, whole pickles and even cannoli.

For more information on Tagliare Delicatessen and to watch for their upcoming opening date announcement give the local location a follow on Facebook, a website is also coming soon at http://tagliarespokane.com or to get an idea of the brand visit their original site in Montana at https://www.tagliaredelicatessen.com/

Large new assisted living facility under construction off of Division

 

People have been noticing and asking about the construction site that's been underway for a few weeks now just off of N. Division at Cozza Dr. near the AT Home store in North Spokane. I've heard a few speculate it to be a new restaurant, however that's not accurate as developers are actually planning a large new senior housing complex with assisted and independent living and memory care units there.

The new project will be using the Vineyard Park name and will be owned by Mercer Island based Care Partners Senior Living who also already has presence in Spokane with Vineyard Park at South Hill, Maplewood Garden and Cottages of Spokane all in their local portfolio of open properties. Construction is already underway with Baker Construction acting as the general contractor for the new building and architectural work being done by Blue Architecture and Interiors of Bremerton. 

The new Vineyard Park north development is currently estimated to open in 2027 with a total construction cost of just under $22 million. The new building will have five floors with a combination of 108 assisted and independent living apartments on the first four floors in studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans. The top floor of the building will consist of 20 memory care units. Exact design details are being finalized as construction happens so the representative was unable to provide an exact rendering of the project, however those looking for more information can view / reach out via the Care Partners Senior Living website at https://www.carepartnersliving.com/

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